In the last decade, the lighting industry has changed its conventional approach from a group of bulb manufacturing companies to a significant force focused on health and productivity. But, if you’re wondering what force has been behind this tremendous transformation within the short period, you’re not alone.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), an aspect of disruptive technology which has been the driving force behind technological revolution, has led to the development of Power over Ethernet (PoE) lighting.
The internet is not only a people’s element anymore. Currently, there are even more devices operating on the internet than people. One of the latest developments of the Internet of Things (IoT) is connected lighting. PoE lighting has become a popular topic of conversation over the past few years, as more and more businesses are discovering the benefits of this energy-efficient lighting system.
Read on to learn about some of the wonders IoT has brought to the lighting industry.
What is PoE Lighting?
Ever wondered how you can create a fancy environment in your office or property? You don’t have to think about costly equipment and wiring over your building to create the lighting experience your staff or clients deserve. IoT can make it done through easy, affordable, fast, and convenient processes of PoE lighting.
PoE lighting is a type of smart lighting system that uses Power over Ethernet technology to deliver power and data to devices on low voltage cabling. Instead of the high cost of traditional high voltage power cabling, the PoE lighting system is directly connected to your building’s network infrastructure by copper wiring. The copper cable transmits data and power to your lighting system while enabling customized lighting effects.
How Does PoE Lighting Work?
PoE lighting uses Power over Ethernet technology to deliver power and data to devices. The system collects and transmits data and power from the main server, which acts as the brain of the entire system. For instance, when a sensor connected to the system senses movement in a space, it sends the message to the system’s center, triggering lights to turn on.
PoE can also provide different lighting effects for each room. For example, if you want warm lighting in your property or office, you can command the system to alter the lighting system in a specific room only. In addition, in conference rooms and collaboration spaces that require cooler lighting for productivity, you can create a lighting effect to enable teams’ optimum functionality.
PoE can also be utilized to prevent damages in emergencies. You can program emergency lighting to turn on automatically in case of a security breach or fire on the premises. In large offices, PoE lighting can be used efficiently to direct your staff to safety through automatic pathway lighting.
What are the Benefits of PoE Lighting?
PoE lighting has multiple benefits to conventional (fluorescent, halogen, and incandescent) and modern AC-powered LED lighting. The benefits not only relate to cost efficiency but also to the health of the users.
Cost Benefits of PoE Lighting?
Perhaps one of the most prolific benefits of PoE lighting relates to cost efficiency. The cost reduction is realized in different ways over the PoE lifetime.
PoE installation cost is cheaper than other forms of lighting. Unlike conventional electrical work, PoE doesn’t require costly and bulk wiring on your property or office. Instead, an affordable copper cable is sufficient to transmit data and power across your premises.
You can cut all that cost without sacrificing the lighting quality you need. In addition, PoE installation involves structured cabling that is more efficiently scalable than installing new since the former involves custom software zones.
PoE lighting can cut your power consumption cost substantially. You can utilize IoT to manage power consumption in your office. For instance, PoE lighting can automatically provide lighting only when needed. If a space is not being used at a particular time, the light will automatically turn off. This will minimize your energy consumption effectively.
PoE lighting involves easier network management. Since PoE lighting is connected to your office internet, you don’t have to incur separate maintenance costs for the power and network.
PoE uses a remote battery system. Unlike conventional lighting, which requires battery backups.
Health Benefits of PoE Lighting?
PoE is software control-based. This allows IoT to control the lighting effect in your office space or home. By combining power and data into a single connection, you’re able to create a comfortable, healthy environment for your staff. The IoT can enable the lighting system to minimize or optimize the lighting effects to suit the occupants of a particular space.
You can integrate your PoE lighting with the HVAC systems. This will allow effective automatic control of air quality and lighting effects. Additionally, PoE can be controlled through personal light control light on your smartphone or office computer. This system is becoming widely used to enhance adaptability in various environments.
PoE lighting does not emit UV/IR rays. But it can reduce lighting effects such as eye strain and fatigue. As a result, your team can work for longer hours, hence increasing organizational output.
Conventional lighting contains toxic elements such as mercury and glass, which may affect your staff’s health. On the contrary, PoE lighting is free from these harmful materials. Therefore, IoT promotes healthy working all day, every day.
Productivity Benefits of PoE
PoE lighting benefits involve multiple data sets, which can help guide organizational priorities. The data gathered by the lighting sensors can be used to refine services and streamline operations. These sensors can help determine the most important activities in your company to determine whether you’re working towards your set objectives. In addition, the sensors can help you monitor compliance and security. The data collected can help determine repetitive operations, which can be automated to allow your staff to focus on other important activities.
Besides tracking real-time energy usage on a room-by-room or building basis, it is also possible to track and analyze occupancy and operations in every room. The outcome of data collected on each activity and space can be used to determine the time each team takes to complete a certain activity. As a result, you can track hindrances in each activity and maximize employees’ productivity.
Improve Your Lighting System with PoE
If you are wondering how you can minimize the cost of power while increasing productivity, worry no more! PoE is a cost-effective, environmentally friendly lighting system that utilizes your existing internet structure. The lighting system can help you save power energy while optimizing your workforce productivity.
If you’re an IT professional, facility manager, property owner, or interior designer, it’s time to leverage the advantage of the PoE to reap the optimum benefits of AI.
