At LEDucation 2026, I sat down with Lance Bennett of Cooper Lighting Solutions to discuss several of the most important issues facing the lighting industry today, including sustainability, product serviceability, pricing transparency, and the role AI may play in future workflows.
As the lighting market evolves, Bennett believes the conversation is shifting beyond product performance alone and toward long-term value, maintenance, and efficiency.
Serviceability Becomes a Growing Priority
One of the central topics of the discussion was serviceability—how easily lighting products can be maintained, repaired, or upgraded over time.
Bennett noted that many first-generation LED products installed 10 to 15 years ago are now reaching the stage where drivers or components need replacement. Unlike traditional lamp-and-ballast systems, many early LED fixtures were not designed with servicing in mind.
That reality is creating new urgency for specifiers, designers, and manufacturers to prioritize products that can be maintained throughout their lifecycle.
Defining the Future Standard
According to Bennett, industry groups are actively discussing how to define serviceability in a meaningful and consistent way.
Organizations such as the Illuminating Engineering Society and National Electrical Manufacturers Association are expected to play important roles in shaping standards and guidance.
While terms like repairability and maintainability are also being used, Bennett said serviceability appears to be the language gaining the most momentum.
Sustainability Means More Than Energy Savings
Bennett emphasized that sustainability today extends beyond energy efficiency.
Increasingly, the industry is looking at end-of-life product considerations, replacement cycles, and the environmental impact of removing and replacing entire fixtures when only one component has failed.
Designing products that last longer and can be repaired more easily may become one of the most practical ways manufacturers improve sustainability going forward.
Pricing Transparency Remains in Focus
Another long-standing topic in the lighting industry is pricing transparency.
Bennett acknowledged progress has been made, but slowly. Because lighting projects involve manufacturers, agents, distributors, contractors, and designers, aligning expectations across the value chain can be complex.
Still, he noted that faster-moving projects and growing information demands are making pricing clarity more important than ever.
AI Could Help Streamline Comparisons
The conversation also turned to artificial intelligence and its possible impact on pricing tools.
Bennett said many customers are not necessarily seeking exact prices early in the process, but rather useful comparisons between products and systems. If AI can help provide faster and more reliable budget guidance, it could become a valuable tool for the specification community.
Strong Feedback on LEDucation 2026
Bennett praised this year’s LEDucation event, particularly the new Designer Hours format that gave specifiers and end users more dedicated time on the show floor.
He said the result was a more manageable crowd flow, strong booth traffic, and positive feedback from exhibitors. With the show moving to three days in 2027, he believes LEDucation will continue to grow in value and influence.
Looking Ahead
As lighting becomes more advanced, Bennett made clear that innovation alone is not enough.
The next chapter for the industry will require smarter product design, greater transparency, and stronger collaboration across every part of the supply chain. For companies that can deliver all three, the future looks bright.
Go Deeper:
Amerlux and Delta Push Toward Fully Integrated Building Solutions at LEDucation 2026
Aither Global Holdings Expands Vision for Immersive Lighting at LEDucation 2026