The worldwide lighting control system market, like nearly all other markets, has suffered a significant decline since the onset of the global recession late in 2008. Most suppliers of lighting control systems have reported a 15-20% drop in revenues in 2009. In the first half of 2010, the market continued its decline, albeit at a slower pace.
The emergence of energy efficiency as a paramount concern for governments, consumers, and businesses alike will drive market performance in the near future and beyond. Decision makers have opened their eyes to the potential savings that can be realised by implementing an energy reduction strategy. “The commoditisation of lighting components and the sophisticated data analysis and management service requirements of many customers are two factors that have induced many lighting control suppliers to view powerful, easy-to-use software and a robust global service network as quintessential to future growth,” according to ARC research analyst Joseph Gillespie, the principal author of ARC’s Intelligent Lighting Control Systems Worldwide Outlook (www.arcweb.com/res/lighting).
Increased focus on building lifecycle costs
One aspect of building systems that was not always considered in the past is that energy efficiency, lower environmental impact, and improved employee productivity all add up to a lower total cost of ownership and more attractive bottom line. However, this oversight is quickly dissipating and as building owners and engineers plan new projects or prepare for renovations, they are considering more than just the cost of buying, installing, and commissioning individual elements. Intelligent control systems can monitor and optimise energy consumption, quickly send out alarms and notifications that can prevent downtime, provide reports of systems that may be in override mode, increase comfort in employee workspaces, and record historical data to monitor trends in energy consumption. Systems that are geared towards lowering the total cost of ownership over the entire lifecycle of the building and have the ability to tie this information into the enterprise level will experience the strongest growth over the forecast period.
Wireless gains momentum
Adoption of wireless devices for use in lighting control systems has gained traction. The labor costs are lower than for running cable in new and existing buildings, wireless devices can be used where traditional cable methods would be impossible or prohibitively expensive and time consuming, and they are much more flexible when the building configuration changes. The technology has also matured in terms of ease of installation, functionality, and reliability, and the cost continues to decrease.
Wireless by itself does not provide any value. But when used to connect low cost solutions that can reduce energy usage or alert workforce of potential equipment failures, wireless-enabled solutions can result in fast ROI, making them very appropriate in today’s challenging environment.
For more information, please visit www.arcweb.com/res/lighting
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