September 2025

  Smart switches are rapidly gaining favor over smart lamps (bulbs) as the preferred technology for home lighting automation, thanks to their superior reliability, cost-effectiveness, and integration with daily routines. Unlike smart lamps—which lose their “smart” capabilities when a physical wall switch is turned off—smart switches control the entire circuit, ensuring lights remain responsive to [...]

  Facial recognition technology (FRT) is rapidly transforming the smart home landscape, integrating advanced security, convenience, and personalization into daily life, but not without risks. By leveraging sophisticated edge computing—the local processing of biometric data—modern smart home systems offer instant, hands-free access, personalized user profiles, and intelligent monitoring, all while aiming to balance privacy with [...]

  The IES has approved seven new or revised lighting standards:   BSR/IES LP-30 Lighting Practice: A Comprehensive Guide to Specifying Color Rendition – Concepts, Criteria, and Implementation This Lighting Practice document provides guidance that bridges the gap between the science and practice of specifying the color rendering ability, i.e., color rendition, of white light sources. [...]

mwConnect and Network Thermostat (NetX) have announced a strategic partnership designed to streamline HVAC integration into networked lighting control (NLC) platforms, to simplify and unify building automation for commercial facilities. This collaboration leverages the strengths of each company—mwConnect’s award-winning expertise in wireless mesh technology and NetX’s established track record providing scalable smart thermostat control for [...]

Multi dimming protocol drivers have been around for a while. They started as 2-protocols, then grew to 3-, 4-, and occasionally 5-protocols. There are now 6-dimming protocol drivers available. Here are three different manufacturers that I’ve found: LTECH More information available here.   Vivalec Lighting Solutions More information available here.   GRE Alpha Electronics Ltd. [...]

  RAB Design is a lighting manufacturer based in Toronto, Canada (not to be confused with RAB in the US). One of their interesting products is their Snap N’Link Series Modular Light Bars that allow “LEGO-like” easy assembly, with flexible connectors, to create endless shape possibilities. Features include: Sturdy aluminum housing. Frosted polycarbonate lens that [...]

  Demand for U.S. industrial space—especially in the warehouse sector—fell for the first time in fifteen years during the second quarter of 2025, signaling a dramatic shift in commercial real estate dynamics since the pandemic-era boom. This decline was marked by an 11.3 million square foot contraction in the second quarter alone, with total net [...]

  The 2025 California Energy Code (Title 24) clarifies lighting and control requirements for single-family residential buildings. Here is a summary of the lighting changes: § 110.9: Lighting Controls and Components. All lighting control devices and systems, light sources, and luminaires must meet the applicable requirements of §110.9. § 150.0(k)1A: Luminaire Efficacy. All installed luminaires and light [...]

  The Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition) and the Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo stand out as Asia’s premier lighting events by combining innovation, sustainability, and cross-industry collaboration under one overarching theme: “Illuminated Designs for a Smarter Future.” What makes the two shows different and interesting are the wide-ranging integration [...]