David Shiller

  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 [...]

  The Electric Vehicle Charging Accessibility Network (EVCAN) is a nonprofit-led, multi-stakeholder technical network focused on EV charging accessibility, interoperability, and deployment support. EVCAN is an emerging framework for addressing one of the EV industry’s most persistent barriers: equitable, reliable, and standards-based access to charging infrastructure. As EV adoption increases across North America, EVCAN represents [...]

  The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act, last week, but the change is not law yet. The bill still needs Senate approval and a presidential signature before daylight saving time could become permanent. For the lighting industry, the bigger story is less about the clock change itself than about how a [...]

  The DesignLights Consortium (DLC) has published its Networked Lighting Controls (NLC) V5.2 technical requirements, with the update taking effect Aug. 3, 2026. The revision strengthens interoperability, standardizes reporting, and expands the role of lighting controls in integrated building systems, including HVAC-related applications. The new version positions networked lighting controls as more than a lighting-only [...]

  The Trump Administration announced its decision not to renew USMCA in its current form. The move could potentially reshape sourcing, pricing, and supply-chain planning across North America. For lighting manufacturers, distributors, and specifiers, the key issue is not an immediate break in trade, but a decade-long review process that keeps the pact in force [...]

Eaton has introduced a new line of residential occupancy and vacancy sensors designed to improve energy efficiency, simplify installation, and align with evolving code requirements. The OS306A Occupancy Sensor and VS306M Vacancy Sensor combine enhanced detection performance with a streamlined form factor suited for both new construction and retrofit applications. The devices reflect continued demand [...]