Lighting Industry

The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) published their Non-Residential Lighting Northwest Market Model report, this Summer. The report provides a characterization of the non-resi lighting market (commercial, industrial, & outdoor).

A previous LightNOW post discussed the shift of offices from downtowns to suburbs, a significant reduction in downtown office occupancy, and the conversion of office buildings to residential use. There is another significant trend in office spaces. 39% of prospective office tenants report they either already use co-working spaces or are considering using co-working space solutions for their employees.

A growing number of lighting manufacturers are offering online lighting configurators to simplify selection of lighting by specifiers, facility managers, and even consumers.

Channel Marketing Group’s Q3 Pulse of Lighting survey was completed by 200 distributors, manufacturers, reps, and lighting agents.

On September 30th, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB2406 into law, protecting importers from the imposition of unfair fees and trade practices. The bill limits the damages of detention and demurrage fees imposed by international ocean carriers.

Brightswitch is reporting that there are a record number of utility bonus incentives for commercial lighting efficiency programs. A bonus program is when rebate organizations offer increased incentives for the existing rebate measures for a set period of time.

On September 18, 2022, California banned fluorescent lamps, both CFLs and linear fluorescent lamps, joining Vermont’s ban in May, and the EU’s ban in December. California went beyond Vermont’s ban on 4’ lamps, by banning linear fluorescent tubes up to 8’ long.I chased down the legislative details for you.

New materials have changed the lighting industry before. The change from RGB to phosphor-converted white LEDs was enabled by InGaN blue-pump LED development. Similarly, many TIR lenses have shifted from polymers such as polycarbonate to optical silicone..Another potential materials leap for the LED industry is that Chinese factories are beginning to offer high output luminaires with graphene composite heat sinks & housings.

The southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan downgraded emergency energy supply measures last week, restoring power to some factories after weeks of rolling blackouts due to a heatwave-driven shortage.