Changing Scene

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.

Four innovative lighting controls Legrand’s adorne collection of light switches, dimmers, outlets and design-driven wall plates swept their category at the recent IIDEX Innovation Awards, achieving gold and silver. A gold award went to the adorne Portable Nightlight Flashlight won gold. Silver awards went to the adorne Pop-Out Outlet, Touch Dimmer and Wave Switch.

As of press time, Woodstock municipal council was still debating a proposal to convert the city’s HSP streetlights to energy-and money-saving LEDs. The proposed is spearheaded by ERTH Corporation, which has converted 26 municipalities to LED streetlights and has recently signed on their 40th municipality for conversion. The company employs 16 qualified electricians, three master electricians, three qualified linemen, and has a fleet of bucket trucks.

Vancouver-based Lighting Architecture Movement Project (LAMP) has launched its second annual lighting design competition. Submission deadline: June 1. 

Aurora Lighting has signed a long-term licence agreement with Gooee for the supply of its operating platform including ASICs, LED light engines, control devices and connection into its cloud data platform.The deal will integrate Gooee’s smart-enabling technology into Auroro a products used within commercial, hospitality and residential project spaces. The licence also extends to Microlights, Aurora’s specialist retail lighting company.

The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America is investing in tomorrow’s leaders through a new Young Professionals Scholarship Fund. The fund supports the attendance of students and emerging professionals at IES annual conferences.For the 2015 Annual Conference (November 8-10, 2015, Indianapolis, IN) applications must be received by no later than September 9, 2015.

EVRYTHNG, the Internet of Things (IoT) smart products platform,has announced a strategic partnership with Gooee, an IoT technology company specializing in systems integration for the LED lighting value chain. The two firms aim to build a global sensory network platform and become the “operating system for smart connected lighting.” The platform has the potential to reduce the cost of energy and maintenance in LED lighting.

Acuity Brands has just acquired intelligent building automation and energy management company Distech Controls for $252.8 million. Based in Brossard, PQ, Distech provides products to control HVAC, Access Control and Video Surveillance in Buildings, allowing connectivity and analysis of different systems.

Frans van Houten, CEO and Chairman of Philips is a potential recipient of a Circular Award, an annual event recognizing people and enterprises from commerce, civil society and academia that have made a notable contribution to driving circular economy principles. 

January 19-20 marks the opening ceremonies of the 2015 International Year of Light in Paris, but events will be taking place throughout the year and around the world. People of all ages and all backgrounds will gain an appreciation for the central role of light in science and culture, and as a cross-cutting scientific discipline that can advance sustainable development, say organizers.

Medgar Lighting Concepts Inc. has been appointed the Canadian sales agency for Universal Lighting Technologies, Inc., a member of the Panasonic family of companies. With over a century of collective experience in the electrical industry, Medgar Lighting Concepts will represent Universal Lighting Technologies in southwestern Ontario, Windsor and the Niagara area. As a representative for Universal Lighting Technologies, Medgar Lighting Concepts will offer their full inventory — from ballasts to LED solutions, including luminaires.