An example of a building automation system utilizes intelligent system elements, some of which are lighting devices having light sources, and some of which are utility building control and automation elements. Some utility building control and automation elements include a controllable mechanism for use in control of some aspect of the building other than lighting. Another intelligent system element may include either a user interface component and be configured as a building controller, or include a detector and be configured as a sensor. Each intelligent system element includes a network communication interface, processor, memory and programming to configure the intelligent system element as a lighting device, utility building control and automation element, controller or sensor. At least one of the intelligent lighting devices is configured as a building control and automation system server. Several examples, however, implement the overall control using distributed processing.