Industry News

LCA was founded 10 years ago by a small group of companies that has grown to 17 leading manufacturers of controls and controllable ballasts, including Cooper Controls, DELTA Controls, Encelium Technologies, Hubbell Building Automation, HUNT Dimming, Leviton Manufacturing, Lithonia Lighting, Lightolier Controls, Lightronics, Lutron Electronics, OSRAM Sylvania, Philips Lighting Electronics, Sensor Switch, Square D, Watt Stopper/Legrand, Tridonic USA and Universal Lighting Technologies.

LCA is the highly respected voice of the lighting controls industry, providing unbiased public education about all aspects of lighting controls technology, design and application. Major programs, among many, include a website serving as a category portal for ideas and products, an accredited online education program offering hundreds of pages of information, articles and whitepapers written for major magazines and websites, a monthly newsletter, and collaboration with other organizations such as the U.S. Department of Energy and National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA).

Over the past 10 years, lighting controls have become an increasingly vital and integral part of lighting systems, starting with the proliferation of energy codes coupled with advances in technology and capabilities providing ever-increasing value. Because lighting controls can reduce energy consumption by 35 percent in new construction and 50 percent in existing buildings, they are considered the next frontier in energy savings. And due to the proven productivity benefits of personal dimming control and its encouragement by LEED, this strategy will increasingly be specified as an amenity in state-of-the-art sustainable buildings.

LCA will mark the occasion with a special 10-year anniversary logo on its website and an expansion of programs, including supporting two Lightfair Institute workshops, the development of DOE’s Commercial Lighting Solutions initiatives, Education Express courses on commissioning, LED control and control retrofits, and other special programs.

“The Lighting Controls Association is proud of a decade of offering lighting designers, specifiers and users a leading source of education about lighting control technology, design and application,” says A. J. Glaser, President of LCA and Colorado-based control manufacturer HUNT Dimming. “President-Elect Obama, Congress and code-making organizations are emphasizing energy efficiency as a solution to America’s energy and environmental problems. As energy-saving lighting controls therefore continue to grow increasingly important, we look forward to an even brighter future supporting those interested in achieving code compliance, energy savings, flexibility, worker satisfaction and greater sustainability through advanced lighting controls.”

LCA is administered by NEMA, based in Rosslyn, VA. Ron Runkles of NEMA is the association’s executive director and Craig DiLouie, principal of ZING Communications, Inc., serves as education director.

To access LCA’s free online resources, visit www.AboutLightingControls.org.