With more than 130 years of experience illuminating and electrifying the world, Hubbell announced that it has combined collective expertise across its portfolio of brands to develop a Power over Ethernet (PoE) product poised to help make buildings smarter, better connected and more energy efficient.
PowerHUBB is an enterprise-level PoE lighting and control platform that integrates 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 a strategy to bring solutions to market that help customers overcome challenges, improve building performance and provide insights into building efficiency. PowerHUBB will support building owners that are leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT) through a digital ceiling platform.
Connect. Illuminate. Control. Empower.
The advantage of a Power over Ethernet 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. 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 enlisting the support of actionable intelligence for energy management and better building performance. Analytics, the process of turning data into actionable information, can have an impact on sustainability and cost-saving strategies. PowerHUBB can be scaled from basic lighting control to advanced cloud-based analytics, establishing it as a solution for smart building deployments that demand an immediate return on the investment.
Modularity, the degree by which a system can be separated and recombined, is another 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, like those in healthcare, see advantages in having the flexibility to make infrastructure changes to support the needs of the real estate. Adding to the cost savings, PowerHUBB can be installed by low voltage installers and it can be configured and reconfigured through software by IT personnel.
How it Works
The PowerHUBB platform is a combination of software and controls, luminaires and infrastructure. It uses sensors, user interfaces and scalable PoE technology to bring it all together. Luminaires deliver lighting 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.
PowerHUBB is enabled by a PoE node which acts as a 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 discover and report those devices back to the system for plug-and-play functionality.
PowerHUBB is a cornerstone component to the overarching strategy of Hubbell Lighting to future proof its portfolio of luminaires. Customer research shows the plug-and-play nature of this offering is welcomed, especially when it is combined with the Hubbell Lighting diverse product portfolio.
Hubbell recognizes that one of the challenges for PoE lighting is education and it is in the process of creating curriculum in partnership with the team at its Lighting Solutions Center to assist agents, distributors and contractors. Additionally, its support professionals are 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.