How do you automate lighting controls in your design plans?

1 What are automated lighting controls?

Automated lighting controls are systems that use sensors, timers, dimmers, switches, and software to regulate the lighting in a space. They can respond to changes in natural light, occupancy, temperature, and user preferences, and create different lighting scenes for different purposes. For example, you can program the lights to turn on when someone enters a room, dim when the sun is bright, change color for a presentation, or turn off when the space is vacant.

2 Why use automated lighting controls?

Automated lighting controls can enhance the comfort, productivity, and well-being of the occupants, as well as reduce the energy consumption and maintenance costs of the lighting system. By adjusting the lighting to the optimal level and color for each task and time of day, you can create a more pleasant and stimulating environment for your clients and their employees or customers. By minimizing the use of artificial light when it's not needed, you can also save energy and money, and lower the carbon footprint of your projects.

3 How to choose the right automated lighting controls?

When selecting automated lighting controls for a design, there are several factors to consider, such as the size and function of the space, the type and quality of light sources, the lighting needs of occupants, the budget and timeline of the project, and compatibility with other systems. Common automated lighting controls include daylight sensors, occupancy sensors, dimmers, switches, timers, color controls, and software. Daylight sensors measure natural light in a space and adjust artificial light accordingly; occupancy sensors detect presence or absence of people and turn lights on/off; dimmers allow users to change brightness of lights; switches allow users to turn lights on/off manually or remotely; timers allow users to set lights to turn on/off at specific times or intervals; color controls allow users to change color or temperature of lights manually or automatically; and software allows users to program, monitor, and control lighting system from a computer or mobile device.

4 How to design with automated lighting controls?

Designing with automated lighting controls requires a systematic process that includes analyzing the lighting requirements and goals of the space and occupants, selecting the appropriate controls and fixtures for each zone and task, planning the placement and wiring of the controls and fixtures, testing and commissioning the lighting system, and evaluating and fine-tuning the lighting performance and user feedback. Additionally, it is important to make sure that the automated lighting controls are user-friendly, flexible, reliable, and comply with relevant codes and standards.

5 How to communicate your automated lighting plans?

To communicate your automated lighting plans to your clients and stakeholders, you need to use clear and concise visual and verbal tools such as lighting plans, lighting schedules, lighting simulations, and lighting mock-ups. These tools will help you explain the benefits and challenges of your automated lighting plans, as well as receive feedback and approval from your clients and stakeholders. Lighting plans show the location, type, and number of the light fixtures and controls in each space, while lighting schedules list the specifications, features, and functions of the light fixtures and controls in each space. Lighting simulations are computer-generated images or videos that show how the lighting will look and change in different scenarios and conditions. Finally, lighting mock-ups are physical models or samples that demonstrate how the lighting will work and feel in real life.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?