2019 Lighting and Lighting Controls Study

Lighting design revenue up 14% over 2018 report

By Amanda Pelliccione May 30, 2019

Consulting-Specifying Engineer’s 2019 Lighting & Lighting Controls Study found that 78% of engineers are responsible for determining the requirements/writing specifications for lights, lighting equipment and/or lighting controls; 70% research and evaluate these products for consideration on a project; and two-thirds recommend the brand of lighting products to be used. Below are four additional findings from this report: 

  1. Annual revenue: In 2018, the average engineering firm earned $8 million in mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection design revenue  up 17% over 2017 MEP/FP design revenue. The average total dollar amount of lighting and lighting control products specified for new and existing buildings has also increased from $573,000 in 2017 to $652,000 in 2018 (an increase of 14%).
  2. Project types: Forty-four percent of 2018 design revenue was generated through new construction projects, 37% retrofit/renovation, 11% maintenance/repair/operation and 7% commissioning/retro-commissioning. The top buildings types for which lighting and lighting control products were specified into include office buildings, industrial/manufacturing facilities/warehouses, hospitals/health care facilities and college/university buildings.
  3. Lighting technologies: Engineers most commonly specify LEDs, occupancy sensors and multilevel lighting or dimming controls for new and existing nonresidential buildings.
  4. Current challenges: Having an inadequate budget for high-quality design remains the top challenge for lighting engineers. Other difficult tasks include adhering to the expected project deliver date and designing for interoperability and complementing systems. 

Access the full 2019 Lighting & Lighting Controls Study here. View additional research from Consulting-Specifying Engineer: www.csemag.com/research


Author Bio: Amanda is the Research Director and Project Manager of Awards Programs for CFE Media and its publications.