Energy-efficient lighting in commercial buildings is about more than swapping out bulbs—just installing LEDs is not enough. Connected lighting solutions provide opportunities for energy savings and a better user experience for building occupants. Once the decision has been made to go with a connected lighting interface in a building, the next step is to weigh the options of area- versus fixture-based controls. One is not necessarily better than the other; rather, the decision will rely on how each area of the building will be used or potentially used in the future.

In most buildings, there are common areas and private areas such as lobbies and offices. When designing the infrastructure of a connected lighting system, generally common areas will be best served by area-based controls and private areas will require fixture-based controls. There are pros and cons to each solution, so understanding both options in detail will help determine which lighting option is best for optimized energy savings and ease of use.

Area-Based Controls

Area-based controls are good options for large spaces such as lobbies, ballrooms, conference rooms, storage rooms and classrooms. In these areas of commercial buildings, there is typically high traffic and a need for large pools of light. Usually, the entire space is in use at one time and there is no need for spotlighting.

Area-based control is accomplished when multiple luminaires are wired to a single switch or wireless fixture adapter. A “daisy chain” wiring sequence is used to link all the luminaires to the control adapter. As a result, all of the luminaires will behave in the same manner when changes are made to the lighting levels. Programs can be set so all the luminaires in a given area will turn on, off, dim and more at certain times of days, eliminating the need for building occupants to manually operate lighting.

The benefits of area-based controls are value because many fixtures share one control adapter in addition to simple configuration because all the fixtures in one area will function the same and less programming is required. Retrofitting in the future is simplified by the ability to swap out a switch and control an entire bank of lighting. However, if the way an area is used changes when a new tenant moves in, a retrofit can become more complicated. Installers may need to run additional control wires, which adds labor costs to the equation.

Fixture-Based Controls

Commercial spaces that require more control flexibility will benefit from fixture-based controls. As the name suggests, each luminaire is wired to a single fixture adapter enabling the fixtures in a space to be controlled as a zone or individually. This approach is good for office spaces where individual offices require separate functionality, such as an office space with cubicles in the center with a ring of individual offices around the exterior, a medical office with exam rooms or a retail location with an office in the back.

Fixture-based controls are usually more straightforward to install. An adapter is installed on each fixture. Wiring is simplified and there is no complication wiring between luminaires. The evolution of a building over time is best served by fixture-based controls. Because each fixture is individually controlled, changing individual offices to common areas and vice versa creates no issues with changing how the lighting is controlled. The drawbacks of fixture-based controls are the cost and the more complicated configurations of setting up each fixture on the control system.

Ultimately, choosing between an area-based and fixture-based lighting control will come down to how the tenant or building owner wants to use each space and if flexibility in lighting design will be required down the road. Costs can also play a factor in the design because if individual fixture controls are not demanded by how the space will be used, then area-based controls will be more cost-effective up front. Whether a space is outfitted with area-based controls or fixture-based controls, the project overall will benefit from greater energy savings and increased occupant comfort, making both applications a good choice.