April 2017

LightingEurope and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) have issued a joint statement on humancentric lighting. The statement seeks to define humancentric lighting and its benefits and elements. Humancentric lighting is viewed within the context of delivering certain benefits of light to specific applications and users. The elements are broken down into technical and [...]

At the 2016 IES Street & Area Lighting Conference, Greg Ortt, southeast sales manager for Hubbell Control Solutions, presented on the topic of the concept of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. This concept crosses disciplines in design, operations and maintenance to minimize elements in an outdoor space’s design that may inherently pose security risks. Lighting [...]

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Eric Marsh, Product Porfolio Manager, and Jeff Hungarter, Senior Manager, Product Marketing, Cree, Inc., for an article developed for tED Magazine. The topic: LED options for upgrading fluorescent troffers. I’m pleased to share the interview with you here. DiLouie: What basic choices do building owners have to upgrade [...]

LiFi (Light Fidelity) is a communication technology through modulated LED light that enables data exchange between a specific LED lighting fixture and a computer, making Internet access possible. LiFi can work as a complement to WiFi or as a substitute where WiFi is not available or weakly deployed. Shuji Nakamura, who won the Nobel Prize [...]

The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) returned to growth mode in February after a weak showing in January. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate 9- to 12-month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the February ABI score was 50.7, up [...]

In a recent column for ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR, I provided an update on the 179D energy efficiency tax deduction, ENERGY STAR V.2 Lamps criteria and V.2 Luminaires criteria, and metal halide rules taking effect. Check it out here. A recent blog post on tEDmag.com talks about a more recent Department of Energy ruling on general service [...]

In moving from 72.2 last month to 76.5 in March, the NEMA Electroindustry Business Confidence current conditions index reached its highest level since September 2005. Although some executives remarked on confusion in Washington and flashes of social unrest, signs of a strengthening economy noted by others were apparently widespread among panel members. The share of [...]

The Trump Administration’s recent budget outline proposes a 30+% cut in Environmental Protection Agency funding, which threatens to defund the ENERGY STAR program. In a recent blog post, Steven Nadel, Executive Director the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), disagrees, stating, “ENERGY STAR has been very successful in its current form; why risk this [...]

Designed for residential and commercial applications, Focal Point’s ID+ 3.5″ Adjustable Accent is the latest addition to the company’s LED downlight family. Intended for both grid and drywall ceilings, the low-profile housing with a 3.5″ aperture accommodates round and square die-cast trims and trimless reflectors in six finish options. Installation and maintenance are simplified with [...]