Deep Dive: Fundamentals of Commercial Lighting Controls by Craig DiLouie
A good lighting design is incomplete without a good controls design. Lighting controls determine when the lights turn On, when they turn Off, how bright they are, which luminaires respond, the response to daylight or occupancy, and how occupants interact with the lighting in the space. Controls may be simple or highly sophisticated, but every control system can be defined by the same fundamentals: inputs, outputs, programming, communication, and sequence of operation. This content is written for those who already have a working knowledge of lighting and now need a foundation in lighting controls. Lighting controls may be as simple as a wall switch or as advanced as a networked system……… Lighting professionals focus on providing good lighting design that supports visibility, comfort, safety, appearance, and energy performance. Lighting controls determine how the lighting behaves. A lighting system without appropriate controls may provide the right amount of light, but not necessarily at the right time, for the right task, or in the way occupants prefer. Controls facilitate the lighting system response to people, schedules, daylight, energy goals, code requirements, and changes within the space. . Deep Dive: Fundamentals of Commercial Lighting Controls


For 25 years, the Lighting Controls Association, a council of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), has educated the building industry about lighting control technology and application, notably through its Education Express courses. The organization is proud to announce that starting May 1, 2025, the Education Express curriculum will be incorporated into a new learning management system, 