Craig DiLouie

Construction spending during August 2009 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $941.9 billion, 0.8% above the revised July estimate of $934.6 billion and 11.6%, or $124.2 billion, below the August 2008 estimate of $1,066.1 billion. During the first eight months of 2009, construction spending reached $629.5 billion, 11.9% below the $714.3 billion [...]

Lumiette Inc. has announced that it is is donating 300 of its flat panel light fixtures to the Wildlife Conservation Network Solar Project. Shipped out to Africa and Mongolia over the new few months, the lights will help provide low-energy-use, high-intensity illumination for conservationists and scientists working to sustain and protect cheetahs, elephants, lions, snow [...]

The seventh annual Lighting for Tomorrow competition recognized the best-designed energy-efficient lighting products in the residential market. This year resulted in several unique winners given the many changes made to the 2009 entry categories, as Lighting for Tomorrow challenged manufacturers to push the envelope by hosting the first ever fluorescent dimming competition and expanding the [...]

Philips Lumileds has opened a new office in Shanghai that is being staffed with an applications team and market specialists to support the growing number of companies in China developing solid-state lighting solutions. The applications team and specialists will support customers by providing optical, thermal and electrical LED design expertise, supporting rapid development and market [...]

As the nonresidential construction industry continues to struggle, the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Architecture Billings Index (ABI) showed a nominal improvement in September. 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. It is derived from a monthly “Work-on-the-Boards” [...]

Pure Lighting’s Genna Wall Wash is a spec-grade recessed wall wash fixture with four reflector color options and ceramic metal halide or halogen lamping. The fixture provides even wall illumination from top to bottom, without scalloping. Click here to learn more about this product.

The EMerge Alliance has announced the release of the EMerge Alliance Standard, the first roadmap for the utilization of low-voltage direct-current (DC) power in commercial interiors. The new industry standard offers these benefits: • Reduced energy losses by eliminating device-by-device electrical conversions from alternating-current (AC) power to DC power • Use of safe Class 2 [...]

The New York City Section of the Illuminating Engineering Society has announced a call for entries for the Tenth Annual Student Lighting Competition. Students located within the IESNYC chapter are being invited to participate in this unique design competition; this includes anyone within the NYC area as well as Columbia, Dutchess, Green, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, [...]

The total building sustainability package, addressing everything from design and commissioning to plans for high-performance operation, is covered in a proposed green building standard currently open for public review. Proposed Standard 189.1, Standard for the Design of High Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, is being developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating [...]