David Shiller

  As EV charging programs mature, the industry is placing greater emphasis on equipment that is not just available, but proven to meet utility, interoperability, and program requirements. That is a role now being played by the Electric Power Research Institute’s Vetted Product List, or VPL, which has become an important reference point for utilities, [...]

  July 24th, the American Lighting Association (ALA) published a Tariff Alert summarizing the latest Section 301 Tariffs put in place by the Trump Administration. The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has finalized a new tariff framework under Section 301 targeting 60 trading partners over forced labor enforcement. These new duties take effect immediately and [...]

  New research suggests that light’s effects on sleep and circadian timing depend on the full 24-hour light environment, not just “morning light good, evening light bad.” Using a mathematical model, researchers showed that brighter daytime exposure can make the body more resilient to disruptive evening light, and they generated testable predictions about when light [...]

  The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) latest commentary argues that lighting is entering a second major transition after the global shift to LEDs. The first wave was defined by rapid efficiency gains, falling costs, and long lifetimes that helped LEDs dominate global markets and curb electricity demand, energy bills, and emissions. Now, the IEA says [...]

  Parks Associates’ recent whitepaper, From Smart Home to Building Intelligence argues that multifamily properties are moving beyond standalone smart-home features toward integrated building-intelligence platforms that unify connectivity, access, automation, security, and energy management. The report’s most important message for the lighting industry is that lighting is no longer just a fixture-level upgrade; it is increasingly part [...]

  The specialty lighting sector is moving from a seasonal add-on to a year-round service category, driven by professional holiday displays, permanent roofline systems, landscape accents, and event lighting for homes and businesses. For years, holiday lighting was viewed as a short-lived seasonal service, driven mainly by homeowners who wanted a festive display for a [...]

  A recent Washington Post article argues that the labor-market problem is bigger than AI: employers are struggling to find enough qualified workers while new graduates are finding it hard to land entry-level jobs because the pipeline of talent is misaligned with what companies actually need. The article explains that the popular story that AI [...]

  The US FCC approved Reflect Orbital’s first mirror-satellite launch and test furthering a space-based lighting concept that is sparking a real-world regulatory and commercial debate. The more important story is not the satellite mirror launch, but the larger collision between a new form of “light delivery” and long-standing concerns about light pollution, public safety, [...]

  Mineral paints are moving from niche heritage and eco-building projects into mainstream specification because they offer a rare mix of sustainability, durability, breathability, and a soft, architectural finish. That momentum creates a natural opening for lighting designers and fixture manufacturers to explore mineral-coated luminaires as a premium, low-impact alternative to conventional painted or powder-coated [...]