Craig DiLouie

NEMA’s Lighting Systems Index (LSI) increased 3.3% on a quarter-to-quarter basis during the third quarter of 2009. This marks the LSI’s first increase in nine quarters. Nonetheless, the index is only one quarter removed from its lowest reading on record and declined 19.3% on a year-over-year basis. After adjusting for seasonal influences and inflation, emergency [...]

Generation Brands, a provider of light fixtures and ceiling fans for the building construction and home improvement industries–and some of its subsidiaries–have filed voluntary petitions to implement an agreed restructuring of its balance sheet under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. According to the company, its creditors, other than the Company’s lenders and noteholders, [...]

To help end users in the education, healthcare, military, municipality and government markets, Hubbell Lighting has published two booklets intended to guide them as well as lighting specifiers through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The books focus on ARRA stimulus plan lighting solutions and specifications. The specification guide identifies the full [...]

The November issue of Electrical Contractor published an article here that I wrote about the Department of Energy’s Commercial Lighting Solutions for Retail webtool residing here. I was pleased to contribute to the webtool with general language about lighting control recommendations. The DOE’s CLS for Office version is about to be released in a beta [...]

Another Christmas blast from the past. This one’s for you, Andrew. http://www.youtube.com/v/yon2YuXssvo&hl=en_US&fs=1&

Happy Hanukkah!

Royal Philips Electronics has announced that Zia Eftekhar has been appointed CEO of Philips Professional Luminaires North America effective January 1, 2010. Eftekhar will succeed Kaj den Daas, who will continue as Chairman of Philips Lighting North America and concentrate particularly on supporting the company’s legislative activities and participation in industry associations such as NEMA [...]

HowStuffWorks.com has a great article about a technology I’ve been following for some time–augmented reality, or mixed reality. Check it out here. Here’s a good description they provide: “Researchers and engineers are pulling graphics out of your television screen or computer display and integrating them into real-world environments. This new technology, called augmented reality, blurs [...]

I’m happy to announce that LIGHTFAIR has invited me and my distinguished colleague Howard Wolfman to speak at 2010 LIGHTFAIR International on the topic of “What’s New in Lamps and Ballasts.” The 2009 event, sponsored by NAILD, was packed with more than 400 people. This year’s event should be even better. For one, we’re going [...]