Use Pandemic Time to Grow Your Technical Knowledge
October 19, 2020
If you were born in the 20th century you’ll probably find videos like “Kids Try Gadgets that Will Make You Feel Old” amusing as the featured children struggle to understand how to operate rotary phones and speculate the purpose of portable cassette players. It’s fun to see the tables turned on these digital natives who likely took their first steps because their parents enticed them with an electronic device.
We laugh because it’s usually us who have the learning to do when it comes to technology. This is particularly true when it comes to LED lighting and controls. What started out as a 40-watt T12 to 34-watt relamp and cleaning back in the “good ole days,” has now become an LED retrofit or luminaire replacement incorporating some level of control(s).
In addition to providing light, today’s luminaire comes equipped with occupancy sensors, blue tooth beacons for asset tracking and visible light communication (VLC) and indoor positioning sensing (IPS) capabilities.
All this technology benefits your clients as they look to leverage their installed lighting in new and exciting ways. It generates valuable real-time data—everything from locating trackable assets and identifying traffic or occupancy patterns to monitoring tagged assets such as shopping carts and delivering digital coupons to shoppers’ mobile devices.
To further challenge conventional thinking, today’s luminaires can also be powered via Power Over Ethernet (POE) without typical line voltage, making these true plug-and-play luminaires with the ethernet cable alone providing power and managing data receipt and transmission.
Resources for Growing Knowledge Base
Ironically, it takes a good old-fashioned plague to stop and ponder all that is new. As the COVID-19 pandemic drags on, it’s easy to think of all that COVID-19 has taken away from us. However, one thing it has given us is time, an opportunity to start building a targeted growth and development plan. While these are highly individual, here are some ideas to consider.
Product knowledge. Products are becoming more sophisticated and varied when it comes to specification and compatibility. Never before have we tried to integrate so many devices (sensors, controls, data transmission, the “cloud,” etc.) and it is critical during the prospecting and sales stages to understand your clients’ needs and the objectives for the project. Retrofits provide opportunities to integrate and futureproof—and the key to both is compatibility.
Invest your downtime in better understanding manufacturer compatibility data on their websites. Check these for compatibility:
- LED lamps / luminaires and dimmers
- LED products and Emergency back-up drivers
- Wireless devices and operating parameters
IoT and connectivity. Today’s customers have never been more interested in connectivity. This connectivity provides the ability to combine building systems into an intelligent network. These programmable devices require higher levels of skill to specify, install, commission and monitor, not to mention to understand intended data use, data capture and management. Learn more about this from NALMCO’s website.
Cyber security. When every light fixture becomes an internet connected device, security needs to be a top consideration. Don’t let the risk of hackers accessing your client's secure network discourage them from the project. Again, NALMCO is a great place to start.
Certifications. Industry recognized certification programs and credentials validate the skill set of you and your staff. This makes a great differentiation between you and your competition. Consider incorporating certifications as a part of your training and onboarding programs. NALMCO offers several certifications from the entry level apprentice lighting technician to professional level certifications that are well established and regarded in the industry.
All NALMCO certifications, both the Technical (CALT and CSLT) and Professional (CLCP) Certifications are available online. For the first time ever, the CLMC certification is available online for virtual proctoring in addition to the in-person proctoring at the Spring Seminar Learning Lab in Orlando, March, 2 – 4, 2021. Links to these certifications can be found here on NALMCO’s website.
CALT Certification. NALMCO offers the Certified Apprentice Lighting Technician™ (CALT™) certification, a home study program that is indispensable for technicians. The CALT teaches basic lighting terminology and lighting management operations and serves as the prerequisite to obtaining the Certified Senior Lighting Technician (CSLT) designation.
CSLT Certification. After earning your CALT certification, NALMCO offers the Certified Senior Lighting Technician™ (CSLT™) certification, a home study program that is indispensable for experienced technicians. The CSLT reinforces the principles of basic lighting and lighting management operations.
CLCP Certification. NALMCO’s Certified Lighting Controls Professional® (CLCP™) designation provides assurance that a professional is highly educated about lighting controls based on high-quality curriculum designed by the controls industry. The CLCP is based on the education curriculum developed by the Lighting Controls Association’s Education Express online education system at LightingControlsAssociation.org. There is no cost to access LCA’s Education Express.
CLMC Certification. The Certified Lighting Management Consultant® (CLMC®) program recognizes members of the lighting management industry who have demonstrated superior knowledge and technical expertise. The CLMC is one of the industry’s highest certification achievements. It is the oldest nationally-recognized lighting certification program in the nation, as well as the first to be accepted by EPA’s ENERGY STAR®.
Manufacturer Webinars. Another excellent option is manufacturers provided training via webinars or web-based training. A great example is the Acuity Academy which provides educational resources to expand your technical knowledge and is open to the public.
EMC Inhouse Training. EMC is offering an in person CLMC content review and exam proctoring tentatively scheduled for January 19, 2021. This has been a popular option for EMC partners in the past.
COVID-19 restrictions may limit availability and/or visitors into EMC’s corporate headquarters in Plymouth, MN. If you are interested, please email me soon as possible to identify what options may be available. Stay tuned as more details to follow.
Final thoughts
Lighting controls have become commonplace in almost all lighting applications and retrofits. The recent wireless explosion allows for the use of properly outfitted luminaries to become critical components in full building automation and system integration with network connectivity.
Aside from the longer hair and perhaps increased circumference that have been pandemic side effects for many, I ask you to consider elevating the competence of your teams to prepare for the current and ever-growing wave of technology to help strengthen and advance your business.
Until we meet again, stay well.
Brian Baker, CLMC, CLCP, CLEP is a senior project manager at EMC and will serve as vice president on the 2021 NALMCO Board of Directors. He may be reached at bbaker@emcllc.com.
