News & Trends

Today's lighting control systems combine precision light levels and streamlined operation, making it easy to create the perfect space for everything from focused work sessions and collaborative meetings to relaxed employee conversations.

These systems play a crucial role in elevating employee comfort and productivity. For Pro AV installers, optimum lighting has become essential in delivering convenient, user-friendly building interiors that elevate “AV experiences.” Read on to see how these systems are reshaping the Pro AV landscape.

What Are Lighting Control Systems?

Lighting control systems eliminate the manual effort of managing light levels in a space, automatically dimming and brightening lights to create the optimal atmosphere for different tasks during different day parts. The systems combine hardware, software, and communication components to create automated operation, such as turning lights on and off, synchronizing dimming during presentations, and optimizing lighting for video calls. The systems include the following components:

• Controllers: The brains of the operation, they provide programmed rules and turn user commands or input from sensors into the necessary light level.
  
• User Interfaces: Wall-mounted keypads, touch panels, mobile apps, or dashboards that let people adjust levels and easily manage settings
  
• Power Management Devices: Controls power to each light fixture for smooth dimming transitions without buzzing or flickering.
  
• Sensors: Detect occupancy and natural daylight level to automatically adjust lighting as conditions change throughout the day.
  
• Communication Networks: The system architecture that allows all the components to talk to each other and work together.
  

Some lighting control systems are built for permanent use; others are for flexible use, and others combine both approaches. In general, the configurations fall into three categories:

• Wired Systems: Use physical cables to connect the components, which makes them ideal for permanent spaces like theaters, broadcast studios, and corporate boardrooms where reliability is critical.
  
• Wireless Systems: Communicate using radio signals (e.g., Z-Wave, Zigbee, and others), which makes them perfect for retrofit projects, temporary event spaces, and other areas where it’s not practical to run wires.
  
• Hybrid Systems: Combine the stable performance of wired connections with the flexibility of wireless components, making them suitable for multi-use venues and environments expected to grow and change over time.
  

Key Benefits for Pro AV Applications

Lighting control systems improve comfort, reduce energy use, and automatically adjust lighting based on how a given space is used. When synchronized to work with the AV system (through a single interface), users benefit because the lighting responds to what’s happening on screen and adapts to natural daylight automatically without manual intervention. When the lighting pairs with the control of the AV system, the benefits are even greater in terms of energy efficiency, user comfort, and convenience.

Energy Efficiency

By using a combination of technologies, these systems improve efficiency, cut utility costs, and reduce an organization’s carbon footprint. Common types of controls in the lighting management family include:

• Occupancy Sensors: Detect when people enter or leave a room and automatically turn lights on or off, eliminating wasted energy and lowering utility costs.
  
• Daylight Harvesting: Monitors available natural daylight and automatically adjusts light levels to maintain optimum illumination.
  
• Scene Lighting Controls: Sets preprogrammed lighting “scenes” (i.e., Collaboration, Video Calls, Presentations, Meals, Off, etc.) to ensure the right light levels for different activities, preventing unnecessary energy use.
  

Enhanced User Experience

In addition to their energy management benefits, the systems seamlessly adapt to how a space is being used:

• Setting the Mood: Programs scenes that create the right atmosphere for an activity with the push of a single button.
  
• Adjusting for Visual Comfort: Prevents glare and maintains comfortable ambient light levels throughout the room automatically.
  
• Aligning with Natural Rhythms: Changes lighting color and temperature throughout the day to promote alertness or relaxation in a space.
  

Seamless Integration with AV

When the lighting system can talk to the AV system, the benefits are even more substantial. They include:

• Synchronized Operation: Eliminates separate controls. Users simply press a button like "Start Meeting" or “End Meeting” to activate displays and dim lights, or deactivate displays and brighten lights.
  
• Automated Workflows: Responds to AV activity, automatically dimming lights when video playback begins on displays and brightens them when content pauses, or meetings end.
  
• Consistent Performance: Stores settings tied to specific AV uses like presentations or streaming, to synchronize lighting for AV activities and eliminate manual control and trial and error.
  

Latest Trends in Lighting Control Systems

The lighting control landscape is constantly evolving as new technologies reshape how these systems communicate, learn, and support sustainability goals. Trends such as the IoT (Internet of Things) integration, AI-based controls, and lighting that emphasizes sustainability initiatives are among the latest innovations.

Smart Lighting and IoT Integration

By embedding intelligence into both the individual lighting fixtures and the controls, today’s lighting systems can collect data and support operating efficiency in ways that include the following:

• Embedded Intelligence/ IOT Connectivity: Connects lighting controls to building management, AV, and IT systems to manage the timed control of all building infrastructure and systems.
  
• Data Collection/ Analytics Capabilities: Collects and analyzes the data collected by the system to provide optimum visibility levels based on how spaces are used. These insights eliminate overlighting and signal when maintenance tasks (i.e., bulbs and components) are needed. 
  
• Expanded Services: Leverages building location and time of day awareness to support how employees move through common spaces, use personal spaces such as private offices, as well as automating building start-up and shutdown services (e.g., access security and HVAC)

AI-Driven Automation

The latest innovations in AI-powered lighting controls provide a significant value add to AV installers in the ability of these systems to match AV usage patterns, such as:

• Anticipate Scheduled Activities: Preparing room lighting before people arrive so a room scheduled for a 2:00 pm video presentation is already dimmed with the appropriate backlighting, and the projector and display are powered up.
  
• Adapts to Usage: Distinguishing between different AV activities to provide ambient lighting for brief screen-sharing sessions, shifting to cinema-style dimming for extended presentations.
  
• Refines Responses: Learning from actual usage to optimize lighting and AV coordination so a multipurpose space used for both video production and live presentations can fine-tune lighting over a series of months, reducing the need for manual reprogramming.
  

Sustainability and Green Technology

The latest lighting control trends take into account today’s pressing need to comply with sustainability mandates and corporate citizenship initiatives. When paired to work with the latest AV equipment, these systems save energy and meet an organization’s environmental goals in the following ways:

• Precision Dimming: Coordinate lighting precisely with AV activities, so an auditorium uses full lighting during setup, reduces it during presentations, and drops to minimum lighting during video playback.
  
• Adaptive Dimming: Adjust lighting based on screen brightness levels, occupancy, and natural light in the room, keeping lights at low levels during video content on sunny mornings but increasing them on overcast afternoons to maintain employee comfort and minimize energy waste.
  
• Demand Response: Manage power in conference rooms for presentations during peak and off-peak usage times to support energy savings.
  
• Green Building Certification: Supports (Leadership in Energy Efficient Design) LEED certification through the use of occupancy-based lighting, automatic AV shutdown, daylight harvesting, and energy monitoring devices, all of which can contribute to attaining certification points. 

Case Studies

The following two real-world examples showcase how integrated lighting and AV control can simplify lighting and AV management across large, complex spaces. These installations demonstrate how lighting control solutions streamline operations, boost energy efficiency, and enhance guest experiences, offering benefits that smaller, less complex spaces will also achieve.

Integrated AV and Lighting Control for A Sprawling Entertainment Venue 

At Puttshack's 19,000-square-foot mini-golf course in Minneapolis, the SAVI iQ platform brings together displays, audio, digital signage, and lighting into a single unified system. The low-voltage lighting runs over standard cabling, creating 101 adjustable lighting zones that set the proper mood throughout the property.

The platform makes daily operations easier for the venue’s team in managing multiple systems and complex controls. Patrons enjoy consistent lighting and audio while moving between the golf courses, bars, and lounges.  The venue benefits from lower energy consumption and simplified management and control.

Integrated AV and Lighting Control at Wellness and Entertainment Venue 

At WorldSprings, a 10-acre outdoor mineral springs and spa in Texas, the SAVI iQ platform was installed to synchronize displays, speakers, and lighting across its soaking pools, saunas, cafes, and bars. Today, the venue’s staff can adjust the lighting, music, and on-screen content throughout the property from a single location, all without having to manage each independent system.

The streamlined setup reduces maintenance costs by integrating directly with the manufacturer’s displays and doesn’t require external devices for each area. This makes everything work more consistently and makes it easy to scale when the venue’s needs grow.

These two deployments demonstrate that integrated lighting and AV control systems deliver the benefits of streamlined operations, enhanced experiences, energy efficiency, and scalability. 

Lessons Learned and Best Practices

Getting the most out of an integrated control system means that staff, stakeholders, manufacturers, and installers must work together throughout planning and deployment. When everyone's involved from the start, the system will deliver the best outcome for everyone.

Here are some best practices to follow:

• Early Stakeholder Collaboration: Engage AV, lighting, operations, and IT teams from the start to align priorities and expectations and make sure nothing is overlooked.
  
• Comprehensive Documentation: Maintain records to simplify troubleshooting, upgrades, and staff training.
  
• Future Expansion Planning: Plan for growth and changes upfront to minimize disruption and maintain flexibility.
  
• Operator Training and Engagement: Make sure staff members feel confident using the system and that you provide ongoing technical support.
  
• Regular Performance Review: Continuously monitor system performance to identify improvements in efficiency, guest experience, and user experience.
  

Choosing the Right System

Thoughtful evaluation and use of best practices help ensure that the system that’s chosen meets today’s needs while supporting future growth. Scalability, compatibility with existing AV and building systems, budgetary considerations, and vendor support all play a role in determining whether a system will not only deliver value when it’s installed but continue to deliver value over its useful lifetime.  

Manufacturers such as Crestron, SAVI iQ, Extron, Lutron, and others offer integrated control systems, so finding the right one means carefully evaluating each system’s capabilities. Key questions to ask when evaluating a system include:

1. What are the system’s capacity limits, and how easily can it scale?
   
2. How does the system integrate with AV control platforms, Building Management Systems (BMS), and IT networks?
   
3. What level of programming is required, and who is expected to maintain it?
   
4. What training, documentation, and ongoing support are provided?
   
5. What does the product roadmap look like over the next five to ten years?
   
6. Are open standards supported to avoid vendor lock-in?
   
7. How are software updates, cybersecurity, and system reliability managed?
   
8. What data can the system collect, and how can it be used operationally?
   
9. How are software updates and cybersecurity threats managed?
   

The Future of Lighting Control in Pro AV

Lighting control management is becoming an important consideration in how Pro AV spaces function. Trends like connected devices working together, AI that personalizes employee experiences, systems that collect and analyze data, and open standards that prevent vendor lock-in are creating environments that are smarter, more adaptive, and more responsive.

As these capabilities evolve, lighting systems will not only enhance operational efficiency and energy management but also play a critical role in shaping immersive, more productive experiences and workflows. AV professionals who strategically embrace lighting control today will be well-prepared to design spaces that anticipate client needs and scale with technological innovations.

Shedding A Spotlight on Lighting Control for AV Installers

Lighting control systems have become essential in delivering simplified operations, better experiences, and energy savings. As technology evolves and sustainability becomes more critical, these systems, along with broader-based building management systems, will play a strategic role in designing spaces that are adaptable and future-ready. 

AV professionals who understand the value of these systems and the emerging trends can create environments that perform today while remaining flexible for tomorrow.

Image source: Getty Images/skyNext