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Unfamiliarity with how to design, install, and commission networked lighting controls is a key barrier that prevents widespread adoption and increases the cost of the technology. Whether you’re an installation contractor, specifier, distributor, building manager, utility or energy efficiency program administrator there are hands on and online training options for you!
Short Videos
Are there other networked lighting control topics you’re interested in learning about? Please let us know!
Learn about five common misconceptions of networked lighting controls that slow adoption of the technology.
Learn about eight non-energy related benefits of networked lighting controls.
Learn about five key things to consider when configuring a networked lighting control system.
Learn about the importance of cybersecurity and what the DLC is doing to ensure DLC listed NLC systems are set up to reduce risk of cyber attacks.
Learn about five major advantages of using luminaire level lighting controls (LLLC).
Learn about five key questions to ask when considering luminaire level lighting controls.
Lighting Controls Association's Education Express
Founded in 2000, the Lighting Controls Association, a council of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, has educated the public about lighting controls in a wide range of programs and industry partnerships. Award-winning projects, feature articles, industry news, trends, videos, Education Express courses, and more are available free, 24/7 at www.LightingControlsAssociation.org.
Education Express
The DLC recognizes the Lighting Controls Association’s Education Express as a preferred resource for lighting controls instruction. Education Express is a free, online resource for comprehensive lighting controls training with more than 67 hours of learning instruction available in 31 learning modules on a wide range of topics including lighting control technology, application, design, energy codes, commissioning.
Anyone interested in learning more about lighting controls may create a free account and take the courses, but designers, engineers, contractors, distributors, sales reps, and building managers may find the content particularly helpful in supporting their work designing, selling, installing, and commissioning lighting control solutions.
Enjoy the flexibility of taking these online courses when and where it’s convenient for you and complete them at your own pace; for education credit, take the online quizzes at the end of each course! These course are registered with AIA, recognized by NCQLP, prerequisites required by CALCTP and NLCAA for contractor certification in California, State of California-recognized continuing education provider, NALMCO bases CLCP certification exam on Education Express curriculum.
The DLC has identified the following Education Express courses that are relevant to the DLC’s NLC Technical Requirements, and these courses provide the basis of understanding for networked lighting controls. Click the course titles below for more information.
EE 101. Introduction to Lighting Control
- This course provides an overview of the basic functionality of today’s lighting controls, benefits and the basic questions to ask when identifying an appropriate lighting control strategy.
EE102A: Occupancy and Vacancy Sensors
- By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Select an appropriate sensor technology based on a given application’s characteristics.
- Select appropriate features for the sensor to optimize performance in the given application.
- Apply sensors to spaces based on their characteristics.
EE103: Dimming Controls, Section 1 Part 1: Introduction to Dimming
- Introduction to Dimming describes popular dimming strategies and how different light sources behave when dimmed.
EE105: Lighting Control System Design, Part 1, Part 3, & Part 4
- Part 1: Programming provides knowledge participants can use to determine comprehensive and accurate written owner project requirements related to lighting and controls.
- Part 3: Control Zoning defines the control zone, an important building block in lighting control system design. Participants will learn how to designer with zones and express control zoning on a control zone plan.
- Part 4: Design Development identifies common deliverables in a finished lighting control system design, including load schedule single-line riser diagram, equipment specifications, panel schedules, device settings, and functional testing and acceptance criteria. Participants will use this information to create a finished design and specifications for a lighting control system.
EE 107. Lighting Controls for Existing Buildings
- EE107A: Lighting Controls for Existing Buildings introduces lighting control strategies suitable for existing buildings. It outlines energy code obligations, identifies rebate opportunities, and provides application guidance.
- EE107B: Lighting Controls and Commercial Lighting Rebates describes rebates, rebate trends, general outlook for rebates, and generally how to acquire them for a project.
EE 110. Commissioning and Lighting Controls
- By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Communicate the benefits of commissioning to project participants.
- Comply with commissioning requirements imposed by external agencies such as energy codes.
- Build a commissioning team.
- Develop a commissioning plan.
EE 115. Integration and Building Automation
- EE115: Integration and Building Automation defines today’s integration, how BAS are designed, and considerations for specifying integration and a BAS.
EE 201. Daylight Harvesting
- EE201: Daylight-Responsive Lighting Control describes a simple process for design and application of devices and systems used to enact this energy management strategy.
EE 202. Automatic Plug Load Control
- EE202: Automatic Plug Load Control provides an overview of approaches used to automatically control plug loads in commercial buildings.
EE300: Lighting Control of LEDs, Part 1, 2, & 3
- Part 1: Introduction to LED Control offers an overview of LED drivers and power supplies and the impact of control functions on LED light output, efficacy, life, dimmer expectations and flicker behavior.
- Part 2: Wired Control of LED Lighting shows how single-color white light LED products can be controlled within conventional wired control architectures.
- Part 3: Wireless Control of LED Lighting explores wireless controls advanced control physical layers and protocols applicable to modern solid-state and digital lighting applications.
EE 301. Wireless Lighting Controls
EE301: Networked Wireless Lighting Controls provides a basic understanding of wireless control, including functionality, benefits, protocols and topologies.
EE302: Intelligent Lighting Control, Part 1, 2, & 3
- Part 1: Technology, This Education Express course describes the basic technology of centralized intelligent lighting control systems and then provides application guidance.
- Part 2: Application, his Education Express course describes the basic technology of centralized intelligent lighting control systems and then provides application guidance.
- Part 3: A Year With a Networked Lighting Control System, This learning module was designed to help building owners/managers and electrical industry consultants visualize NLCs as tools that can be used to improve operations while also saving energy.
EE 304. Internet of Things
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- This course is aimed at educating lighting practitioners about the current state of the IoT and the potential role of networked lighting control.
EE 305. Lighting Control Protocols
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- EE305: Lighting Control Protocols surveys available protocols, how they work in a lighting control system, and specification considerations.
DLC Advanced Lighting Control Systems (ALCS) Training Program
This course is held in-person, but due to COVID-19 the course may also be held virtually. Watch this video to get a better understanding of how the entire course is run virtually or watch this shorter 15 minute video to see how the “hands-on” portion works in a virtual format.
About the Instructor:
Steve Mesh has 39 years of experience designing lighting for a variety of projects both domestically and internationally. He is a member and former Regional Vice President/Northeast of the IES and has served on the Energy Management Committee for ASHRAE 90.1. Steve was part of the development team for the California Advanced Lighting Controls Training Program (CALCTP). He has taught lighting and controls for the past 35 years and has been a Contributing Editor of Building Operating Management magazine.
Students will learn about:
- Trends in the networked lighting controls market
- New game changing technologies and methodologies
- System characteristics and wiring requirements
- Criteria for selecting appropriate control systems for any customer project
- Setting up and commissioning a wireless system (with real hands-on experience!)
By the end of the class students realize that networked lighting controls are pretty easy to install, commission and operate, and participants feel more confident explaining features and benefits of ALCS for their customers’ specific needs.
Manchester, NH 2020 |
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Manchester, NH 2020 |
National Advanced Lighting Controls Training Program (NALCTP)
The National Advanced Lighting Controls Training Program (NALCTP) is a week long, in-depth training course for electrical contractors on advanced lighting control technology currently offered in California, Illinois, Washington, and parts of Canada.
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