INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Cabling
Integrating building
lighting with IoT using PoE
Structured cabling vendor Siemon illustrates how Power over
Ethernet is integrating lighting with IoT systems.
specify, install, and manage the many
components in a Power over Ethernet
lighting system, most customers rely
on a lighting engineer or architect to
design a reflected ceiling plan for the
building space.
Power over Ethernet lighting solutions
globally illuminate over one billion
square feet of commercial space today.
Explosive growth is predicted for the
smart lighting industry because, in
addition to having the potential to
reduce energy costs by up to 90%,
these systems lower capital lighting
investment, improve safety and
comfort, and integrate with all IoT-
enabled building automation systems.
In fact, Gartner predicts the number
of smart lighting deployments to grow
from 46 million units in 2015 to 2.54
billion units in 2020.
Considered an integral component
of the Internet of Things, smart or
intelligent lighting solutions consist
of a system of lighting fixtures, which
can be controlled, monitored, and
powered over one centralised network.
Deployment of smart lighting systems
over balanced twisted-pair cabling is
becoming increasingly popular due to
the ease and benefits of using Ethernet
communication for control and
deploying remote powering technology,
such as 60W Power over Ethernet, to
safely energise the lighting grid. These
systems are commonly referred to as
Power over Ethernet lighting.
To maximise efficiency, Power over
Ethernet lighting luminaires typically
utilise light emitting diode technology,
which offers the benefits of lower
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power consumption and less heat
generation than other luminaire
design alternatives. The power saving
opportunities and deployment flexibility
associated with smart Power over
Ethernet lighting systems are significant
and are changing the landscape of
structured cabling design.
Power over Ethernet lighting systems
are sophisticated and rely on a
well-designed infrastructure of high
performance balanced twisted-
pair cabling, network electronics,
and software connecting and
communicating with IP addressable
luminaires, dimmers, sensors, and
controllers to deliver maximum
performance, comfort, and energy
savings benefits. Because of the
wide range of expertise needed to
Power over Ethernet lighting
opportunities alone comprise 35%
of the possible savings in capital
expenditure in an IoT enabled building.
In addition, a comparison performed
by Cisco of the upfront labor and
installation investment and upfront
hardware and software investment
costs between traditional fluorescent,
traditional LED, and 60W UPOE3-
enabled LED lighting deployments in a
3,000+ m2 building in New York City,
demonstrates that Power over Ethernet-
enabled lighting systems have the
lowest cost of ownership.
Unlike traditional lighting systems
supported by 120V 60 Hz or 230V 50
Hz alternating current circuits running
over 12-14 AWG electrical cable, Power
over Ethernet lighting is deployed over
user-friendly balanced twisted-pair
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