In the lighting world, we usually think of reducing carbon by increasing efficiency of energy use. However, there is a new push to reduce the carbon used to create construction materials, known as embodied carbon. This matters in the fight against climate change. Building materials and construction comprise about 11% of global energy carbon [...]
Energy + Environment
Controls, Energy + Environment
Here Comes The Lighting–HVAC Integration Tsunami
Before a tsunami, the ocean withdraws out to sea. Similarly, the signs are growing that a new tsunami is about to hit the lighting industry. That is the integration of lighting controls with HVAC controls. Why? It’s well known that LED “socket saturation” as well as diminishing returns when LEDs are combined with advanced [...]
Energy + Environment, Products + Technology
Nakamura’s Blue Laser Fusion Raised $25 Million Seed Round
Blue Laser Fusion, Inc. (BLF) was founded in 2022 by Shuji Nakamura, Ph.D., 2014 Nobel Laureate in Physics and Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and co-inventor of the blue / phosphor converted white LED; Hiroaki Ohta, Ph.D., General Partner of Waseda University Ventures (WUV); and Richard Ogawa, a Silicon Valley-based attorney. [...]
Dark Sky, Energy + Environment
Cities Adopting Policies To Prevent Bird-Building Collisions, Including Lighting
Some estimates are that up to one billion birds each year are killed in collisions with windows. A new report titled, “Building Safer Cities for Birds: How Cities Are Leading the Way on Bird-Friendly Building Policy,” details the growing number of cities, municipalities, laws, and policies that are reducing deadly bird collisions with buildings. The [...]
Construction + Economy, Energy + Environment
US DOE Assesses Critical Materials For Energy
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has completed an assessment of critical materials for energy. The Energy Act of 2020 defines a “critical material” as: Any non-fuel mineral, element, substance, or material that the Secretary of Energy determines: (i) has a high risk of supply chain disruption; and (ii) serves an essential function in one [...]
Energy + Environment, Lighting Industry
CA CPUC Approves $4.3 Billion For Energy Efficiency, Targets Rural & Underserved Communities
The California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) approved $4.3 billion in investments for energy efficiency efforts from 2024 through 2027, along with a forecasted budget of $4.6 billion from 2028 through 2031. Roughly 14% of the budget will be channeled to programs that target disadvantaged and underserved communities to ensure equitable access to energy efficiency programs. The [...]
Energy + Environment, Lighting Industry
It’s Time For Recycled Textiles In The Lighting Industry
The textile industry appears to be well ahead of the lighting industry in terms of circularity, recycling old textiles into new textiles. Textiles are most commonly used within commercial and residential luminaires as shades and diffusers. Here are 14 textile recycling companies that could be sourced to increase circularity in the lighting industry: Blue [...]
Codes + Standards, Energy + Environment
ENERGY STAR Releases Second Draft Of Recessed Downlight V1.0 Spec
In previous LightNOW reporting, I’ve written about EPA’s sunsetting of the ENERGY STAR Lamps and Luminaires specifications, along with the plan to launch a new recessed downlights specification. EPA has now released a second draft of the ENERGY STAR Recessed Downlights Version 1.0 specification (Version 1.0) intended to replace the Luminaires Version 2.2 specification (the existing [...]
Codes + Standards, Energy + Environment
New British Verification Program For Lighting Industry Circular Economy Claims
While circular economy principles are getting started in the North American lighting industry, they are far more advanced in the European lighting industry. In England, the LIA (Lighting Industry Association) and CIBSE (Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers) have joined forces to introduce a new product verification program aimed at promoting circular economy practices [...]
Construction + Economy, Energy + Environment
Electrification Impacts On Lighting, Part 7: State & Municipal Fines
At LightFair, I was part of a panel presenting the impacts of electrification on the lighting industry. This is the final article, Part 7, of the series. Dozens of states and municipalities have begun adopting energy benchmarking regulations that include fines to building owners who fail to meet either emissions or energy efficiency requirements. New [...]
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