Changing Scene

For the past four years, trawlers on the West Coast have been hauling in vast amounts of pink shrimp, much of it destined for dainty salads and shrimp cocktails across the country. But though these have been boom times for shrimpers, many are uneasy.Along with pink shrimp, their nets often scoop up a threatened smelt called eulachon. Many shrimpers worry that the species’ vulnerability could lead to new federal restrictions on their industry.

Acuity Brands has announced a strategic partnership with light sensory networks firm, Sensity Systems. Acuity Brands and Sensity intend to develop a joint solution that further accelerates energy-efficient LED lighting into a smart, connected platform for the Internet of Things (IoT).

The City.People.Light award contest, created in 2003 by LUCI(Lighting Urban Community International)and Philips, rewards urban lighting projects that best demonstrate rehumanizing the urban environment through light and explore ways to maximize sustainability and improve the livability in the city. This year’s deadline: June 12.

The future of lighting will be laser, said Nobel Laureate in Physics Shuji Nakamura and fellow colleague Professor Steven DenBaars of University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) at an exclusive forum hosted by Taiwanese leading chip LED manufacturer Epistar on Wednesday at the company headquarters in Hsinchu, Taiwan.

Los Angeles will become the first city in the world to control its street lighting through an advanced Philips management system that uses mobile and cloud-based technology. The new technology positions LA’s Bureau of Street Lighting as a trailblazer in next generation LED street lighting with a new solution that saves energy, reduces maintenance and provides quality lighting that makes streets safer. The technology also supports the mayor’s Great Streets initiative, promoting the revitalization of neighborhoods through more pedestrian-friendly streets for residents. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized Philips Lighting with a 2015 Energy Star (ES) Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award for the company’s continued leadership in protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency achievements. For the third year in a row, Philips took top honours with over 500 Energy Star certified products in 2014, including SlimStyle, the world’s first Energy Star certified flat light bulb. Over 68 percent of the company’s product lines are Energy Star certified, including the recently announced 60-watt LED equivalent bulb with dimming that mimics the warm glow of an incandescent.

The 7th Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition), organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, drew a record number of exhibitors (1,250+) from 12 countries and regions. The four-day fair (April 6-9) welcomed over 19,000 buyers from 112 countries and regions, up 5% over last year. “We saw vibrant trading and networking on the fairground and observed that buyers were interested in green lighting products, such as LEDs, as well as smart lighting fixtures,” says Council Deputy Executive Director Benjamin Chau.

AkzoNobel has launched an ultra-reflective powder coating that can increase the effective output of commercial lighting fixtures by up to 30%.Developed by the company’s Powder Coatings business, InterponReFlex delivers outstanding levels of light reflectance.Because the product is solvent-free (like all powder coatings), it also has a lower environmental impact than competing materials used in the lighting market.

May 1, 2015 is the proposal deadline for Luminothérapie, Quebec’s largest competition for temporary works. The purpose of the multidisciplinary competition is to present a unique winter experience in the Quartier des Spectacles and to stimulate creativity in the design of works for public spaces. The 6th edition of Luminothérapie will run from December 10, 2015 to January 31, 2016.

GE has a new smart streetlight in early production, and it hopes that over time, cities and third-party developers will begin to take advantage of the platform to build smart city apps.

As part of International Year of Light activities, the Emerging Professionals Group within the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) has launched a photo competition geared toward IES members who are students and emerging professionals. Running through the end of July 2015, each month a different photo theme will be announced.

A new study published by WinterGreen Research estimates that the worldwide LED grow light module market ($395 million in 2014) will reach $1.8 billion by 2021. Rapid growth is anticipated as green house and plant factory growers find the LED grow lights improve agriculture.

GE Lighting, Osram Sylvania, Philips Lighting and RAB Design are among the many sponsors of the 2015 Electro-Federation Canada (EFC) Scholarship Program. This year, the program’s 20th, will award a record $120,500 across 52 scholarships. Find out more about these scholarships, and a new continuing education scholarship sponsored by Kerrwil, below. Application deadline: Midnight, May 31, 2015.

“Night Exhibition,” a first-ever exhibit from March 25 to April 8 at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, will use smart LED lighting solutions to illuminate masterpieces only after sundown (7:00 pm to 5:00 am). The exhibit will be visible to people outside passing the museum on its bicycle underpass.

Mercor Lighting is pleased to announce that it has recently been awarded the contract to retrofit the lighting  at  The Scotia Tower in downtown Toronto. Over two years in the making, this installation  will be recognized as the largest single-location LED lighting retrofit in North America.  

Lighting and design professionals from around the world will converge for networking opportunities, presentations by industry thought-leaders and event experiences at LIGHTFAIR International (LFI), the world’s largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference. LFI takes place May 3-7 in New York, NY.