Innovative and integrative lighting solutions are a rapidly developing trend among BMS manufacturers. They are being implemented in various systems from industry-leading firms, however they are met with a challenge of finding the best possible compromise between occupant expectations and optimization of building operation.
 

Even though there are existing codes and standards regarding daylighting and electric lighting controls, they have to be constantly reviewed and updated, as the technology is growing rapidly - and so do the users’ expectations. That is, in both efficiency of buildings in terms of sustainability and energy usage (utilizing advanced sensor-based systems), and also in the need for high quality of lighting at the workplaces.
 

There is a large number of control systems proposed either by lighting manufacturers or motor manufacturers for shading systems. In addition there are many other solutions proposed by specific manufacturers of Building Management Systems (BMS) or manufacturers of components to be installed in luminaires and switches, as well as in the electric lighting architecture (transformers, gateways to the internet, sensors, etc.). For many consumers -i.e.-the installer, the facility manager, or the final user (building occupant) – this forms a complex and dynamic market environment with high frequent changes, every year or even every month or day. In this report we aim to provide some basic strategic information, showing the status of the supply at the time this report was written (2019-2021). Although the market develops very fast, there are principles of controls which are rather independent of the progress of technology.

This report summarizes a survey performed in eight countries on the status quo of daylight and electric lighting control systems. Feedback from more than 100 international experts (building / facility managers and planers) was evaluated. The aim of the survey was to identify the perception of the different possibilities of the current lighting control solutions and the expectations about the control systems. The survey aims to provide a mapping of the current lighting control systems available at the market and an overview of which functions are perceived as most important and which areas are found to be improved. Participants of the survey had to rank each question in relation to the perceived importance and the need for improvement. The survey enclosed five general topics; energy, operational aspects, occupant control, occupant comfort and control functionality.

This report shows, that the impact of a good User Interfaces (UI) is not only affecting the usability and comfort for the user, but is also a major key to save energy. At least as important for effectiveness to the quality of individual interfaces is consistency in the meaning of individual user interface elements (visual, conceptual, auditory, etc.)