by Brianna Crandall — February 12, 2018 — With more than 130 years of experience illuminating and electrifying the world, Hubbell recently announced that it has combined collective expertise across its portfolio of brands to develop a new Power over Ethernet (PoE) product poised to help make buildings smarter, better connected and more energy efficient.
This enterprise-level PowerHUBB PoE platform seamlessly integrates luminaires, sensors, user interfaces and software for a scalable, intelligent building control solution. Photo courtesy Hubbell
PowerHUBB is an enterprise-level PoE lighting and control platform engineered to seamlessly integrate luminaires, sensors, user interfaces and software for a scalable intelligent building control solution. It was introduced by Hubbell Control Solutions, with resources from Hubbell Lighting and Hubbell Premise Wiring, as part of Hubbell’s broader strategy to bring solutions to market that help its customers overcome challenges, improve building performance and provide insights into building efficiency. PowerHUBB will support the increasing number of building owners that are leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT) through a digital ceiling platform.
Connect. Illuminate. Control. Empower.
The advantage of a PoE solution is its ability to simplify lighting and control installations by reducing the time, specialized resources and materials needed when compared to traditional line voltage installations, says Hubbell. It is estimated the global revenue for PoE lighting is expected to grow from an estimated $35.8 million in 2016 to $419.9 million in 2025.
Commercial building owners are increasingly enlisting the support of actionable intelligence for energy management and better building performance. Analytics, the process of turning data into actionable information, can have a significant impact on sustainability and cost-saving strategies, notes Hubbell. PowerHUBB can be scaled from basic lighting control to advanced cloud-based analytics, establishing it as a cost-effective solution for smart building deployments that demand an immediate return on the investment (ROI).
Modularity, the degree by which a system can be separated and recombined, is another key feature of the PowerHUBB platform. The installation of PoE lighting solutions reduces material and labor costs by using a single Cat5e/6 connection for power and communication. By using a low-voltage cabling approach, the installation process is simplified.
Facility owners, such as those in healthcare, see tremendous advantage in having the flexibility to make infrastructure changes to support the evolving needs of the real estate, points out Hubbell. Adding to the cost savings, PowerHUBB can be installed by low voltage installers and it can be easily configured and reconfigured through software by information technology (IT) personnel.
How it works
The PowerHUBB platform is a combination of software and controls, luminaires and infrastructure. It uses intelligent sensors, intuitive user interfaces, and scalable PoE technology to bring it all together. Luminaires deliver quality illumination while reducing energy consumption and total cost of ownership. A system of Category-rated copper cabling and components for networking is all that’s needed to meet PoE performance criteria and reliability standards, says the company.
PowerHUBB is enabled by a PoE node that acts as an intelligent lighting hub by receiving power and data from the network switch. This is then passed along downstream to daisy-chained device nodes. As light fixtures and devices are connected to the network, the node will automatically discover and report those devices back to the system for easy plug-and-play functionality.
PowerHUBB is a cornerstone component to Hubbell Lighting’s overarching strategy to “future proof” its portfolio of luminaires, making them capable of adjusting on demand as needs or facilities change. One advantage of PowerHUBB compared to competitors is how the node addresses device input-output requirements, making it an ideal solution in an environment where industry standards are fluid. Customer research shows the plug-and-play nature of this offering is attractive, especially when it is combined with Hubbell Lighting’s diverse product portfolio.
Hubbell recognizes that one of the biggest challenges for PoE lighting is education, and the company is currently in the process of creating detailed curriculum in partnership with the team at its Lighting Solutions Center to assist agents, distributors and contractors. Additionally, Hubbell’s support professionals are immediately available to provide sensor layouts, networked system design and third-party integration support. Its on-site certified field technician program is also available for projects that require additional support.
Attendees of the upcoming BICSI conference are invited to visit Hubbell Premise Wiring’s booth, #437, and experience a PowerHUBB demo.
For more information about PowerHUBB, visit the Hubbell Web site.
