Author: Tom Farin

Tom Farin is the founder of Pegasus Lighting. Dr. Farin has been in the field of lighting since 1987. He has extensive training and experience in lighting, physics, mathematics and education, acquired at the undergraduate level, in graduate school, and in the field. It is Dr. Farin's interest and expertise in education that has driven the overall design of the www.PegasusLighting.com site - with its heavy emphasis on lighting terminology, lighting techniques, and thorough information on each lighting product.
Blue LED Light

The 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics Goes To …

Tom Farin 1 Comment

Nobel Prize in Blue LED

For centuries man lit his night with an oil lamp that created only about 1/10th of a lumen per watt (a very small amount of light produced for the expenditure of a standard unit of energy). Then in the late 19th century the incandescent light bulb was invented and that eventually provided about 16 lumens per watt. In the late 1930s the fluorescent lamp became a reality and gave us an amazing average efficacy of about 70 lumens per watt. Now in the early 21st century still another revolutionary development is taking place – light emitting diodes (LEDs) are giving or will soon give us 300 lumens per watt. Think about the amount of change in the way we have lit our homes, offices, stores, factories, and streets in just the last 20-30 years. It is nothing short of astonishing and you can bet that more change is on the way in how we light the way we live. Read More

Know These 6 Myths Before Choosing Your Next Pair of Sunglasses

Tom Farin 5 Comments

2 puppies wearing sunglassesSpring has sprung. The weather is getting nicer. Time for a new pair of sunglasses?  It was time for me. Even though sunglasses are not a regular topic of our lighting blog, I felt that my recent experience picking out new sunglasses warranted this post. I was disappointed at the number of myths about sunglasses that were told to me by multiple, yes, multiple, supposedly knowledgeable sales people. So, I figured that it might prove useful to others if I shared my experience and busted these myths with this sunglasses buying guide. 

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LED Traffic Lights Can’t Melt Snow

Tom Farin

LED Traffic Light

Put this one in the “didn’t see that coming” bin. Virtually everywhere you drive these days chances are you will see one or more LED traffic lights at important intersections. They’re the ones that look like a pattern of bright dots.

Cities around the country have installed these new traffic lights for several very good reasons. They are very energy-efficient using about 90% less energy than their incandescent counterparts and, more importantly, they last tens of thousands of hours, thus saving municipalities a bundle in maintenance costs.

Wisconsin, for example, which has put LED traffic lights at hundreds of intersections, saves about $750,000 per year in energy costs. LEDs installed seven years ago are still burning, while most incandescent bulbs have to be replaced every 12 to 18 months.
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Where Does That Sconce Go Anyway?

Tom Farin 3 Comments

Outdoor Wall SconceA wall sconce (sconce, for short) is an ornamental bracket fixed to a wall for holding a candle or an electric light of one kind or another. The electric light source could be incandescent, xenon, halogen, fluorescent, or even LEDs.

Long ago, wall sconces were primarily mobile lighting devices which were carried to light the way throughout a home or passageway. These wall sconces were frequently hung on a wall or over a fireplace where they were readily available for the homeowner’s use. Today, wall sconces are attached to a wall to provide permanent illumination. But where do they go exactly?
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Bathroom Vanity Lighting – How Not to Look Like Dracula

Tom Farin 7 Comments

Recessed downlights should not be used to light your face while standing at a mirror in your bathroom because the light coming from these fixtures will only cause harsh shadows on your face. Instead, wall-mounted vanity light fixtures attached above the mirror and/or on both sides of the mirror, or backlit vanity mirrors (a very neat option – especially if wall space is limited) should be used. That way, shadows on your face can be minimized. Recessed downlights can be used in other parts of the bathroom for general lighting but not for task lighting at the sink area – unless, of course, you want to look years older or like Bella Lugosi in makeup.

Round halogen backlit vanity mirror.

Square fluorescent backlit vanity mirror.

Benefits of ENERGY STAR® Qualified Products

Tom Farin

Pegasus Lighting sells ENERGY STARReplacing the five most frequently used light fixtures in your home, or the light bulbs in them, with ENERGY STAR qualified ones could save you about $60 each year in energy costs.

ENERGY STAR qualified light fixtures:

  • Use 2/3 less energy (than standard incandescent fixtures)
  • Come with long-lasting pin-based bulbs that last up to 10 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs
  • Offer automatic daylight shut-off and motion-sensing features on outdoor fixtures
  • Generate 70% less heat than incandescent light fixtures
  • ENERGY STAR qualified fixtures must have a 2-year manufacturer warranty (double the industry standard)
  • Do not hum, buzz, or flicker

ENERGY STAR qualified light bulbs:

  • Use at least 2/3 less energy (than incandescent bulbs)
  • Last about 4 years – at least 6 times longer than incandescent lighting
  • Come in different shapes and sizes, including spiral and globe, to fit in most residential fixtures
  • Are convenient in hard-to-reach or high-use fixtures, as they need replacing less often
  • Generate 70% less heat than incandescent light bulbs
  • ENERGY STAR qualified bulbs offer a 2-year manufacturer warranty (double the industry standard)
  • Do not hum, buzz, or flicker

Visit the Pegasus Lighting website to browse the ENERGY STAR lighting products that we offer.