Project Drivers and LLLC Proposal Specification Language

This guide connects common project drivers with luminaire-level lighting controls (LLLCs) features and provides recommended specification language to support energy efficient lighting proposals.

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Audience & Intended Use

This guide has been crafted to support the sales process between contractors and their customers.

Contractors	Building Owners and Managers
Supports project proposals by connecting customer priorities with LLLC features and provides specification language that supports the value propositions.	Helps decision makers document project priorities and ensures the proposed system meets expectations.

Contractors who successfully sell projects with luminaire-level lighting controls frequently share the same advice when it comes to developing project proposals.

Project Proposals DOs

1. Walk the site with the owner or facilities manager and inquire about:

Current space use
Future space use
Challenges with the existing system

2. Document the customer’s drivers and priorities

3. Include LLLC specification language to demonstrate understanding and provide context for the proposal

4. When possible, include utility incentives and present the proposal with an estimated ROI

Project Proposal DON’Ts

Suggest a solution (even LLLC) without first understanding customer needs
Assume the customer always wants the cheapest and simplest solution
Introduce technical jargon like “individual addressability” or “mesh networks” without providing context
Assume system setup and programming time will exceed labor savings from other areas
Rely on energy code alone to drive project specification

Project Drivers and Specification Language Support

The following table lists common project drivers, identifies LLLC performance features, and provides recommended performance specification language to support the project proposal. Not all systems include every feature, so select and adapt only items relevant to the specific product proposed.

Primary Project Drivers	LLLC Performance Feature	Recommended Performance Specification Language to Support Proposal
Low Installation Cost	Wireless controls Integrated load controllers	To minimize labor and material costs, the proposed LLLC system features: Wireless communication between devices Integrated and programmable load controllers at the fixture level Wireless devices that have a rated battery life of at least three years
Low Operating Cost	Programmability Energy monitoring	To ensure low operating costs, the system will be configured with a sequence of operations that incorporates the following control strategies: High-end trim Occupancy sensing Daylight harvesting Scheduling
Space Flexibility	Individual addressability Wireless rezoning Battery powered wall controllers	To accommodate space changes and tenant preferences the control system will feature: Individually addressable fixtures Wireless and surface mount wall controllers Wireless devices will have a rated battery life of at least three years
Ease of Use	Tablet or remote control configurable	To ensure ease of use, the system will offer configuration from: App-based tablet (iOS or Android), remote control, or both Manual dim and raise Programmable scene controllers
Reliability	Mesh network Controls persistence	To ensure reliability, the controls system relies on a mesh network capable of rerouting signals and automatically rejoining networks in the event of outages. If not on a mesh network, controls system should highlight how wireless signals are routed around buildings materials, which might attenuate signal strength (i.e., sub 1Mhz frequency).

Primary Project Drivers

LLLC Performance Feature

Recommended Performance Specification Language to Support Proposal

Low Installation Cost

Wireless controls
Integrated load controllers

To minimize labor and material costs, the proposed LLLC system features:

Wireless communication between devices
Integrated and programmable load controllers at the fixture level
Wireless devices that have a rated battery life of at least three years

Low Operating Cost

Programmability
Energy monitoring

To ensure low operating costs, the system will be configured with a sequence of operations that incorporates the following control strategies:

High-end trim
Occupancy sensing
Daylight harvesting
Scheduling

Space Flexibility

Individual addressability
Wireless rezoning
Battery powered wall controllers

To accommodate space changes and tenant preferences the control system will feature:

Individually addressable fixtures
Wireless and surface mount wall controllers
Wireless devices will have a rated battery life of at least three years

Ease of Use

Tablet or remote control configurable

To ensure ease of use, the system will offer configuration from:

App-based tablet (iOS or Android), remote control, or both
Manual dim and raise
Programmable scene controllers

Reliability

Mesh network
Controls persistence

To ensure reliability, the controls system relies on a mesh network capable of rerouting signals and automatically rejoining networks in the event of outages.

If not on a mesh network, controls system should highlight how wireless signals are routed around buildings materials, which might attenuate signal strength (i.e., sub 1Mhz frequency).

Secondary Project Drivers	LLLC Performance Feature	Recommended Performance Specification Language to Support Proposal
Cyber Security	Mesh networks with no gateways Systems with cyber certifications	To ensure the controls do not create a cyber risk, the system when applicable will: Operate on its own isolated network Be listed with approved cyber certification Provide basic system functionality without the use of a dedicated gateway Be capable of firmware and app updates that address future vulnerabilities
Accessibility	Remote system access Scheduling override Personal control	To ensure accessibility, the system will: Allow manual local override Allow approved user remote access (gateway dependent) Allow multiple levels of user permission so that tenants have access to basic lighting control features (scenes, light levels, tunable white)
Scalability	Gateway device Additional IOT hardware or cloud services	To ensure scalability, the system can expand network range and capabilities via Dedicated gateway devices Additional dedicated network hardware or IOT services
Code Compliance	Integrated motion and occupancy sensors Programmable load controllers	To ensure code compliance, the LLLC system features integrated motion and photo sensors and a programmable fixture load controller, which will be programmed to a sequence of operations that meets or exceeds applicable code requirements.

Secondary Project Drivers

LLLC Performance Feature

Recommended Performance Specification Language to Support Proposal

Cyber Security

Mesh networks with no gateways
Systems with cyber certifications

To ensure the controls do not create a cyber risk, the system when applicable will:

Operate on its own isolated network
Be listed with approved cyber certification
Provide basic system functionality without the use of a dedicated gateway
Be capable of firmware and app updates that address future vulnerabilities

Accessibility

Remote system access
Scheduling override
Personal control

To ensure accessibility, the system will:

Allow manual local override
Allow approved user remote access (gateway dependent)
Allow multiple levels of user permission so that tenants have access to basic lighting control features (scenes, light levels, tunable white)

Scalability

Gateway device
Additional IOT hardware or cloud services

To ensure scalability, the system can expand network range and capabilities via

Dedicated gateway devices
Additional dedicated network hardware or IOT services

Code Compliance

Integrated motion and occupancy sensors
Programmable load controllers

To ensure code compliance, the LLLC system features integrated motion and photo sensors and a programmable fixture load controller, which will be programmed to a sequence of operations that meets or exceeds applicable code requirements.