The Department of Energy has released revised competition requirements for the L Prize–the DOE-sponsored technology competition aimed at producing solid-state lighting products that can replace the common light bulb. The revised competition requirements include updates in several key areas, including 1) a specification for chromaticity, which compliments the existing specification for correlated color temperature, and [...]

Recently, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), PG&E, BetaLED and Echelon Corp. came together to demonstrate how smart streetlight technologies and systems can reduce energy use and carbon emissions while increasing street safety. Streetlighting can consume up to 40% of a city’s electric bill. Echelon is promoting a concept [...]

BEGA-US has relaunched its website, saying it offers more information, easier navigation and expanded search tools. Check it out here.

Back in April, I posted about BUG (Backlight, Uplight, Glare), a new classification system for outdoor light fixtures currently being promoted by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). Based on the TM-15–the upgrade of the roadway shielding classification system by the Illuminating Engineering Society and the Lighting Research Center–BUG addresses light emitted from the fixture in [...]

Check out this video from GE, which showcases a number of potential applications for OLEDs, including illuminated clothing (e.g., emergency services gear), decorative “wall peel” lighting, portable lighting, concealed lighting, signage and luminous stairs. Wow!

“Incandescents are better than CFLs because CFLs contain mercury.” There are many arguments against favoring CFLs over incandescents, and I agree with many of them, but this one doesn’t wash. Click here to read this article I wrote for Electrical Contractor that makes a clear case that incandescents are actually the true net emitters of [...]

Venetian lighting company Studio Italia Design commissioned self-taught artist, Denis Santachiara to create Magnetita, a contemporary, fully adjustable LED table light. The product features an advanced balancing system in which magnets maintain the luminaire’s equilibrium for precise movement. I checked on Studio Italia Design USA and the product wasn’t listed there as of June 17. [...]

Check it out here.

Design Excellence Award winner at the Lightfair 2009 Innovation Awards, Peerless Lighting’s Kite is an indirect/direct suspended luminaire that couples LED technology with sophisticated light extractor optics; the edge-lit optic converts multiple LED point sources into uniform, glare-free illumination without a direct line of sight to the source. Each 4-ft. section produces a nominal 4,000 [...]