System and method for lighting optimization

A method for enabling selection of a lighting system, comprising:

• receiving an identification of a plurality of baseline components of a baseline lighting system;
• calculating estimates of performance characteristics of the baseline lighting system based on specified performance characteristics of the identified baseline components;
• determining a series of alternative lighting systems based on the estimates of performance characteristics of the baseline lighting system, each alternative lighting system including a plurality of mutually compatible components obtained from a database specifying performance characteristics for a plurality of components including the mutually compatible components;
• and
• enabling the selection of the lighting system from the series of alternative lighting systems.

A method for enabling selection of a lighting system, comprising:

• receiving an identification of a plurality of baseline components of a baseline lighting system;
• calculating estimates of performance characteristics of the baseline lighting system based on specified performance characteristics of the identified baseline components;
• wherein the estimates of performance characteristics are calculated using at least one or both of photopic photometry and equivalent visual efficiency (EVE) algorithms;
• determining a series of alternative lighting systems based on the estimates of performance characteristics of the baseline lighting system, each alternative lighting system including a plurality of mutually compatible components obtained from a database specifying performance characteristics for a plurality of components including the mutually compatible components;
• wherein determining the series of alternative lighting systems includes calculating light output of combinations of the plurality of components using at least one or both of photopic photometry and equivalent visual efficiency (EVE) algorithms and comparing the calculation to the estimates of performance characteristics of the baseline system;
• and
• enabling the selection of the lighting system from the series of alternative lighting systems.

A method for offering to a user a service for selecting a lighting system, comprising:

• allowing the user access to the service, wherein the service accepts inputs from the user including identification of one or more baseline components of a baseline lighting system;
• whereupon receiving inputs from the user, the service performs the steps of
• calculating estimates of performance characteristics of the baseline lighting system based on performance characteristics of the identified baseline components specified in a database accessible to the service, and
• determining a series of alternative lighting systems based on the estimates of performance characteristics of the baseline lighting system, each alternative lighting system including a plurality of mutually compatible components obtained from a database specifying performance characteristics for a plurality of components including the mutually compatible components;
• and
• presenting at least a portion of the series of alternative lighting systems to the user;
• allowing the user to select the lighting system from the at least a portion of the series of alternative lighting systems presented to the user;
• and
• generating a specification including the mutually compatible components for the selected lighting system for use by the user.

A method for enabling selection of a final lighting system, comprising:

• receiving an identification of a plurality of components usable in an initial lighting system;
• calculating estimates of performance characteristics of the initial lighting system based on specified performance characteristics of the identified components;
• determining a series of alternative lighting systems based on the estimates of performance characteristics of the lighting system, each alternative lighting system including a plurality of mutually compatible components obtained from a database specifying performance characteristics for a plurality of components including the mutually compatible components;
• and
• enabling the selection of the final lighting system from the series of alternative lighting systems.