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Each New Year invites a host of achievements, inventions, and technological advancements. As we enter the early months of another year, industry experts share their opinions on what's ahead for tech and engineering in 2018. Below you can read part one of our three-part series.
By Peter Lafreniere, Cable Product Manager, AFC Cable Systems
Daylight Harvesting
Building energy code requirements are growing stricter each year and there is a growing demand on commercial and institutional spaces to reduce power and energy costs. Daylight harvesting is one way to reduce energy consumption by using daylight in place of artificial light to illuminate a space. With daylight harvesting, lighting control systems are used to dim lights proportionally to the availability of natural light.
The most aggressive state to utilize daylight harvesting in order to meet code mandates has been California, but many other states are seeing the payoff in both energy savings and reduced power costs. Making dimmable fixtures a reality are advancements in LED lighting, which are now almost always supplied with dimmable drivers. This makes LED an easy and inexpensive option compared to dimmable fluorescent ballasts.
Tunable Lighting
Another emerging trend in the lighting industry due to the growing sophistication of LED is “tunable lighting.” Tunable lighting is science-supported technology in which shifts in color temperatures and light levels mimic the human circadian rhythm. Basing the intensity and color of light on the circadian rhythm draws a closer connection to nature, an element that is often missing from indoor settings. This is especially important technology for offices, schools, and healthcare facilities; it has been shown that people can heal faster or have a higher level of concentration when the color of light is adjusted to be more natural.
Prefabricated Wiring
Most industrial sectors have seen a decline in skilled tradesmen. For every three electricians that retire, there is only one taking their place. The industry has responded to this by developing technology that allows for faster installation. Prefabricated wiring solutions are manufactured in a controlled environment, with the required certifications and listings, requiring less work to be done in the field. This allows for an easier and faster installation so the technician can move on to the next job.
By Jim Beneke, Vice President, Engineering...