Philips installs PoE lighting system at university campus

Philips has unveiled a ‘first-of-its-kind, large-scale lighting installation’ that uses Power over Ethernet (PoE) at a major university campus as part of Clemson University’s Watt Family Innovation Center.

As a founding innovation partner of the centre, Philips implemented a PoE-based indoor lighting system combined with LED lighting to provide flexible work spaces that encourage collaboration between faculty and students, optimise space management and improve energy efficiency. This new lighting solution is expected to deliver up to 70% in energy savings compared to similar buildings using conventional lighting. The intelligent PoE system delivers energy savings by gathering historical and real-time anonymous data from each lighting fixture to determine when a room is being used. These occupancy sensors also trigger lights to turn on and off, saving additional energy.

The Philips EnvisionManager, an advanced lighting control system, enables all the lights to be controlled from a single, tailored software console. The system supports remote access and web-based control, letting occupants control their lights via any authorised computer, smartphone or tablet. This ensures the right amount of light is provided only when, where and how it is needed.

“This is the first time that a university in the US will benefit from a commercial Power over Ethernet connected lighting system which will be able to deliver more control, energy efficiency and cost savings directly to the centre. We are proud to be a founding innovation partner and help support the vision of the centre with these lighting solutions,” Amy Huntington, president of Philips Lighting Americas, said.

The Watt Center also features the largest media facade installation in the United States using Philips iColor Flex LMX gen2, flexible strands of large high-intensity LED nodes with intelligent colour light. Installed outside the centre, the facade features a digital canvas and delivers messages to the campus to rally students, further enhance school spirit and provide a highly visual element that drives the innovative brand image of the university.

The installation includes more than 45,000 individually controllable light points designed for extraordinary effects and expansive installations. Without the constraints of fixture size, shape, or space, LMX gen2 is useful for a variety of applications from media facades, building facades, bridges, parks, plazas, retail and more.

“We have built a cutting-edge facility that showcases Clemson’s academic enterprise in action. Philips has been an outstanding partner and their lighting solutions allow us to reach our sustainability goals while giving us the ability to better understand how the building is being used and the ability to adjust the space-flexible facility as needed,” said Dr Charles Watt, Clemson alumnus and founding director of the Watt Family Innovation Center.

Image caption: Artist rendering of largest Philips Flex media installation in the United States at Watt Family Innovation Center at Clemson University. (Photo: Business Wire)