Apr 292013
 
PinExt Pegasus Lighting Roundup: Lighting in April

Midwest Energy News1 300x200 Pegasus Lighting Roundup: Lighting in April

Image via Midwest Energy News


A lot has been happening in the lighting world lately. Here are this month’s highlights…

In Lighting News…

Turkeys Love LEDs: A Minnesota turkey farmer is using LED lights to keep his turkeys happy and healthy. Every morning, Mike Langmo uses his dimmable, programmable LED lights to simulate a sunrise for his flock. There’s evidence that this practice is helping regulate their circadian rhythms, possibly contributing to their health and well-being. Read how it works here.

LED Prices Dropping: Two months ago, Cree announced they would be selling an LED light bulb for less than $10 in the US. Now, Osram has revealed that their new LED replacement for the 40W incandescent will retail at €9.95 in Germany. With prices going down this rapidly, LED light bulbs are becoming more attractive to consumers. Read more about this event here.

Most Efficient LED?: Philips has also been stepping up their game this month, claiming to have created the world’s most efficient lamp. It’s an LED tube light replacement prototype that produces 200 lumens of pure white light for every watt it uses. Learn the details here. Continue reading »

PinExt Pegasus Lighting Roundup: Lighting in April
Apr 232013
 
PinExt How Energy Efficient Buildings Work (An Infographic)

Ever wonder how to make a building energy-efficient? Well, look no further than this snappy infographic from Spaceway. Learn how our modern buildings are still losing energy, and what you can do to prevent the waste. Start with the lights, and assess everything from flooring to furniture to water usage. The infographic also highlights several great examples of energy-efficient buildings around the world…

How Energy Efficient Buildings Work Infographic How Energy Efficient Buildings Work (An Infographic) Continue reading »

PinExt How Energy Efficient Buildings Work (An Infographic)
Apr 222013
 
PinExt Pegasus Lightings 8 Favorite Eco Friendly Blogs

overexaggerated sustainability Pegasus Lightings 8 Favorite Eco Friendly Blogs
Happy Earth Day from everyone here at Pegasus Lighting!

If you’re a regular here on the blog, or if you’ve browsed around on our website, you know we’re big fans of energy-efficient, “green” lighting. We strive to stay up-to-date on the latest eco-friendly news and innovations, and to always provide you, dear readers, with quality green lighting products and helpful energy-saving tips.

But we can’t do it alone! We follow a group of expert bloggers and industry leaders to help us in our quest to make sustainability accessible for all.

So today, I’d like to send a special shout-out to 8 of my favorite green and eco-friendly blogs and websites:

  • Fresh Energy: Fresh Energy is a non-profit organization that’s been around for over 20 years – so you know they know what they’re talking about. Their main goal is to promote smart energy policy concentrating on areas like clean energy, energy-efficiency, climate change, and eco-friendly transportation and building.
  • Green Upgrader: Green Upgrader is one of our favorite green lifestyle blogs, eager to show all readers that even small eco-friendly changes can make a big impact! We love them for their constant eye on sustainability news, and mass of green how-tos, but they also offer neat things like ideas for sustainable cooking and eco-friendly entertainment options (think low-impact board games and the like).
  • EarthTechling: EarthTechling, run by a group of technologist-meets-environmentalists, is committed to reporting on technological advancements that could change the world for the better. They cover everything from simple how-to guides about saving energy around the house to breaking news regarding new gadgets, appliances, and technological upgrades.
  • Clean Edison: Clean Edison is a company that provides educational material about clean technology and sustainable building. Their website is a goldmine of information on solar energy, energy-efficiency, and green manufacturing, just to name a few. They also have a fabulous, practical blog offering eco-friendly advice to regular people. Check it out for posts like “30 Actionable Steps Towards Energy-Efficiency.”

Continue reading »

PinExt Pegasus Lightings 8 Favorite Eco Friendly Blogs
Mar 192013
 
PinExt The Consequences Of Light Pollution

Did you know light pollution is one of the reasons why women in developed nations are 5 times more likely to get breast cancer? That’s only one of the many issues caused by the bright lights in today’s cities and towns.

This short video explores the hidden costs of light pollution:

Continue reading »

PinExt The Consequences Of Light Pollution
Mar 062013
 
PinExt Energy Efficiency In 90 Seconds

What is energy-efficiency? Here’s a fun, quick video from the Natural Resources Defense Council about why energy-efficiency is important, and how it can help you save money.

Easy, right? I like the part where they mention energy-saving lights. To learn more about how to save energy with your lighting, you can check out our blog series on how to make the lights in your home or business more energy efficient. Also, you can check out the green products page on our website for even more ideas.  Continue reading »

PinExt Energy Efficiency In 90 Seconds
Jan 292013
 
PinExt Sunshine And Your Health: An Infographic

We consider light pretty important over here at Pegasus. For hours, we could talk your ear off about LED innovations and fluorescent installations. Although choosing the right under cabinet light is important, and knowing how to place your recessed cans is essential, there is no light as vital to the human body as a little sunshine.

Especially in these winter months, it can be hard for us to get enough sun exposure. This can have a poor influence on your mood and immune system, plus it deprives you of vitamin D, which helps prevent serious diseases light arthritis, diabetes, and cancer. Check out this infographic for the details:

Sunlight Info graphic small Sunshine And Your Health: An Infographic

This Infographic Was Provided By Carrington College’s Medical Assistant Training Program.

 

PinExt Sunshine And Your Health: An Infographic
Jan 282013
 
PinExt Pegasus Lighting Roundup: Lighting in January

incandescent 300x199 Pegasus Lighting Roundup: Lighting in January

Image via Cleveland.com


It’s a new year, and we’re back to keep you up-to-date on what’s happening in the lighting world. So far, 2013 has brought us tons of lighting innovations, brilliant tips on improving your life with light, and some just plain cool stuff…

In Lighting News…

Starting January 1, import and manufacture of the 75-watt incandescent light bulb were banned in the U.S. as part of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The goal here is to move the country to a higher efficiency standard to save energy, money, and natural resources. To learn more about the act, how it affects consumers, and how to adapt, check out this article from Cleveland.com or our own recent blog post on the matter.

Philips has come out with a new way to try on clothing in retail shops called the AmbiScene Fitting Room System. The system’s LEDs let customers adjust the lighting in their dressing rooms. To see how your clothes look in different places, you can choose settings that mimic the seasons, different times of day, and even different locations like the office or a nightclub. The system is also perfect for retail displays. Check out this video to see how it works:

Continue reading »

PinExt Pegasus Lighting Roundup: Lighting in January
Jan 242013
 
PinExt Next Phase Of EISA: Losing The 75 Watt Incandescent

Stock Photo Shattered Light Bulb Next Phase Of EISA: Losing The 75 Watt Incandescent
As of January 1, 2013, the second phase of EISA has taken effect, banning the import and production of 75-watt incandescent light bulbs.

For those unfamiliar, EISA stands for the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. President Bush signed this act during his second term, and it aims to do the following:

  • Move the U.S. toward greater energy independence and security
  • Increase the production of clean, renewable fuels
  • Increase the efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles
  • Promote research on and set up greenhouse gas capture and storage options
  • Improve the energy performance of the Federal Government
  • Increase U.S. energy security, develop renewable fuel production, and improve vehicle fuel economy

One of the main goals enacted by this legislation is to raise appliance and lighting efficiency standards, which is what has brought about the incandescent light phase outs. These older incandescent lamps just don’t meet the mark.

Last January, we said goodbye to the 100-watt incandescent lamp, and now the 75-watt has followed. It’s likely you’ll still see them in stores in coming months, but with the ban on importing or manufacturing these lights, the supplies we already have will dwindle and eventually run out. Now, a light bulb must use 53 watts or less if it emits the equivalent lumens of a 75-watt incandescent light.

These new standards are technology neutral, so any kind of light bulb can still be sold, as long as it meets the efficiency requirements. Continue reading »

PinExt Next Phase Of EISA: Losing The 75 Watt Incandescent
Jan 022013
 
PinExt 5 Ways Light Can Help With Your New Years Resolutions

Fireworks 300x203 5 Ways Light Can Help With Your New Years Resolutions
Is it 2013 already? It’s hard to believe – it feels like just yesterday was January ’12 and we all were resolving to make our lives healthier, smarter, and easier. But, if last year’s resolutions didn’t work out as planned, and you’re feeling cynical about making any positive changes for 2013, maybe you just need to lighten up (literally).

Lighting is such an integral part of our everyday lives, affecting the way we see and navigate through the entire world, why couldn’t it help you achieve your New Year’s Resolution?

Below are 5 of the most popular New Year’s Resolutions, and lighting just might be the key to help you stay on track with each of them…

1. Save Money.

Dreading monthly bills, clipping coupons, and cutting back on every non-essential can get overwhelming. No wonder we feel like giving up mid-February. An easy way to passively save money each month is to switch out your old incandescent lights for energy-saving LED and fluorescent lights.

Did you know, roughly 20% of the world’s electricity consumption goes to lighting? If you swap all the light bulbs in your home for more efficient varieties, you’ll save an average of $400 a year! You can save even more money by installing motion sensors, timers, photocell, and other controls on your indoor and outdoor lights, to only use them when you need them. The best part: once installed, you hardly have to think about them at all.  Continue reading »

PinExt 5 Ways Light Can Help With Your New Years Resolutions
Dec 262012
 
PinExt Pegasus Lighting Roundup: Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes

Diverse and impressive changes have been taking place in the lighting world this month. Read on to discover the fun and innovation!

In Lighting News…

Across the web, there was a consensus that LED holiday lights were the thing to have for the holidays. Not only are they energy-efficient, long lasting, and durable, they can also be interactive. We’ve seen families across the country creating holiday feats – dancing light shows to hundreds of different songs, and even games for visitors to play. For a balanced review of new LED string lights, check out this article from Apartment Therapy.

Holiday Light Pegasus Lighting Roundup: Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes

Speaking of switching to LEDs, NASA is swapping out all of the light bulbs on the International Space Station to help alleviate astronauts’ insomnia. They’re planning to use specially diffused LEDs, which can filter light into different hues. They’d provide blue light to help astronauts wake up in the morning, white light during work hours, and reddish light to soothe them to sleep. To read more on the science of the switch, check out this article from Gizmodo.

A recent article on Forbes.com declared that LEDs have finally “arrived.” In other words, they’re a mature, viable product, widely available, good-looking, and economically attractive. Continue reading »

PinExt Pegasus Lighting Roundup: Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes