What is Lighting Integration Software?
Key points discussed in this blog:
The process of integration in the smart lighting and building industry
Why integration is important
The benefits of integration
Legislation helping to increase the adoption of integrated building systems
How lighting integration software can assist
We all know that the future of the industry demands integration. Interoperability is a term that has been used in the industry for many years; however, true interoperability is still few and far between, which is a constant frustration and a common challenge vocalised by stakeholders.
However, it is possible to achieve integration, and there are many solutions that aim to create this ideal, but they can be costly to implement. In addition, as the bulk of the market contains existing buildings as opposed to new builds, there are many historical processes and systems installed that hinder progress because removing silos can be a timely and costly effort. At a time when energy costs and supply chain costs are rising, it can be difficult for building owners to fund the upfront investment needed to complete these upgrade projects.
But where does lighting fit into the picture?
Building Management Systems (BMS) aim to pull everything together and offer a single source where all data can be viewed and interacted with in one interface. Yet with BMS installation, lighting has historically been overlooked, and the lighting industry has developed its own communication protocols separate from other building systems. Therefore, when it comes to upgrading existing buildings, sometimes a solution is required to bridge the gap to capture lighting data and make it useable by other systems.
Nowadays, there are a collection of commonly used protocols and open standards that make integration easier, and smart buildings are becoming increasingly connected assets that give energy managers detailed data on building performance. This data not only allows them to understand and improve energy performance but also helps to make buildings more responsive to changing occupant requirements.
Integration is also a key part of achieving net zero; without gaining data insight about building performance, owners and tenants cannot develop an improvement plan or understand where wastage is occurring.
Recent changes to Part L of the Building Regulations (in the UK) mean newer, more considered building specifications are finally starting to be deployed that include lighting integration.
This movement towards understanding the true potential lighting can offer opens up many opportunities for retrofit projects.
Lighting can integrate with building platforms to form part of the building-wide energy management programme, and with digital twin technology, it can even simulate changes and aid with improvement plans to enhance energy efficiency further.
The pre-existing ubiquitous lighting network can facilitate data capture and communication. A protocol and hardware-agnostic attitude allow any devices to be added to the network; this can give the existing infrastructure a dual role. E.g., to measure occupancy, temperature, humidity, and space utilisation, amongst a plethora of others, including Bluetooth beaconing technology. This enables indoor positioning use cases, whether that's wayfinding or geofencing.
Integrating lighting with other systems greatly reduces wastage, and insight is immediately improved, so informed decisions can be made. Embedding sensors also help ensure lighting is only used when necessary. E.g., daylight saving sensors can be used to reduce artificial light when there is sufficient natural light in a space.
A further benefit is the ability to set up virtual sensors. Any trigger can be a sensor, e.g., someone turning on their PC or utilising the door access control system. Current building hardware and systems can provide extra data points, which can also be beneficial for ESG reporting and circular economy principles.
Constant data feedback in real-time provides value for end customers and other vendors’ solutions installed in the building. The data collected through lighting dramatically increases the power lighting systems have in buildings, bringing it to the fore and leading to it being prioritised in building specifications.
At amBX, our aim is to cost-effectively bridge the gap between lighting and building systems. Our hardware and protocol-agnostic software can be embedded in your current solution, sit on top of another software stack or be an independent integration. Our flexible sales model allows us to support our partners in whatever way suits them best. Lighting integration certainly presents many opportunities, and social and environmental factors have finally aligned to realise the benefits this media has to offer.