Acuity Brands Launches the ROAMview Lighting Control System, Extending the Company’s ROAM Roadway Technology into Site and Area Lighting

The ROAMview system provides property owners and small municipalities the ability to efficiently manage outdoor lighting using a wireless monitoring and control system.   

Introducing the ROAMview™ lighting control system, an expansion of  the Company’s ROAM^® suite of industry-leading wireless outdoor lighting monitoring and control systems.  ROAMview features a pre-configured server and software package that can be easily deployed in smaller site, area or roadway applications such as car dealerships, shopping malls and campuses.

The ROAMview system allows property owners and small municipalities to efficiently operate and maintain their outdoor lighting by taking advantage of the optimal lighting performance, energy savings and reduced maintenance costs that the ROAM technology suite offers. With its pre-configured server and gateway, the ROAMview system simply connects to a user’s existing computer network, enabling control and monitoring from any computer within the user’s organization.

The intuitive, browser-based portal provides ease of control for grouping outdoor lighting fixtures, and easily applies customer-defined schedules for precise on/off and dimming.  Events or holidays that require specific lighting patterns are conveniently accommodated in the ROAMview portal’s simple drag-and-drop time-clock scheduling screen.

“With the addition of the ROAMview system to our product line, we can now offer all property owners a powerful suite of capabilities and features similar to those used by large municipalities,” said Terry Utterback, Acuity Brands Lighting Vice President and ROAM Value Stream Leader. “Without trenching a single foot of wire, they can go from circuit-based control to individual fixture control.  The system tracks and reports individual fixture performance, and  reports outages so that they can be quickly addressed.  It eliminates the need for night-time audits, the waste of day-burning lights and the elevated risks associated with lighting outages.”

The ROAMview system is simple to install and commission. Wireless ROAM nodes are installed on each fixture, attaching to an industry-standard NEMA® twist-and-lock receptacle.  As soon as the pre-configured server and gateway are energized, the system can begin to form its self-configuring, self-healing mesh network. It takes only a few hours to set up fixture groups and begin controlling lights.

Sensor Switch Launches nWiFi Wireless Solution for nLiGHT Network Lighting Control System

Acuity Brands, Inc. is pleased to announce the addition of wireless capabilities to its award-winning nLiGHT® network lighting control technology. The nWiFi™ solution from Sensor Switch® uses existing WiFi network infrastructure to further simplify control installation and reduce hardware costs.

The nWiFi solution adds conventional WiFi technology (802.11n) to nLight devices, such as occupancy sensors and relays, enabling them to seamlessly communicate with both wired and wireless nLiGHT lighting control zones. Additionally, nWiFi devices can directly communicate to locally wired nLight devices through CAT-5 cables.  Already installed in multiple locations, the nWiFi solution has proven a robust addition to the wired nLiGHT network, leveraging the wide-spread industry knowledge around the 802.11 protocol.

“The addition of nWiFi makes nLight unique, integrating both wired and wireless lighting controls to meet the diverse requirements of any project,” said Ben Hahn, Acuity Brands Lighting Vice President and Value Stream Leader for Sensor Switch. “This hybrid approach simplifies installation, reduces labor costs and expands intelligent lighting control possibilities to areas such as renovation and high bay applications that traditionally have been challenging.”

“The application of WiFi is widespread, trusted, and growing, making it the ideal technology for wireless networked lighting controls,” said Steve Lydecker, Acuity Brands Lighting Senior Vice President and General Manager, Controls and Systems. “The nWiFi product line takes full advantage of this evolution and demonstrates our continued commitment to our customers through the development of innovative, cost-effective and technology-driven solutions that meet their needs.”

A digital architecture and networking technology that cost-effectively integrates time-based, daylight-based, sensor-based and manual lighting controls, the nLiGHT system is designed to function in an individual room or networked together across an entire facility or campus. Easy-to-use and easy-to-install, the nLiGHT system significantly cuts energy consumption while enhancing user and occupant convenience. nLiGHT intelligence is also embedded in LED luminaires from Lithonia Lighting® — offering a complete and customizable lighting solution with integrated controls.

For more information about Acuity Brands line of lighting and controls solutions, please visit Acuity Brands and Sensor Switch on the web.

 

Acuity Brands Launches Wall Switch Sensor with Convertible Neutral/Ground Connection for Meeting NEC 2011 Neutral Requirements

Acuity Brands, Inc. is pleased to introduce the new patent-pending WSD NGX (Neutral/Ground Exchangeable) wall switch sensor as an addition to its Sensor Switch® line of occupancy sensors.

This new sensor provides an innovative and contractor-friendly solution to meet the neutral/ground wiring requirements under the 2011 National Electric Code® (“NEC 2011”) without having to purchase a dedicated unit. The WSD NGX sensor can use either the neutral conductor required by NEC 2011 for new construction projects, or it can use the ground connection, which is a common wiring method for many retrofit applications. The sensor’s ability to use either wiring method enables distributors to stock and sell one unit without risk of returned material from jobs where the wrong type of sensor was supplied.

“Since its release, the new NEC 2011 code has been partially or fully adopted by more than 25 states,” said Ben Hahn, Acuity Brands Lighting Vice President and Value Stream Leader for Sensor Switch. “The WSD NGX sensor’s wiring feature allows contractors to have a universally code compliant solution regardless of job site wiring requirements.”

“With the growing adoption rate of NEC 2011 as an accelerant, this new universal sensor provides a level of simplicity to electrical contractors and distributors last seen with the introduction of multi-volt ballasts,” added Steve Lydecker, Acuity Brands Lighting Senior Vice President and General Manager, Controls and Systems. “The multi-volt ballast eliminated the need to stock dedicated ballast voltages and avoided the risk of getting the wrong unit to the jobsite. Now with the new WSD NGX the same is true of the wall switch sensor.”

The new patent-pending convertible neutral/ground exchangeable (NGX) feature joins Sensor Switch’s already patented reversible line and load wiring featured product line – continuing the Company’s rich history of developing contractor-friendly products. The WSD NGX is available in both Passive Infrared (PIR) and Dual Technology (PDT) versions and is now shipping.

Pathway Connectivity Introduces New Pathport Quattro Control Solution

Rounding out a powerful line of DMX-over-Ethernet distribution equipment is the innovative new Pathport Quattro, which provides real-time, interoperability solutions between sophisticated lighting control systems.

A Pathway Connectivity solution, the compact, four-port node Pathport Quattro runs on Power-over-Ethernet, making it suitable for truss, desktop, wall-mount or 19”-rack installation. Like other members of Pathway’s Pathport family, the Quattro supports all standard DMX-over-Ethernet protocols, including E1.31 streaming ACN, Strand Shownet, Art-Net and Pathport Protocol. It can easily be retro-fitted into an existing network or be the cornerstone of a new installation.

The Pathport Quattro and other Pathway products will be exhibited at the LDI 2011 Trade Show and Conference at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, October 28-30, Booth #1257.

ROAM System Brings Big Benefits to Glendale, Arizona

Combining photo-control technology with remote monitoring and control capabilities, the ROAM wireless outdoor street light monitoring and control system continues to provide superior benefits to the City of Glendale, Arizona. Glendale was the first U.S. city to have the ROAM wireless monitoring system, which was installed as part of its comprehensive city-wide street light monitoring system over a 55-square-mile area.

Since installation, the City reports a dramatic reduction of resident-reported lighting outages. As a result, the City’s resident satisfaction levels have improved, while City staff, contractors and utility companies are held more accountable for their performance, all as measured by the ROAM system.

Mark your Map: Booth 1819N at Greenbuild

Come see how Acuity Brands is creating a more sustainable planet with lighting and lighting controls that minimize energy use and maximize energy savings.

Visit us in Booth #1819N at the 2011 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Toronto, this week through the 7th, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

And remember: say the word “artichoke” to register for your chance to win one of five Amazon Kindle 3G e-readers! Visit our website for official rules.

Acuity Brands in Booth 1819N at 2011 Greenbuild

If you’re at the 2011 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Toronto at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, come see Acuity Brands in Booth 1819N.

In addition to showcasing the best quality of lighting and controls technologies in the industry, Acuity Brands will be giving away five Kindle e-readers. Visit Booth #1819N and say the word “artichoke.” You’ll get a registration form to submit and be that much closer to winning an Amazon Kindle 3G. To view official contest rules, click here.

University Picks Lithonia Lighting for Renovation with LED

A major lighting renovation project at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) has incorporated LED lighting from Lithonia Lighting, namely the RTLED™ luminaire. VCU’s decision to use the Lithonia Lighting product was driven, in part, by the school’s earlier success with office and general lighting relighting using an RT5™ fixture.

The RTLED is a high-quality, volumetric recessed luminaire that delivers ambient white light uniformly throughout an entire space while reducing energy and maintenance costs and a building’s environmental footprint. It comes factory-enabled with an interface to the company’s Sensor Switch® portfolio of sensors and control systems.

VTLED Luminaires an Expansion on Acuity Brands LEDs

With the launch of the Lithonia Lighting VTLED volumetric luminaire, Acuity Brands expands its indoor ambient LED lighting offerings. Designed for general-purpose applications, the VTLED is a top-tier, volumetric fixture that joins the already popular RTLED, ACLED and TLED recessed LED luminaires launched last year.

VTLED’s points of distinction: it features intelligent controls (nLight™ plug-and-play technology) and flexible design at an exceptional value. It also comes standard with smooth, continuous dimming functions. The robust design with a classic aesthetic is versatile, making VTLED ideal for office, retail, education and healthcare environments.

Indoor and Outdoor LED Products Earn Honors

Three Acuity Brands products were named winners of four Product Innovation Awards (PIAs) from Architectural SSL magazine during LIGHTFAIR International. The magazine is a leading publication focused on LEDs and solid-state lighting throughout the built environment.

The PIAs, which honor the best LED luminaires and components on the market and the companies behind them, were given to:

• The Lithonia Lighting® RTLED™ luminaire, which received two Platinum Level honors in the General Ambient Lighting category and in the Most Innovative Optical Controls category.

• The Winona Lighting® Winline™ Submersible 607 Cool Core fixture, which received the Specialty Lighting Gold Level honor.

• The new Tersen® Ratio™ PG product, which received the Silver Level honor in the Low Bay/Garage category.