MIT researchers have created a silicon-based LED that is less than one micron across. This is less than one thousandth of a millimeter (mm) across. Despite the tiny size, the new LED has a high intensity, which allowed the researchers to create a holographic microscope. This advance could allow a smartphone camera to become [...]

  At LightFair, I was part of a panel presenting the impacts of electrification on the lighting industry. This article is Part 3, about various factors that will all drive up energy costs for building owners and motivate much larger energy efficiency retrofits moving forward. Electric utility rates have historically increased an average of 2.5% [...]

  The only product at LightFair that caught my eye from over 30 yards away was a self-cleaning solar street light from a Chinese factory called Sresky. The product family is named Thermos, and it is available in a variety of sizes, wattages, and outputs (4,000 – 12,000 lumens). This product family is also part [...]

  At LightFair, last week, I was part of a panel presenting the impacts of electrification on the lighting industry. This article is Part 2 about EV chargers and other electrification products being sold by the lighting industry. One of the widely seen impacts of electrification on the lighting industry has been the selling of [...]

  At LightFair, last week, I was part of a panel presenting the impacts of electrification on the lighting industry. I had the pleasure of co-presenting with Chris Brown and Peter Brown, two prominent thought leaders in the lighting industry. I’m going to share some of the key impacts on lighting in a series of [...]

An interesting find at LightFair, last week, was the new Stealth Framing Projector added to the WAC-STRUT power, light, and control uninterrupted busway system. LightNOW first wrote about the WAC-STRUT system back in August, 2020, here. At LightFair, the new Stealth Framing Projector was featured as a option for lighting art and collectibles. The Projector [...]

  Battery technology is evolving from Nickel Metal Hydride and Nickel Cadmium to a variety of Lithium-Ion battery chemistries. One of the most promising lithium-ion-derived chemistries is the Lithium Iron Phosphate battery (LiFePO4). The two categories of lighting that most employ batteries are emergency lighting and solar lighting. Both of these categories are gradually transitioning [...]

  MetroSpec Technology has won a BrightStar Award from LEDs Magazine for its spot light module, FlexRad BoardOnCoil Minnie. It’s innovative thermal management consists of direct bonding of a copper coil and easy air flow through the center of the assembly. The FlexRad BOC Minnie can be used for pendant downlights, spot lights, sconces, acrylic [...]

Venture capital funding of indoor farming companies dropped 91% in Q1 of 2023 compared with Q1 of 2022 (deal value). The deal count in the same time period dropped 70%, from 46 deals in Q1 2022 down to 14 deals in Q1 2023. Rising energy costs and rising interest rates are both hurting indoor farming [...]