Get ready for a fast, wild, innovative, informative, and (yes) long lighting roundup this month, because the lighting industry has been BUSY. You’ll hardly believe your eyes at some of these new lighting inventions, displays, and successes – so allow us to enlighten you…
In Lighting News…
“Alfredo Moser: Bottle light inventor proud to be poor”
How do you light a house using recycled materials and zero electricity? Alfredo Moser, a mechanic in southern Brazil invented a new way to light his house during the day, using only plastic bottles filled with water and a few drops of bleach. By early next year, these bottles are expected to be in over 1 million homes. Read more.
“Superdome gets new lighting system”
Remember those 34 terrible minutes at this past Super Bowl, when half of the Superdome lost power? Well, the Superdome managers are determined never to drop the ball (ha) like that again, so they’re upgrading their aging electrical equipment with a new, state-of-the-art system. Get ready for stunning computer-programmed lighting scenes, and more. Read more.
“Researchers identify cause of LED efficiency droop”
When LED light bulbs are subjected to larger electrical currents, they can loose up to 20% of their efficiency. Nobody wants that. This “efficiency droop” first identified in 1999, has hindered the LED’s development and popularity. BUT, researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have finally identified the mechanism behind this nuisance – a phenomena called “electron leakage.” Read more.
“Obama White House finally getting solar PV panels”
The White House is going solar! After spending about 40 months getting all the right permits for this energy-efficient retrofit, American-made panels are finally coming to the roof of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Read more.
“Philips Hue LED smart lights hacked”
By now, you’ve probably seen or heard of Philips’ computer-controlled light bulb, Hue. Earlier this month, security researcher Nitesh Dhanjani found he could hack into Hue’s system using a malware script and create a localized blackout. Check out this video to see how he did it:
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“L Prize winner still going strong after 25,000 hours”
In 2011, Philips won the DOE’s L Prize in the 60W replacement category for their LED light bulb. Now, after almost 2 years of use and testing, the results are still astounding. Not a single lamp has failed, and the average light’s lumen maintenance is still 100% of its initial output. Read more.
In Lighting Tips…
“7 pro lighting tips for budding home photographers”
When taking any photograph, lighting is one of the most important elements you need to account for. When photographing a home, the right lighting will make a room look inviting, clean, and high-quality. If you’re new at home photography, check out these seven lighting tips that will make your pictures look professional in no time. Read more.
“Tuscan kitchens”
In need of design inspiration for your kitchen? Take a look at Kitchen Design Ideas’ “Tuscan Kitchens” board on Pinterest. I absolutely love how warm and homey all these kitchens are. And the attention to lighting? Delectable.
“6 keys to developing a successful trade show display”
A trade show is always a sensory overload. So, if you have a bad display, you’ll lose customers to brands who know how to play the game. Follow these tips to make sure your brand stands out at your next trade show, and customers remember you, even after they go back home. Read more.
“7 reasons your paint color looks bad”
The wrong lighting can make a room’s paint look HORRIBLE. But, that problem is a lot easier to fix if your paint color isn’t all wrong to start with. Color expert Donna Frasca shared some tips this month about how to avoid the wrong paint color before it’s up on your walls. Read more.
Other Cool Stuff…
“SD Works creates the perfect irregular shaped lamp”
We always love an artsy lighting project, and this one from the designers at SD Works is a real stunner. Made from recycled ad banners, this display called “Living Pixels,” features beautiful – almost crystalline-looking lamps. Best part? No two are the same. Read more.
“Bikers make light up jackets to illuminate the Berlin night”
What’s cooler than a group of hip guys and gals cruising the streets of Berlin on their bikes? Them doing it wearing jackets covered with LEDs. The Trafo Pop Bike Club has made a name for themselves by doing just this. Check them out in this video, I think it’s really fun to watch:
“Induction-powered LED wedding ring lights up when couple holds hands”
Are you ready for this? When you’re ready to dazzle the lady (or fellow, I guess) of your dreams, the light of your life, you can now give them a wedding ring equipped with LEDs. The light doesn’t stay on all the time, just when it encounters enough heat to activate – like when you two hold hands…Awwww…Read more.