Lighting control system with improved efficiency

A lighting system, comprising:

• a plurality of fixtures, wherein each fixture includes a plurality of fluorescent lamps;
• a dimming ballast operatively coupled to each fixture, each dimming ballast receives power from an outside source that is delivered to the fluorescent lamps within each corresponding fixture;
• a control module that communicates with each dimming ballast, the control module receives a signal representative of a lighting level from an outside source and selectively dims one or more lamps while controlling all the remaining lamps to be substantially at 0% or 100% power at least partially according to the dimming level setpoint.

The method according to claim 18, wherein the fixtures are not lit if the expected power delivery is less than a predetermined threshold.

A method of powering a plurality of fixtures within a lighting system, the method comprising:

• receiving a dimming level setpoint value or signal indicating a desired dimming level for the lighting system;
• and
• selectively dimming one or more fixtures while controlling all the remaining fixtures to be substantially at 0% or 100% power at least partially according to the dimming level setpoint.