The lighting control systems marketplace has been in a state of transition in recent years. Changing energy efficiency codes, new construction project increases, wireless technology benefits, increases in LED lighting adoption and conservation initiatives have been the key factors driving the growth of the lighting control systems market in the US. The total United States lighting controls market is estimated to be well over $1 billion by the end of 2013. This figure includes lighting controls, devices, systems and gears. The market is expected to show a considerable growth through the forecast period. The systems market is expected to grow at a much faster rate.
Title 24 in California is at the forefront of establishing a national standard. By January 2014, this change in code will require automatic daylight harvesting controls be added to many commercial buildings. Additionally, occupancy sensing functionality will also be mandated for many applications. This change in code is the most significant driver in the market, as end-users tend not to adopt control technology improvement unless mandated.
Due to the increasing complexity of lighting control system specification, design, sales and installation, value-chain participants have had to adapt to the changing market dynamics. This circumstance has led to a number of end-users looking at alternative sales channels and other value-chain participants adjusting their business model appropriately. One such example is a change in the electrical distribution model. In recent years, many electrical distributors have established sales channels through energy audit teams, specifically targeting the retrofit marketplace. Some of these distributors include Graybar, Gexpro, Rexel, Facility Solutions Group (FSG), Crescent (CESCO), among others.
“The market is very much in a state of transition,” states principal analyst Anthony Miller. “I expect a great deal of consolidation and a change in the structure of how manufacturers sell to and support their customer base.”
Project specification can be influenced by a variety of different value-chain stakeholders. Lighting specification can occur by architects, lighting designers, electrical engineers, manufacturers, sales representatives, lighting agents or value added resellers (VARs).
The key participants in the distributed lighting control systems market include Acuity, Lutron, WattStopper, Encelium, Enlighted, Daintree, Redwood Systems, Digital Lumens, among others.