June 2009

Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes improved for a second consecutive month in May to the highest level since September of 2008, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). The HMI rose two points to 16 for the month. “The fact that the May HMI [...]

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has revealed the results of new market research that provides a clear picture of America’s need for information about energy and cost saving through modern lighting systems. The research, conducted in conjunction with Today’s Facility Manager magazine, focused on nonresidential building owners and managers. Findings indicate that 41% of [...]

From the CBC archives in 1993:

The new 2009 NightSeeing Map, presented by the Illuminating Engineering Society, NYC Section, in association with the Designers Lighting Forum of New York, is now available to the general public. Here’s how IESNY describes it: Unlike ordinary maps and guide books that simply provide visitors with the names of landmark buildings, notable construction facts and [...]

Lighting Science Group Corporation and Martin Professional A/S have announced a distribution agreement that will give Martin access to Lighting Science’s X16 DOTZ LED strings for global distribution. The X16 DOTZ LED string will be marketed under the name FlexDOT in Martin’s line of LED video products. FlexDOT is a string of high-brightness RGB LEDs [...]

After an eight-point jump in March, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Architecture Billings Index (ABI) fell less than a full point in April. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate 9- to 12-month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending. AIA reported the April ABI rating was [...]

Read the article I wrote on this subject for the January 2009 issue of Electrical Contractor here. The article makes reference to NEMA’s revised LSD25-2008, “Best Practices for Metal Halide Lighting Systems Plus Q&A About Lamp Ruptures in Metal Halide Lighting Systems,” available here.

Here’s a reason for some optimism: NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American conditions advanced for a third straight month in May. Since December 2008, the index has rebounded from a near record low of 8 to 47.9, within sight of the 50-point threshold indicative of an absolute improvement in industry conditions. [...]

Guest post by Jim Brodrick, U.S. Department of Energy Reprinted with permission from “Postings: From the Desk of Jim Brodrick.” For more information about the DOE’s solid-state lighting program, click here. As you probably know, long lifetime is considered to be one of the major advantages of solid-state lighting over other lighting technologies. It’s something [...]