2025

The landscape of the U.S. home remodeling sector is evolving in 2025, due to the interplay between tariff pressures and a potential rebound in renovation activity. During the pandemic, there was a surge in home improvement projects as people spent more time at home, and spent less money on going out to eat and travel. [...]

A recent study conducted by researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine has uncovered a potential link between blue light exposure and an increased risk of kidney stone formation, raising important questions about the health impacts of modern lighting and screen use. Kidney stones are a growing global health concern, traditionally associated with [...]

  Here are quick updates on four lighting industry award programs: 2025 IES INDUSTRY PROGRESS REPORT The IES is accepting submissions for significant new advancements in lighting products, research, publications, and design tools from the past year, for the 2025 IES Industry Progress Report. Acceptance is based on an impartial judging process used by the [...]

Here is a quick summary of 4 acquisitions and one bankruptcy, in the first quarter of 2025:  Kuzco acquired Insight Lighting. Details here. LEDVANCE acquires loblicht (German). Details here. Elemental LED acquires Gammalux Lighting Systems. Details here. LSI acquires CBH (display). Details here. Touche Lighting Control filed for bankruptcy. Details here. Reviewing the lighting manufacturer [...]

  A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to immediately reinstate funding previously awarded under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), after President Trump froze these disbursements on his first day back in office. The ruling, delivered by Judge Mary McElroy of the U.S. District Court for [...]

  In a groundbreaking study, scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have developed a technique called “Oz” that allows the human eye to perceive a brand-new color, which they have named “olo.” This color is described as a blue-green or teal of unprecedented saturation-far more vivid than any color found naturally or previously seen [...]

Here are the detailed criteria for luminaires to be certified to the DarkSky Approved Luminaires program v3.0: DarkSky Residential Luminaire criteria A. Output: Luminaire total light output shall not exceed 1,000 lumens. B. Uplight: No more than 50 lumens are allowed between 90 and 180 degrees above nadir (i.e., LCS zones UL and UH combined). [...]

A “half silver bulb” can also be called half chrome, half gold, silver bowl, silver crown, or silver tipped. It refers to a light bulb with a reflective metal coating covering the top half of the bulb. This coating redirects light upwards into the fixture and then back down, reducing glare and creating a softer, [...]

DarkSky International has announced significant updates to its DarkSky Approved Luminaires program, a globally recognized certification initiative aimed at combating the escalating crisis of light pollution. Originally launched in 2002 as the Fixture Seal of Approval, the program has evolved into a trusted benchmark for manufacturers and consumers seeking lighting solutions that protect the nighttime [...]