David P Hakimi, Author at Language of Light — The Intersection of Lighting, Efficiency and Architecture

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David P Hakimi

David Hakimi is a lighting specialist and one of the co-founders of Alcon Lighting. A graduate of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), David works on the front lines of the energy-efficient lighting revolution, enabling architects, designers, and lighting engineers to transition from outmoded halogen and fluorescent lighting to what David calls “the ideal replacement for all lighting applications,” —LEDs. David takes particular pride in Alcon’s design, energy, and green building knowledge, tracing his and Alcon’s commitment to quality, innovation, accountability and value back to the lessons learned from his father, a Southern California lighting salesman and consultant for more than two decades. Passionate about reducing climate change and protecting the environment, David has been particularly valuable in ensuring that his clients and customers comply with rapidly-evolving green building codes. You can connect with David on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-p-hakimi/.

Chicago: New Energy Regulations Effective June 1, 2019

By Alcon Lighting / July 12, 2019

The Chicago Department of Buildings recently announced that energy design requirements for building projects in Chicago have been updated as part of the city's multi-phase code modernization process. For permit applications started on or after June 1, 2019, the Chicago Energy Conservation Code (Title 14N of the Municipal Code), based on the 2018 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code, published by International Code Council, Inc., will now apply.

Chicago: New Energy Regulations Effective June 1, 2019

The Effects of Light Color and Intensity on Your Mind and Body

July 3, 2019 by David P Hakimi

Our relation to light as humans is complex. Though many of the effects of light on our biology are still unknown, there are several we know and understand. Light also plays a major role in regulating human biological responses, including our internal body clock or circadian rhythm.

Color Rendering Index – What Is CRI?

May 8, 2019 by David P Hakimi

A color rendering index (CRI) is a quantitative metric of the ability of an artificial light source (i.e. LED, Fluorescent, Halogen, Incandescent, etc.) to accurately reveal the colors of a subject in comparison to a natural light source. A CRI of 90 means that the artificial light source is replicating roughly 90% of the visible color spectrum that the sun would produce on the same color.

Gentrification Done Right Can Bridge the Class Divide

March 23, 2019 by David P Hakimi

With rising land values and increasing income disparities, it seems that for many neighborhoods the prospect of gentrification is inevitable. Is there a way to “gentrify responsibly,” so communities and the people who live in them — no matter where they are on the financial spectrum — all come out ahead?

2019 Lighting Technology Trends: What is Bluetooth Mesh?

February 20, 2019 by David P Hakimi

Unlike wireless lighting systems like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Mesh is designed for large collections of devices, numbering into the thousands. Switches, HVAC, sensors, light fixtures, and shades can communicate with each other by forwarding a message, or command, across all the devices in that Bluetooth chain until reaching the destination to perform said operation, (i.e. turn ON the 3rd floor office lights). The communication, instead of passing through your WiFi router, comes from the originating device and travels from light fixture to sensor, to AC unit, to any other chain of Bluetooth Mesh enabled devices, like a Bluetooth highway or a body’s central nervous system, until the command reaches the lights on the 3rd floor.

2020 Lighting Design Trends: Organic Layouts

February 1, 2019 by David P Hakimi

As architectural designs have digressed from symmetrical and parallel mirroring patterns that align with vaulted ceilings, grid axis, and more, linear lighting allows architects to highlight asymmetrical architectural features and lines (which is where the term “architectural lighting” comes from). The lighting design pattern of 2019 is no design pattern.

How to Determine How Many LED Lumens You’ll Need to Properly Lig...

December 25, 2018 by David P Hakimi

How much light is enough light? Below you’ll find everything you need to know when determining how much LED lighting you’ll need for a space. A lumen is a unit measurement of light. To determine the needed lumens, you will need to multiply your room square footage by your room foot-candle requirement.

Birds of a Feather: Why Art and LEDs Go Together

February 28, 2018 by David P Hakimi

There’s a lot to think about when it comes to lighting a museum gallery. On the technical design side, there are two main factors to consider: light color temperature, or the warmth or coolness of a light source, and the Color Rendering Index (CRI), or the system used to indicate relative color rendering ability.

LED Innovations in Art & the Top Artists that Use Light as Their Medium

December 23, 2017 by David P Hakimi

Some of the world’s greatest artists were inspired by light — the way it hit a basket of fruit, or shone off a pearl earring. It’s the combination of dark and light that inherently fascinates us, and in today’s modern era, the only thing that’s changed is the medium. Light art explores this juxtaposition quite literally, through light, but in the form of sculpture, manipulation, colors, and shadows.

Breaking Down Renewable Energy vs Zero-Carbon — and the Role of LED Lighting

November 8, 2017 by David P Hakimi

Often seen or touted as idealistic, zero-carbon cities are now seen as an obtainable goal by most local elected officials and becoming a goal of many cities across the world. Reaching net-zero emissions is considered a necessity for the future of the environment with many cities across the country currently working towards the goal of zero-carbon emissions, including Boston, Denver and Portland, Oregon, which all have committed to reducing energy use by 80% or more by 2050.

Getting The Best Lighting for Architectural Interior Photography

November 3, 2017 by David P Hakimi

Even some of the world’s most stunning architectural masterpieces need a little help getting gussied up for the camera. It’s not that the light in the room itself is bad, in fact, the designer most likely executed everything in the room around light. But, when it comes to the lighting within interiors, it can get tricky when the camera comes into play.

7 Tips for Healthy Lighting from Light and Health Researcher Talieh Ghane

September 12, 2017 by David P Hakimi

Have you ever had trouble falling asleep at 2am after binge watching the latest season of House of Cards? Ever pulled an all-nighter then felt strangely awake and alert after walking outside into broad daylight? Ever spent all day at the beach only to sleep like a moss-covered boulder later that night? It probably comes as no surprise that light has significant effects on the human body.

The Top Five Human-Centric Principles of Light and Lighting Design

April 16, 2017 by David P Hakimi

Humans are designed to function on a roughly 24-hour cycle of wakefulness and sleep. Light is one way that our bodies set the clock. Human-centric lighting design takes into account natural rhythms of light and dark, incorporating changes in lighting intensity and color temperature over the course of a 24 hour cycle.