Lighting Industry

  This LinkedIn post is reprinted with permission from Geoffrey Marlow. Special thanks to Geoffrey Marlow. By Geoffrey Marlow, President, Marlow Advisory Group The DesignLights Consortium’s Networked Lighting Controls Technical Requirements V5.2 took effect on August 17, 2026. On its own terms, it’s a modest update. Two additions stand out: thermostat integration, which lets occupancy [...]

  Fractional work is growing rapidly, especially for senior “fractional executives” (CFO, CMO, CTO/CAIO, etc.). It has moved from a niche consulting model into a measurable segment of the senior labor market, though estimates of market size vary because definitions and data sources differ. What Is A Fractional Executive A fractional executive is typically an experienced senior [...]

  The number of new AI business tools is endless. I recently used an AI app called Embra (in France) to create a free audit tool that allows any lighting manufacturers to quickly self-assess their growth-readiness. The quick audit assesses go-to-market strategy, channel reach & expansion, marketing engine, and sales execution. It’s just 8 questions [...]

  By Cinn Song, Founder, SOLARTODO LIMITED When a camera is added to a lighting pole, the closeout package should explain how the change affects the lighting asset. A camera image alone cannot show whether the supply arrangement, control settings or maintenance responsibilities are documented well enough for the next service visit. Consider a hypothetical [...]

  For lighting manufacturers, traditional thought leadership is no longer only a brand-building or media-relations activity. White papers, technical case studies, trade-press bylines, association participation, winning industry awards, and conference presentations can now also improve how often—and how accurately—a company appears in AI-generated answers. This is known as Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). AEO matters because [...]

  This article was originally a LinkedIn post by Armin Ismail. Reprinted with permission. By Armin Ismail In 2025, I sold USLED CO LLC — a commercial lighting company I founded in 2018 — to a larger industry player. Seven years of building, and then an exit. I didn’t come from the lighting industry. I [...]

  By Jerry Chen, Co-Founder & CEO, Electrify AI has dramatically improved productivity in many sectors of the economy, and manufacturing is no exception. Among lighting manufacturers, the companies with the biggest productivity gains are the ones adopting digital twins. A digital twin is a virtual representation of your business. For lighting manufacturers, this includes [...]

  The ENERGY STAR program is entering a new chapter: primary federal leadership is moving from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to the U.S. Department of Energy. Although ENERGY STAR eliminated its fixtures and bulbs/lamps programs, it still runs programs for downlights and ceiling fans. For lighting manufacturers, retailers, utilities and specification stakeholders, the immediate [...]

  The national controversy surrounding Flock Safety’s automated license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras is reshaping the conversation about public-safety technology. It is no longer limited to whether police should deploy roadside cameras. The larger question is how ordinary municipal infrastructure—particularly streetlights—can become part of an always-connected vehicle surveillance network. That issue is directly relevant to [...]