Products + Technology

Daylighting is going mainstream and daylight harvesting, the energy-saving lighting control strategy that actually makes daylighting “sustainable,” is beginning to catch up. All automatic daylight harvesting control systems need a device that can measure light levels and signal a controller to dim or switch the lights in response to daylight contribution. This device is called [...]

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has published LSD 46-2009 Photoluminescent Exit Signage—Factual Review. This new white paper, produced by NEMA’s Emergency Lighting Section, describes concerns regarding the marketing and application recommendations common to photoluminescent exit signage in the U.S. and Canada. The section seeks to educate potential users as to the drawbacks and realities [...]

The California Lighting Technology Center Open House will be held at 633 Peña Drive in Davis, CA from 3PM to 7PM on January 20, 2010 to showcase the organization’s new facility, celebrate six years of operation, and introduce new staff members. Join CLTC for opening comments from its directors, funding partners and UC Davis leadership, [...]

In September 2009, the Department of Energy received the first entry in the L Prize competition, an LED replacement for the 60W incandescent bulb from Philips Electronics. Philips’ entry is now undergoing photometric testing at independent laboratories. This performance testing will verify that the product submitted meets the L Prize specifications for the 60W replacement, [...]

Klipsch has introduced the LightSpeaker–LED light bulbs that include integral speakers for playing music via wireless receivers. The product won a 2010 CES Innovations Award. Check it out here. Hat tip to Randy Smith at the Lighting Design Lab for turning me on to this.

On December 24, LightNOW reported on a number of vehicle accidents attributed by authorities to the fact that LED traffic lights can’t melt snow, and subsequent media coverage, here. There’s been some very insightful conversation about it in the Comments. Again, check it out here.

Great video showing how fluorescent lamps are produced, courtesy of the Discovery Channel.

So LED traffic lights save 90% energy, but run too cool to melt snow, which is believed to have caused some accidents. Snow obscuring the signal happens very infrequently, but nonetheless, one has to wonder where and how the ball got dropped on this, what the solution is, and whose responsibility it is to be [...]

Check out the amazing creations of Propellor Design here.