While fixture design and layout matter, Steven Mesh, lighting design educator with the Illuminating Engineering Society, stresses that the real opportunity lies in lighting controls.
“The most critical thing to think about is that if you’re not also considering incorporating controls, you’re wasting an enormous opportunity,” Mesh says. Over the past two decades, lighting controls have evolved far beyond simple wall switches and time clocks.
“In the past 20 years, there’s been an explosion in controls technology,” Mesh explains. “Networked lighting control systems are really computer systems that just happen to control lights.”
Despite their growing sophistication, Mesh says these systems are often misunderstood.
“There’s been a big gap between perception and reality,” he says. “People think these systems are complicated, but they’ve been around for 20 years. It’s fairly mature technology and it’s just new to a lot of people.”
One of the most significant developments in recent years has been luminaire-level lighting controls (LLC).
“That means every single fixture has its own occupancy sensor and photo sensor for daylight harvesting,” Mesh says. “There are lots of implications behind that, including in terms of cost, but also in terms of flexibility and performance.”
That flexibility has a direct impact on occupant experience.
“If one individual in an open office wants more light, they can be given access only to the fixture above their desk and override the system,” Mesh explains. “That’s extremely beneficial for comfort.”
Mesh recently revisited a wireless networked lighting control system he installed at a University of California laboratory in 2013. “When I reviewed the results after 12 years, I was astonished,” he says. The system has delivered approximately 80 percent energy savings every year.
“Based on current electricity rates, that’s roughly $43,000 annually,” he adds. “Even without utility incentives, the simple payback was just 11 months.”
Beyond lighting behavior, networked controls generate valuable operational data.
“They can track energy usage, analyze space utilization, and interface with HVAC systems,” Mesh says. “It’s not just about turning lights on and off anymore.”
Lupita Legaspi, principal at engineering firm AlfaTech, sees the same potential.
“Occupancy data from lighting sensors can be shared with HVAC systems, allowing heating and cooling to adjust based on actual space usage rather than fixed schedules,” she says. “That coordination leads to additional energy savings beyond lighting alone.”
Assessing payback of lighting systems requires a realistic understanding of both direct and indirect benefits.
“It’s important to understand how much energy and maintenance costs can realistically be reduced,” Legaspi says, “and how fast the payback period could be.” She emphasizes that payback should be evaluated in the context of the building itself.
“If an organization plans to stay in the space long-term or relies on it for daily operations, investing more upfront can make sense when the system delivers steady savings and better performance year after year,” she explains.
Incentives further strengthen the business case.
“Utility rebates and available tax programs can lower upfront costs significantly, especially when advanced controls are included,” Legaspi says. “Knowing what programs apply early helps avoid missed savings and makes budgeting more predictable.”
Operational benefits add another layer of value. “Fewer lamp replacements, less maintenance work, fewer disruptions, and better visibility into how the building is used all add value,” she says. “These improvements have a real impact on day-to-day operations.”
Maura Keller is a freelance writer based in Plymouth, Minnesota.
