A lighting control system is an intelligent network based lighting control solution that incorporates communication between various system inputs and outputs related to lighting control with the use of one or more central computing devices. Lighting control systems are widely used on both indoor and outdoor lighting of commercial, industrial, and residential spaces. Lighting control systems serve to provide the right amount of light where and when it is needed.

According to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, lighting accounts for about 11 percent of energy use in residential buildings and 18 percent in commercial buildings. Although there are a lot of energy efficiency options out there, one of the most effective ones are lighting controls. Phasing out old, inefficient lighting can conserve energy and even lower costs.

In general, there are three types of lighting control systems. There are dimmers, sensors and timers. Each has different purposes and features. Learn all about the different kinds to see which is right for your building.

Architectural lighting control systems can integrate with a theater’s on-off and dimmer controls, and are often used for house lights and stage lighting, and can include work lights, rehearsal lighting, and lobby lighting. Control stations can be placed in several locations in the building and range in complexity from single buttons that bring up preset options-looks, to in-wall or desktop LCD touchscreen consoles. Much of the technology is related to residential and commercial lighting control systems.

The benefit of architectural lighting control systems in the theater is the ability for theater staff to turn work lights and house lights on and off without having to use a lighting control console. Alternately, the light designer can control these same lights with light cues from the lighting control console so that, for instance, the transition from houselights being up before a show starts and the first light cue of the show is controlled by one system.

The new type of control for lighting system is using Bluetooth connection directly to the lighting system. It is recently introduced by Philips HUE and company new name as Signify formerly known as Philips Lighting. This system will need a smartphone or tablet where the user can install a special Philips Hue Bluetooth app. The Bluetooth bulbs don’t need a Philips Hue bridge to function. There is no need to have a Wi-Fi or data connection for controlling the lights with that system.