The US Green Building Council and the International WELL Building Institute have formed a partnership to simplify certifying buildings for both health and sustainability. The USBGC’s LEED certification rates a building’s sustainability credentials, while WELL ratings consider a building’s impact on the wellbeing of people who use it. Both LEED and WELL building certifications have [...]
Energy + Environment
Energy + Environment, Research
New Photocatalyst Could Revolutionize Green Hydrogen And Ammonia
The field of photocatalysis chemistry is producing important breakthroughs in industrial chemistry. In July, LightNOW reported on a new photocatalyst revolutionizing the conversion of methane into liquid methanol, here. Now Rice University researchers have created a small, LED-powered device that converts ammonia to hydrogen on the fly Ammonia might carry hydrogen exceptionally well, but if [...]
Agriculture, Energy + Environment
Ontario Offering New LED Grow Light Incentives To SW Ontario Greenhouses
The Ontario provincial government announced new funding to help greenhouses switch from traditional lighting sources to LEDs.
Energy + Environment, Products + Technology
Laser Surface Finishing Technology Creates Bio-Inspired, Optical Functional Surfaces
German company Fusion Bionic’s laser technology improves the surface performance of products, applications, and components using their new DLIP – Direct Laser Interference Patterning.
Dark Sky, Energy + Environment
Federal Government Develops Window Film To Prevent Bird Collisions With Windows
It has been well documented that artificial light at night (ALAN) can disorient birds and increase bird collisions with buildings, especially windows. The reflectance of windows can lead birds to not realize that windows are solid objects to be avoided. New window film developed by the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) can prevent deadly bird-window collisions.
Codes + Standards, Energy + Environment
ENERGY STAR Proposes Sunset Of Lamps, Luminaires & Ceiling Fan Light Kit Programs
On Monday, November 14, 2022, ENERGY STAR issued a memo proposing to sunset its Lamps, Luminaires, and Ceiling Fan Light Kit programs.
Energy + Environment, Interviews + Opinion
Sustainability And Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)
A recent editorial in LD&A magazine noted that we no longer have to single out “LED” lighting projects because now almost all projects use LEDs. There is no question that LEDs have drastically reduced energy use in both new construction and retrofit projects. So much so that some are arguing if we even really need lighting energy codes anymore.
Codes + Standards, Energy + Environment
Proposed 2024 IECC Commercial Code Would Reduce New Commercial Building Energy Use
The Public Comment Draft #1 of the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code Commercial Provisions was released on September 6, 2022. With buildings currently representing 39% of U.S. carbon emissions, leading jurisdictions recognize the importance of using building codes and performance policies to respond to the effects of climate change and reduce future risks.
Codes + Standards, Energy + Environment
New Code For Existing Building Decarbonization Overlays 2021 IECC
A new model code from the New Buildings Institute (NBI) is designed to help cities tackle emissions, specifically from the large stock of existing buildings. The model code Existing Building Decarbonization Code was published on Sept. 19, 2022. It is considered an overlay to the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and an addition to the Building Decarbonization Code published by NBI in 2020.
Energy + Environment, Products + Technology
The Language of the Circular Economy
Do you wish you knew a little bit more about the circular economy and how it applies to sustainable lighting? The Sustainable Furnishings Council has recently published Circular Design Glossary: Furniture & Furnishings.
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