October 2024

According to rebate processing firm, BrightSwitch, commercial lighting rebate programs in the United States are experiencing significant changes in 2024, with utilities boosting incentives and offering special year-end bonuses to encourage facility upgrades. Here’s a summary of the key trends and developments: Widespread Availability and Increased Incentives Nearly 80% of the United States is currently [...]

Here is a quick summary of 7 acquisitions and one restructuring in the third quarter of 2024:  LG acquires Athom smart home platform. Details here. Varaluz reorganizes in Chapter 11. Details here. Panzeri Group (Italy) acquires Luxxbox, acoustic lighting maker. Details here. Sage Publications acquires LD+A magazine from IES. Details here. First Brands Group acquires [...]

Wireless portable lamps are becoming increasingly popular, offering flexibility and convenience in home lighting. These battery-operated lamps eliminate the hassle of cords, making them ideal for various settings, both indoors and outdoors. Examples: Visual Comfort & Co.: They have expanded their offering to include nearly 20 rechargeable lamp designs, showcasing diverse materials and styles. Their [...]

  In September 2024, McCormick Place completed the installation of bird-safe window film on its Lakeside Center, a crucial step in preventing future mass bird casualties. This initiative comes in response to a tragic incident in October 2023, when approximately 1,000 birds died in a single night after colliding with the building’s glass facade. The [...]

  A Finnish city has introduced innovative streetlights designed to protect nocturnal pollinators, such as moths. These new lights feature a warmer color temperature that is less disruptive to insects, particularly moths, which are crucial for biodiversity and food production. The initiative aims to create a more pollinator-friendly urban environment, aligning with broader environmental goals. [...]

Universal automation in building automation systems (BAS) refers to a new standardized approach that brings software-defined, vendor-agnostic control to building management and automation. Universal automation can also be applied to industrial automation systems, but this article will only address universal automation use in BAS. Here are key aspects of universal automation in the context of [...]

By Nam Cho, Director of Advanced Development at Cooper Lighting Solutions Traditionally, lighting design could be considered a tedious process, often involving physical mockups, time-consuming calculations, and static renderings using multiple software tools. With advancing technology, these traditional methods are giving way to more sophisticated tools that enhance precision, speed, and visualization. On the downside, [...]

Author’s Note, 10/12/24: LightFair has extended the speaker submission deadline to October 18th, 2024. The call for speakers for LightFair 2025 is open, with a deadline to apply of October 11, 2024 (next Friday!). LightFair did not issue a press release about it, as in previous years, and there has been almost no trade press coverage [...]

Chiara Carucci is the Founder and Principal Lighting Designer at Noctua, a unique lighting design firm focused on light & shade to preserve heritage sites and natural resources while enhancing visitors’ experience after dark. The Collepardo caves are a natural wonder in the Lazio region of Italy. Noctua was selected by the Lazio region to [...]