Lighting Controls Podcast

Energy consultant Gina Rodda joins the show to break down California’s Title 24 energy code and why understanding code is essential for lighting professionals. From reading the code to avoiding costly mistakes, Gina shares expert tips, real-world stories, and why proper documentation matters.    💡 Topics include:  - Title 24 and ASHRAE 90.1  - Code compliance pitfalls  - ROI myths in lighting con...

In this compelling episode of the Lighting Controls Podcast, we welcome Chris Bocchiaro—a dynamic force in the lighting industry with a career spanning theatrical roots, integration expertise, and public-facing light art installations.   💡 From his beginnings in Boston theater to managing landmark lighting projects, Chris shares how inside sales launched his journey, how integration reshaped his...

🎙️ In this episode of the Lighting Controls Podcast, Webster and Ron sit down with Wes Hacking, a lighting control specialist at Cooper Electric, to unpack how distributors can evolve into high-value integrators. From Wes’s theatrical lighting roots to his hands-on lab in Manhattan, he shares how Cooper Electric offers design-build services, in-house programming, and real-world problem-solving—wel...

💡 In this Lighting Controls Podcast episode, industry expert Steve Mesh unpacks a real-world retrofit project in a high-rise office where four lighting control systems were tested. The outcome? Only the quadrant using LLLCs (luminaire-level lighting controls) worked flawlessly. It’s a compelling case for smarter design, clearer documentation, and better education in lighting controls installation...

In this episode of the Lighting Controls Podcast, our guest David Fox—Training and Outreach Specialist with ETC—dives deep into DMX512. He challenges the misconception that DMX512 is an unfamiliar protocol and explains its evolution from analog systems to a reliable, widely-used lighting control standard. From the history of saltwater dimmers to the practical rules of wiring and troubleshooting DM...

Join us in celebrating our 100th episode of the Lighting Controls Podcast! In this special milestone episode, we welcome Craig DiLouie from the Lighting Controls Association and Alexa Berger from NEMA to discuss the future of lighting education, workforce development, and technological innovation in lighting controls.     We explore the transition from Education Express to the new NEMA Academy, an...

Lighting controls are evolving, but do we all speak the same language? Join Webster Marsh as he and Chris O'Shea from Control Force tackle the biggest terminology challenges in the industry. From different definitions across the U.S. and Europe to the confusion between "dimmer" and "controller," this episode uncovers why consistency in terminology matters more than ever for professionals and newco...

In this episode, Ryan Krueger, Energy Efficiency Manager at EnerChange, shares insights on lighting controls, rebates, and energy optimization. With funding from utilities and the Minnesota Department of Commerce, he audits nonprofits at no cost to them in order to cut building energy costs. Ryan breaks down how utilities structure rebates, the rise of luminaire-level lighting controls (LLLC), and...

Specializing in high-end residential and hospitality lighting design, Andy Bull shares insights on lighting controls, automation, and scene-based design—exploring how smart systems can enhance daily life. From residential vs. commercial lighting to educating clients on intuitive controls, this episode sheds light on optimizing spaces for function and aesthetics.   Andy Bull is a lighting designer,...

In this engaging episode, Adrienne Jones, a seasoned professional with 26 years of experience in the lighting industry, takes center stage to share her wealth of knowledge. Here's what you can expect: 🔹 Design Build Explained: Adrienne uncovers the nuances of design build projects, emphasizing collaboration from the start to streamline processes and ensure success. 🔹 The Importance of Clear Defi...

Like so many other lighting controls specialists, Adam originates from the theatrical lighting world, so he unabashedly loves DMX512. But don’t call it "DMX," lest the DMX512 police arrest you. But seriously, Adam talks about DMX profiles, charts, HSI, and the importance of the manufacturers putting all of this information and more on the cut sheet. And remember, just because it’s a DMX512 fixture...

“I want one button that turns everything off when I leave.” For Chase, in the high-end residential world, that is often where the conversation with a homeowner begins, and that is where the lighting controls design begins. These aren’t complicated multi-media building facades, but with the different expectation of what makes good lighting controls and good lighting design, communication with a hom...

“Architainment”. You might hate the term, but Sam has embraced it as it perfectly describes what he does. Coming from the theatre world, and tiring of tech week and the cue-to-cue’s, Sam moved into the 9 to 5(-ish) world of architectural lighting. He still holds onto that creative theatricality and applies it to theme parks, building facades, and bridges. But that doesn’t mean the work headaches h...

Every once in a while we get guests who worry that they won’t have something to say on the podcast. Yoelit Hiebert, an electrical engineer who worked on the Tomahawk weapons system, has plenty to say and it’s worth listening to. Working on something as complicated as a self guided missile, documentation is vital. While we’re not going to accidentally blow something up with lighting controls, Yoeli...

Chris joins Webster and Ron to talk about the NAILD Lighting Specialist in Controls certification program. On this one, they are all three guests, because they are all three instructors for the program. If you’ve been wavering about registering, this podcast can help you decide if it’s for you. Webster is taking on the Specialist track, Ron the Distribution track, and Chris the Installation track....

Lighting controls are all about communication—between systems, between disciplines, and between people. But where do the lines of communication break down? Can you separate controls from lights? What is an integrator, and what does a bad one look like? When is the ideal time to bring an integrator into a project? Along with Sara, we dive into these questions and explore topics like tape light, sco...

This one’s a bit different. Ron plays host to Michael Colligan AND Webster as they discuss the new NAILD Lighting Specialist in Controls training and certification program ( naild.org/ls-c ). Webster explains the “who, what, when, and where,” while Michael gives us the “why” from his perspective as a lighting distributor. This is about additional revenue for distributors and ensuring their teams h...

Chris comes to us from NEEA, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. Energy savings from LED‘s is pretty much tapped out. Chris explains how utilities are now looking at lighting controls as the next evolution in conserving energy, and how they reach their goals. He enlightens us on how switching the time out on an occupancy sensor from 7 to 5 minutes can make all the difference in reaching the savi...

Lyn is back earning her 3-times jacket! Lyn starts with the statement that nobody knows what they’re doing and we go from there. Lyn talks about the reason to use the term "commissioning provider" rather than agent or authority (Check out her blog post on the subject: https://kw-engineering.com/commissioning-titles-agent-authority-provider-one-right/ ). Which makes sense seeing as she is now the P...

Recent changes from the IALD suggest that lighting designers can have their own controls teams. While this approach may work in some cases, Bryan raises some important considerations. Through our discussions on over 80 episodes of The Lighting Controls Podcast, we’ve explored the complexities and challenges that come with lighting control systems. Each project has unique needs, and a one-size-fits...

Dan joins us from Lam Partners Architectural Lighting where they are “crafting luminous environments for people to spend their lives in.” That luminous environment requires lights, obviously, but also controls. That being said, Dan points out that the most successful projects are ones that have simple user interfaces. As Ron says, “You can have the most complicated control system on the back end,...

Parker comes to us from the Edison Report. He gives Webster and Ron a 30,000 foot view of the lighting controls industry. Looking in from the outside, Parker touches on the retrofit world, manufacturer reps, the national electrical grid, and even cryptocurrency. Parker Allen serves as a Manager at EdisonReport, a news website and media network dedicated to covering the lighting industry. He is a c...

Avi’s back! And he speaks his mind. Avi contends that the lighting designer should also design the controls. As he says, “If I pick what that thing is, then I gotta figure out how to turn it on and off.” Avi says that it also includes “Liminaire Number One,” by which he means the Sun. Yes, automated shades should also come under the purview of the lighting designer. Oh and yes, for Avi, DALI is “d...

Umesh shares with us the latest at MaxLite. They haven’t always been in lighting controls. But from their beginnings in architectural lighting, they have evolved and are even setting the pace with lighting controls, especially with their unique use of USB-C connectors. Be aware that USB-C, in this application, is there to simplify the connection process, not to charge your phone. Umesh is a SVP of...

Nathan has been digging into the National Electrical Code. He stresses the importance of verbiage in codes. A word as simple as “all” can have an enormous impact on interpretation. For example, Webster and Ron discuss with Nathan a weird transition in Texas electrical and mechanical rooms from using occupancy sensors to timer switches and how, if you are a worker in that room and you aren’t famili...