The intelligent lighting controls market is expanding rapidly, according to a recent report from Pike Research, with growth to double in the next six years to $2.6 billion, driven primarily by the office building and education markets.

Offices and education facilities will each represent a 27% share of intelligent lighting controls spending between 2011 and 2017, accounting for a 54% combined share over that period, says Pike Research president Clint Wheelock.

“Both the office and education segments have large existing building stocks, with high rates of new construction around the world,” says Wheelock. “In particular, green building certification programs have become increasingly prominent in these categories.”

Global revenue for the lighting controls market will increase from $1.3 billion to $2.6 billion by 2016, under Pike Research’s baseline forecast scenario. Under an aggressive growth scenario, the market intelligence firm estimates that the worldwide lighting controls market could grow as large as $3.5 billion within the same time period. The fastest growing commercial building segment will be the retail category, with a 20% compound annual growth rate.

One of the key factors affecting the deployment of intelligent lighting control systems is the cost of new construction versus retrofitting existing buildings. The challenges involved in installing such a system in an existing building can be significant, but for lighting controls to achieve their full energy savings potential, Pike Research believes that the retrofit market must receive increased attention.

Pike Research’s report, Intelligent Lighting Controls for Commercial Buildings, describes eight different lighting control strategies and the types of applications to which they are applicable, provides an update on sensor and control technologies, and discusses different options for wireless control and integration with other building systems. In addition, the study includes forecasts for lighting control equipment revenue for nine different building types across five world regions. The report also features in-depth profiles and SWOT analyses of 24 key industry players. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the firm’s website.