led lighting Archives — Language of Light — The Intersection of Lighting, Efficiency and Architecture

Talieh Ghane: What is Healthy Lighting?

July 5, 2019 by Alcon Lighting

Talieh Ghane researches the interaction between light and health at the California Lighting Technology Center. We talked about the biological vs. visual system of light, how to synchronize your circadian clock for better health, how light is like a drug, and why you shouldn’t be on your phone right before bed (guilty).

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.

Guide to Lighting America’s Flag

June 14, 2019 by Alcon Lighting

The Continental Congress passed an act establishing an official flag for the new American republic on June 14, 1777. President Truman declared June 14 as Flag Day August 3, 1949. Anyone considering displaying America’s flag for Flag Day today or on Independence Day on July 4th might want to give some thought to proper illumination.

What Is Architectural Lighting?

May 27, 2019 by Alcon Lighting

The term Architectural Lighting encompasses three main factors. The first is the building’s aesthetic, which is crucial for any commercial, especially retail, environment. The second consideration is ergonomic or functional — any aspect which improves one’s ability to live, work, function, relax or play — to make the space easier to use. The third aspect involves the efficiency of energy, ensuring that light is properly, which is to say economically or optimally, used and distributed.

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.

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.

5 Lighting Design Tips from Starbucks’ Directors of Store Design

October 20, 2018 by Stephanie Sakay

When designing for a retail space, it is important to consider not only the design aesthetic that needs to be achieved but also the patron and the intended experience.

Lighting design for retail spaces vary from displaying delicate pieces of jewelry to endless shelves of apparel; and when it comes to coffee shops, the detail and effort into lighting design is no different. Min Cho and Jill Enomoto, directors of store design for Starbucks, share their tips on how to use light to welcome and guide customer experience.

Office Lighting: LED vs. Fluorescent

September 25, 2018 by Colt Sliva

Whether you’re upgrading the lighting in your current office, or designing the office space of a new development project, it’s important to consider the advantages and disadvantages of LED Lighting. Here are 4 important points of analysis when considering LED Lighting to Fluorescent.

Mood Changers: Lighting Design 101 – Why Lighting is The Most Im...

April 10, 2018 by Katie Kailus

It’s widely known that lighting can affect one’s mood — hence the common term mood lighting. But the degree at which your mood is affected by lighting might surprise you. In 2014, the Journal of Consumer Psychology published a study that found the more intense the lighting, the more affected and the more intense the participants’ emotions were — both positive and negative.

Growing Green: How Amazon has Become Seattle’s Green Giant

March 12, 2018 by Katie Kailus

After outgrowing its headquarters several years ago, Amazon invested in its hometown — building some 40 buildings in downtown Seattle while keeping a focus sustainability. Six of the buildings on Amazon’s Seattle campus have been awarded with the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Gold certification for sustainable design and construction methods, while 20 of the buildings were built using LEED standards.

Retail Lighting: Best Practices

March 11, 2018 by Katie Kailus

Products can demand attention with the help of proper lighting. This means an open floor plan with tactical attention to lighting fixture placement, brightness, color temperature, and CRI. The ability of LED Lighting to meet these technical requirements is what makes it the #1 choice of lighting designers and architects.

Seeing Edible Green with LED Lighting

February 21, 2018 by Alcon Lighting

Leaf it to the horticulturalists to come up with something this big: Harnessing the power and versatility of LED lighting, urban farmers are producing 12,000 heads of lettuce per day for consumer consumption.

10 Fun Facts About Nikola Tesla

November 18, 2017 by Alcon Lighting

Tesla was a prolific inventor and patent holder. One of his primary contributions was alternating current—a development that—dare I say—powers the world we live in today. Critical for lighting. Critical for facebooking. Indispensable for all things (alternating current, not Facebook).

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.

Understanding Lumens-as-a-Service — Why Commercial Lighting is a Per...

October 26, 2017 by Katie Kailus

When it comes to office lighting, most workplaces are faced with outdated systems that are wasting both money and energy. It’s a disappointing fact as extensive research has shown that office lighting plays a major role in the productivity of office workers. It’s been proven that LED lighting that mimics or compliments natural light leads to greater productivity amongst workers as well as having a significant affect on an individual’s happiness and circadian rhythm.

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.

Hospitality Lighting: Best Practices for Safety & Comfort

August 3, 2017 by Colt Sliva

The best hospitality and dining lighting creates a home away from home—making a guest feel warmth and comfort by creating an environment that either promotes feelings of relaxation or sets the mood for romance. Ideally, the guest glides effortlessly through the space, unaware of the thought and planning that went into the lighting design and layout.

First Looks: Raymond Thompson, Event Lighting Designer

March 1, 2016 by Alcon Lighting

I caught up with event lighting designer Raymond Thompson of Images by Lighting the week before the Oscars and right smack dab in the middle of awards season. Thompson, whose credits read like a highlight reel of Hollywood’s most star-studded events, was at Raleigh Studios prepping for the Motion Picture & Television Fund’s annual Night Before the Oscars gala.

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Dressing Room Lighting: Finding the Perfect Fit