Rising energy costs, increased demand for energy efficiency among building owners, and stricter energy codes have all increased the demand for LED Lighting controls.

In our recent webinar, “Leveraging Controls to Specify Code-Compliant Retrofit Projects,” StreamLinx Director of Products Mike Seifert joined Wayne Callum, VP of Sales of North America for Linmore Labs, to discuss the importance of energy codes and controls, how advanced control systems can enhance your energy-efficient retrofit projects, and how to use tools like SnapCount to sell prospective clients on energy efficiency. Here’s a recap in case you missed it.

The Growing Market and Drivers for Energy Efficiency

The increased demand for energy conservation has resulted in an explosion in the energy controls industry. The market was valued at about $33 billion in 2022, and projected to reach $155 billion by 2032 — a nearly 20% annual growth rate. In addition to a rising interest in energy efficiency, this growth is driven by factors like:

• Rebates: Rebates from utilities and government agencies incentivize businesses to adopt energy-efficient solutions. These financial incentives make it more feasible for companies to invest in advanced controls and retrofit projects.
• ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Goals: Many companies are prioritizing ESG goals, which emphasize environmental responsibility, social impact, and governance practices. Energy-efficiency projects align with these goals by reducing carbon footprints and demonstrating a commitment to sustainability.
• Regulatory Compliance: Changes in electrical codes and regulations are making advanced controls a necessity, especially in certain regions. Compliance with these codes ensures that businesses meet legal requirements while also achieving energy savings.

According to the International Energy Agency, 40% of global energy savings will come from energy efficiency by 2040.

But as our buildings, vehicles, appliances, and more transition to electric power, there comes the big question: Where will all this power come from?

With limited additional capacity from legacy power plants and renewables, energy efficiency becomes crucial. And energy codes around the country are designed to ensure it.

Understanding Energy Codes

The 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), developed by the International Code Council, is the basis for current energy codes. But because there are no national energy codes, adoption of these energy regulations varies by state, county, and municipality.

The 2021 IECC offers two primary paths for compliance: prescriptive and performance:

• The prescriptive path features mandatory lighting control provisions required for all new constructions. This includes design requirements and approvals that must be met during inspections.
• The performance path allows for more flexibility. It involves modeling and demonstrating energy savings through software, ensuring that the building's overall performance meets the energy-efficiency goals set by the code.

Key Provisions of the 2021 IECC

Daylight Responsive Controls: The 2021 version includes requirements for daylight responsive controls in secondary side-lit daylight zones.

Parking Garage Controls: New requirements mandate automatic controls for parking garages to improve energy efficiency.

Automatic Receptacle Control: Various spaces now require automatic receptacle controls, meaning that there must be systems in place to control power usage based on occupancy.

Luminaire Level Lighting Controls: The code specifies the need for luminaire level lighting controls, where lighting systems consist of one or more luminaires with embedded controls. These include occupancy and ambient light sensors, wireless networking capabilities, and local override switching. These controls must be capable of independently monitoring occupancy and ambient light, adjusting light output accordingly, operating as a group or zone, sharing sensor information, and coordinating control strategies.

UL 924 Requirements

UL 924 is a code similar to the 2021 IECC that outlines standards for emergency lighting equipment, including performance and safety requirements, functional performance, and installation guidelines.

These requirements are designed to ensure that emergency lighting systems, whether they’re battery-powered or generator-backed, activate appropriately during power losses, enhancing safety and compliance. UL 924 also specifies that emergency lighting must maintain certain brightness levels, color, and visibility standards to ensure safety during power outages.

Get these insights and more from our webinar, Leveraging Controls to Specify Code-Compliant Retrofit Projects.

Advancements in Modern Energy Control Systems

Today’s control systems have evolved significantly. End users can now choose from so much more than traditional dimmer switches. The new generation of controls offers enhanced functionality, ease of use, and interoperability, making it easier for businesses to implement energy-efficient solutions.

Functionality

Today's control systems offer sophisticated features, such as in-node scheduling, occupancy and vacancy sensing, high- and low-end trim settings, and manual control. The UltraLink Bluetooth network lighting control system, for example, is an open-standard solution that ensures seamless integration with various manufacturers' hardware, allowing businesses to choose the best components for their specific needs.

Ease of Use

Advanced control systems are easier to use than ever before. They’re designed with user-friendly interfaces that simplify configuration and management, ensuring building operations teams can quickly adapt to new systems, minimizing disruption and maximizing efficiency.

Interoperability

Interoperability is another big advancement in modern control systems. Systems like UltraLink support multiple hardware options and integrate seamlessly with other Bluetooth devices, so businesses can build robust, flexible energy management solutions that can evolve with technological advancements.

How SnapCount Helps You Sell Your Clients on Energy Controls

We’ve covered how advanced controls can save energy for your clients. Now, let’s take a look at how you can use SnapCount to easily sell these benefits to prospective clients and grow your business.

Comprehensive Audits

An energy retrofit project starts with a great audit. Tools like SnapCount let businesses capture detailed information in the field, ensuring every aspect of the existing lighting and control systems is documented accurately.

When you can collect floor plans, pin spaces on maps, classify fixtures, and gather detailed data on existing systems, you minimize the need for multiple site visits and reduce the risk of misquoting fixtures or quantities.

Modeling Value Propositions

After you’ve gathered detailed audit data, you can use SnapCount’s advanced modeling tools to create compelling value propositions for clients.

These tools allow you to simulate various energy-saving scenarios, including top and bottom-end tuning, daylight harvesting, as well as time and occupancy controls, enabling you to illustrate the return on investment that advanced controls can provide.

By presenting clear, data-driven proposals, you can make the benefits of energy-efficient solutions obvious to your customers, making them much more likely to approve the project.

Advanced Calculations and Reporting

You might think these ROI and energy-saving projections require complex calculations. But the good news is that SnapCount does them for you.

By considering existing fixtures, proposed upgrades, and layered controls, SnapCount provides detailed reports that help you present compelling value propositions to clients. These reports can include simple one-page summaries or in-depth analyses of energy savings and environmental impact.

Configuring and Proposing Solutions

Back at the office, SnapCount allows project developers to use internal catalogs and manufacturer configurators to propose tailored solutions. This includes specifying lumens, housing color temperature, and integrated controls, ensuring each project is accurately configured to meet client needs and energy code requirements.

Enhancing Client Confidence

By using SnapCount’s array of tools, you can project confidence and expertise in your proposals. When you’re armed with data-driven solutions, you demonstrate a thorough understanding of energy efficiency and compliance. This can significantly increase the likelihood of winning projects and expanding your client base.

Energy codes and controls are not just about regulatory compliance; they’re also strategic investments that give your clients significant cost savings, improved operational efficiency, and enhanced sustainability. And by conducting thorough audits with tools like SnapCount, you can sell prospective clients on advanced controls projects while presenting yourself as an expert on energy efficiency.

See for yourself how SnapCount can accelerate your business growth and efficiency!