New Alliance to Establish Industry Standard for IoT Sensor Installation in LED Lighting Fixtures

New Alliance

Leading lighting and LED driver manufacturers, Internet of Things (IoT) technology companies, and industry groups have established the IoT-Ready Alliance, dedicated to making installation of IoT technology in luminaires easy now and in the future. The Alliance is setting industry standards that will enable LED light fixtures to be “IoT-Ready,” facilitating a quick and easy installation of advanced IoT sensors – as simple as changing a light bulb. This will also enable building operators to easily upgrade the sensors, ultimately future-proofing their buildings as IoT technology continues to advance at a much more rapid pace than that of LED fixtures.

Lighting fixtures are an ideal carrier for IoT technology in smart buildings, providing ubiquitous location for granular data collection throughout the building while delivering electric power to the sensors. Yet today, only a small percentage of LED fixtures have smart sensors. After the initial installation of LED fixtures, installing a sensor is cost prohibitive, making the later addition of sensors unlikely.

LED light fixtures typically have a lifetime of 15 years or more, while IoT and smart sensor technology is evolving rapidly, at a similar pace to that of the mobile phone. This means major IoT technology upgrades will certainly occur throughout the LED fixture’s life. These upgrade cycles for the IoT sensors call for a cost-effective, low-impact method of changing sensors.

Enlighted CEO Joe Costello stresses the need to solve this challenge immediately – a call which is being answered by the IoT-Ready Alliance. “There is tremendous urgency to enable today’s shipping LED luminaires to be easily upgraded with IoT technology. Otherwise, these luminaires condemn buildings to be unintelligent for the entire lifecycle of those fixtures. Fifteen or more years is a long time before building owners have another chance to install smart sensors. With IoT-Ready fixtures, customers can install future-proof LED luminaires in their buildings.”

The Alliance’s initiative addresses this challenge head on – standardizing an interface between any luminaire and any IoT sensor.

“We are very pleased key players from the lighting industry have come together to meet the needs of our customers, and Tridonic is a driving part of it,” said Guido van Tartwijk, CEO at Tridonic. “IoT-Ready future-proofs lighting fixtures so that customers do not have to worry about forward compatibility to upcoming technology upgrades that are expected in the fast-developing world of IoT.”

The IoT-Ready Alliance is currently working to standardize the key interface characteristics needed to make this happen. Both fixture-integrated and external sensors are being addressed. The IoT-Ready standards will include definitions for electrical interfaces, connectors, and mechanical form-factors.

“IoT-based lighting systems have tremendous potential to optimize energy efficiency and bring new kinds of value to the lighting and building industries and beyond,” said Gabe Arnold, Technical Director at DesignLights Consortium. “By standardizing the interface between these IoT systems and the luminaires they are attached to, the IoT-Ready Alliance is addressing an essential aspect needed to unlock the full technology potential and enable widespread adoption.”

Initial industry participants include Aruba (a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company), Click Technology Co., Ltd., DECO Lighting, DesignLights Consortium™, Enlighted, ERP Power LLC, Focal Point, MEAN WELL, Orion Energy Systems, Inc., Selux, Shenzhen Lighting Control Co., Silergy Corp, Tridonic, Universal Lighting Technologies and USAI Lighting.

The Alliance is open to any organization interested in driving the future of IoT and smart buildings. Visit http://www.iot-ready.org to learn more about the IoT-Ready Alliance and how to participate.

 

Related Articles


Changing Scene

  • LEDVANCE Expands Ontario Presence with New Specification Agent

    LEDVANCE Expands Ontario Presence with New Specification Agent

    LEDVANCE is pleased to announce the appointment of Sterling Architectural Products Ltd. (Sterling Lights) as their new specification agent in Ontario. This partnership strengthens LEDVANCE’s presence in the region and reinforces their commitment to serving the professional lighting design and specification community with innovative, reliable lighting solutions. With decades of experience and a service-driven mindset,… Read More…

  • May 29, 2025 - Eureka Wins Three 2025 Red Dot Awards for Product Design

    Eureka Wins Three 2025 Red Dot Awards for Product Design

    Eureka is pleased to announce that its Velia, Cirra, and Junction luminaires have each received a 2025 Red Dot Design Award for Product Design. It is the 11th consecutive year that Eureka products have been honored with this prestigious award, which is a testament to the company’s consistency and relentless drive to design exceptional luminaires.… Read More…


Design

  • Mac’s II Agencies: Case Study – Tesoro, Vancouver, BC

    Mac’s II Agencies: Case Study – Tesoro, Vancouver, BC

    At the crest of False Creek, Tesoro stands as a contemporary interpretation of classic luxury, offering 92 exclusive waterfront homes in the heart of Vancouver. Developed by Concert Properties, this 17-story residential tower embraces a distinctly modern character, harmonizing sleek design with timeless sophistication. The vision for Tesoro extended beyond its architectural presence—it was about… Read More…

  • LightForm: Estiluz – Versatile Solutions for Sophisticated Spaces

    LightForm: Estiluz – Versatile Solutions for Sophisticated Spaces

    For anyone seeking high-performance lighting that blends elegance with engineering, Estiluz offers an exceptional range of solutions. This Spanish brand, family-owned since 1969, creates lighting that balances form, function, and flexibility, making it ideal for both bold architectural statements and subtle design enhancements. At LightForm, they are proud to be the exclusive Canadian distributor of… Read More…


New Products

  • Cyclone Lighting Introduces New Taji Luminaire

    Cyclone Lighting Introduces New Taji Luminaire

    Cyclone Lighting is excited to announce the release of its new Taji luminaire. Taji’s captivating design features high-performance optics and enhances a variety of aesthetics. Taji’s distinctive, stylish silhouette and slender lines are a refreshing departure from the ubiquitous dome luminaire. The unique flared form maintains a slender, minimalist feel yet provides high-performance optics. The… Read More…

  • Leviton Releases New Decora Smart Wi-Fi 0-10V Dimmer for Home & Small Business Lighting Control

    Leviton Releases New Decora Smart Wi-Fi 0-10V Dimmer for Home & Small Business Lighting Control

    Leviton has announced the launch of the Decora Smart Wi-Fi 0-10V Dimmer (D2710), expanding its comprehensive Wi-Fi lighting and load control solutions that work with the My Leviton app. As the first Matter-compatible 0-10V smart dimmer, the new 120V/277V device makes it easy to add 0-10V dimming to smart platforms such as Apple Home, Amazon… Read More…