Lighting Controls Association: Educating the marketplace

Author: Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP, education director for the Lighting Controls Association, a council of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.

January 5, 2023

The Lighting Controls Association (LCA) and the DALI Alliance (DiiA) recently signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (view Press Release) to educate the public about lighting controls and promote adoption of advanced lighting controls, including solutions based on the DALI® protocol.

Founded in 2001 as a council of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), the LCA is supported by 24 lighting manufacturers and currently hosts a broad range of activities that have made a demonstrable difference.

In 2022, the LCA website welcomed some 180,000 visitors who viewed 650,000 pages, with additional engagement at Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and e-newsletter lightingCONTROL.

This article highlights major activities in the hope it will inspire support, collaboration, and participation across the channel.

Content:

The LCA website acts as a clearinghouse for what’s new in lighting control. Besides publishing 24 original features and columns each year by industry experts, the site publishes more than 160 posts. Each year, LCA visits major trade shows to shoot product presentations at member booths, which are published at the organization’s YouTube channel.

Education Express:

The mainstay of LCA’s education is Education Express, a free, 24/7, online education system consisting of more than 65 learning hours covering a wide range of topics from technology and application to energy codes and commissioning. Each year, courses are added and revised, and in 2023, the LCA will be releasing video versions.

Education Express courses are registered with or recognized by the organizations AIA, DesignLights Consortium, NALMCO, CALCTP, NLCAA, and NCQLP. Two certifications (CALCTP and NALMCO’s CLCP) are based partly or in whole on Education Express. The State of California recognizes Education Express for use by state colleges.

Outreach:

The LCA contributes regularly to LD+A, LEDs Magazine, BOM, Smart Buildings Technology, DesigningLighting, inside.Lighting, LightNOW, LightFair, LEDucation, and other publications, websites, and conferences. In collaboration with NAILD, the LCA sponsors The Lighting Controls Podcast.

Collaboration:

The LCA actively collaborates with the DiiA, U.S. Department of Energy, NALMCO, DLC, NAILD, Illuminating Engineering Society, and other organizations. Several key IES publications—LEM7, DG11, and SEM4—were developed with active LCA contribution. Also with IES, in 2011 the LCA also initiated the first lighting design award focused on effective use of lighting controls.

All these activities have made a demonstrable difference in promoting the lighting controls category through education and awareness. For more information about the Lighting Controls Association and its activities, visit www.LightingControlsAssociation.org.