Craig DiLouie

The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) slipped in August after showing mostly healthy business conditions so far this year. 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 August ABI score was 49.1, [...]

Demand for lighting equipment, as measured by NEMA’s Lighting Systems Shipments Index, increased by 2.2% year-over-year (y/y) and by 0.4% quarter-to-quarter during the second quarter of 2015. The increase was driven by emergency lighting and luminaires, which gained ground on a year-over-year basis, while the ballast and lamp–large and miniature–components offset these gains with year-over-year [...]

The color quality of light sources is critical in a broad range of applications, from making colors pop in retail merchandise to promoting social interaction by properly rendering skin tones. To evaluate, predict and discuss color quality, the industry relies on two metrics, correlated color temperature (CCT) and the color rendering index (CRI). Varying these [...]

Hubbell Lighting’ Alera Lighting has launched two new linear lighting solutions—the Plank 7” LED (LP7) and the Curv Radial Lens LED, a new addition to the Curv Radial family. The Plank 7” LED fixture has a classic rectangular form that is easily integrated into many different design styles. The product can be used for uplight, [...]

Good article by Susan Bloom about Power over Ethernet electrical distribution in ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR. It’s well suited to LED lighting. Will this be the future of power distribution? Some contractors may see it more as a threat than an opportunity. Power over Ethernet (PoE) is any of several standardized or ad-hoc systems that pass electrical [...]

Twenty-three addenda to ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2013, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, are now open for public comment until October 4, 2015. Among the addenda open for public comment is addendum ch, which proposes a new set of interior lighting power densities (LPD) limits for both building area and space by space compliance [...]

The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) is reflecting healthy and sustained demand for design services in nearly all nonresidential project types. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the July ABI [...]

Republication of Postings from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solid-State Lighting Program by Jim Brodrick, SSL Program Manager, U.S. Department of Energy The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) has just published an important technical memorandum, TM-30-15, which outlines a new system for evaluating the color rendition of light sources. It was developed by an IES [...]

Prudential recently designed a new cofiguration of the P4000, one of the company’s bestselling luminaires: a new doughnut shape called O, available in 14 premium colors with no set-up fee. The ring of light can be surface-mounted or suspended by straight aircraft cables with top-swivel stems. Click here to learn more.