In 2017, DOE launched Next Generation Lighting Systems (NGLS), in partnership with the Illuminating Engineering Society and the International Association of Lighting Designers. NGLS was managed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) as part of a broad DOE/PNNL effort to advance the effectiveness of connected lighting systems and controls.
NGLS used “Living Labs” to conduct observational research on the installation and operation of advanced connected lighting systems in real-world settings. Teams consisted of a broad range of industry experts – including lighting designers, engineers, and utility professionals – who used detailed protocols to observe, document, and measure how systems are installed and configured, how well they perform, and how users operate them. NGLS aimed to learn from manufacturers’ varied approaches — identifying what works and what does not, revealing needed improvements, and articulating effective principles and practices.
Advanced lighting systems and connected controls were installed for evaluation in three Living Labs.
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| Working classrooms at Parsons School of Design in New York, New York. Learn more. | Offices of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance in Portland, Oregon. Learn more. | Parking lots at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia. Learn more. |
RESOURCES
A Case Study of Luminaire-Level Lighting Control: Lighting the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) Office in Portland, OR (Report, October 2023)
An Observational Understanding of Connected Lighting Systems (Report, May 2021)
The Impact of Wall Control Performance on Connected Lighting Systems (Report, March 2021)
The Influence of Communication on the Complexity of Connected Lighting Systems (Report, July 2021)
Characterizing Connected Lighting Systems (Report, January 2022)
Presence Detection in Connected Lighting Systems (Report, February 2022)
