David Shiller

  Researchers at CU Boulder have developed a way to make living algae emit light for much longer than the tiny flashes seen in nature, opening the door to electricity-free lighting and other “living material” applications. The team used simple chemical solutions to trigger sustained bioluminescence in Pyrocystis lunula, an algae embedded  in 3D-printable hydrogel [...]

  NEMRA Lighting, a division of the National Electrical Manufacturers Representative Association (NEMRA), has announced the launch of its inaugural Lighting Summit, a members-only strategic event designed specifically for independent lighting agents and manufacturers. Scheduled for October 15–17, 2026, at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas, the Summit introduces a new collaboration model focused on [...]

  Famostar’s O-Lux Lighting System shows how emergency lighting can be both highly functional and more sustainable. Built as a fully integrated oval luminaire, it combines general and emergency lighting in one design while also addressing glare control, flexible mounting, and an 8-year battery warranty. At the center of the product story is bio-circular attributed [...]

  A Penn State University study published in Leukos has examined how U.S. museum lighting professionals are actually using modern lighting technologies, especially LEDs, and how they choose lighting based on conservation, appearance, and standards. The study creates a current, practice-based snapshot showing that LED adoption is now widespread, but guidance is still applied unevenly [...]

  An interesting article in US Lighting Trends compares the economics of diesel vs. solar construction site light towers. The article argues that while diesel light towers remain the familiar default for construction jobsites, solar-powered area lighting is becoming a more compelling option as owners and contractors prioritize lower emissions, quiet operation, and long-term cost [...]

  SB 3037, the Dark Sky Act, is currently working its way through the Illinois legislature. The bill sets out to add dark sky requirements within the Illinois Stretch Energy Code. It would update the Illinois Stretch Energy Code requirements so that the Code contains separate residential and commercial components. It specifically proposes: (A) outdoor [...]

  This is my latest article published in the March 2026 issue of LD+A. The Stack is rooted in theatrical design principles Rising above Vancouver’s skyline, The Stack at 1133 Melville Street is more than an office tower—it’s a statement in sustainable architecture and lighting design. As Canada’s tallest zero-carbon building, its sculptural form and [...]

  Alloy LED’s Radialux 5.5 COB RGBTW Tape Light represents an innovative convergence of RGBTW with COB tape. This five-channel tape light integrates dynamic RGB color-changing with tunable white light ranging from 2700K to 6500K, all within a non-pixilated Chip-on-Board (COB) construction. The result is a smooth, uninterrupted line of illumination for better looking architectural [...]

  Nichia reports that a joint study with the Tokushima Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Technology Support Center found Nichia’s HPS color LED at 1800K (amber) had the lowest insect attraction among the tested light sources. The company says the result came from both laboratory and outdoor evaluations comparing LEDs with different correlated color temperatures (CCTs). [...]