From LEDs to microbes, bio-polymers to charging stations

Lights that reduce energy consumption and improve visibility. A new bio-renewable rubber based on sugarcane feedstock. A bio-exhaust system that uses microbes to eliminate solvent vapors. Participation in a national network of electric vehicle charging stations. Low emission sealing solutions.

These are just a few of the programs and products that Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is pursuing in order to lessen its impact on the environment, help customers offer more efficient vehicles and help build a community coalition focused on making alternate energy a reality. The company, which codified the need for environmental responsibility by a Guiding Principle more than 160 years ago, salutes Earth Day throughout the year by encouraging its employees to explore innovations and processes that not only improve quality but also address its carbon footprint.

"Sustainability is about more than checking a box. It must be founded on the ability to develop new techniques, innovations and knowledge," said Dr. Theodore G. Duclos, president, Freudenberg-NOK.  

Freudenberg-NOK's Northfield, N.H. facility has set a new benchmark for facility energy efficiency within the company. The plant recently replaced all of its fluorescent lights with new energy- efficient LED lighting. The new lighting will save the facility $40,000.00 per year while doubling the light output, said Plant Manager Gary Plummer. The program has been so successful that it is being rolled out to other facilities across the Freudenberg network. This system also incorporated a computer system that can adjust each individual lighting fixtures output level and shut it down completely when there are no occupants. 

Freudenberg's facility in Reichelsheim, Germany has installed a bio-exhaust cleaning facility that relies upon the voracious appetites of microscopic creatures to neutralize and eliminate noxious solvent vapors from the company's metal cleaning processes. The system sends exhaust streams through an active carbon filter until they become the consistency of water. Then the mixture is spread over bark mulch housed in four large aluminum containers. The mulch is heavily populated with microbes that use the exhaust content as a source of energy and carbon, transforming the mixture into compounds that are harmless from a health standpoint.

Energy used to run the system is low, costs are minimal and the bark mulch only needs to be changed every five years. Other company plants in Europe, including the Kufstein facility in Austria, use comparable bio-exhaust systems to eliminate industrial waste and turn it into harmless byproducts.

Increasing power and efficiency of 265nm-wavelength LEDs

Researchers based in Japan claim the highest output power and external quantum efficiency (EQE) so far for deep ultraviolet (DUV) sub-270nm-wavelength light-emitting diodes (LEDs) during DC operation [Shin-ichiro Inoue et al, Appl. Phys. Lett., vol106, p131104, 2015]. One 265nm device achieved 90mW output power and 6.3% peak EQE. The team from Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) and Tokuyama Corp used photonic crystal and subwavelength structures to enhance light extraction, giving improved EQE performance over previous devices.

GreenLux LED releases aluminum recessed extrusions for linear LED lighting applications

GreenLux LED releases aluminum flat recessed extrusions for linear LED lighting applications such as kitchen undercabinet lighting, interior accent lighting, and illuminated furniture. The company is located in Shenzhen,China, founded in 2008, specializes in LED spotlights, bulbs, profiles, panels, striplights, floodlights with CE, RoHS, TUV, UL Certifications. GreenLux LED is a state-level high-tech enterprise and TUV ISO 9001: 2008 certified company.

HessAmerica launches Linea S LED bollard, will display at LightFair

HessAmerica introduces Linea S — a new addition to the architecturally-designed family of bollard, pole and wall-mount luminaires. The Linea S is suitable for use in a wide variety of architectural applications including pedestrian and cultural areas; corporate campuses; luxury condominiums; and upscale retail and hospitality venues.

Osram's Oslon Black Flat automotive multi-chip LEDs win PACE Award

Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH of Regensburg, Germany has been selected as a winner of this year's PACE Awards (organized by US trade journal Automotive News) in recognition of its Oslon Black Flat product family. The multi-chip LEDs for front headlamps can generate more light from a small package than any other comparable product, it is claimed, giving automotive and headlamp manufacturers greater design flexibility. Mike Godwin, North American director LED Products, accepted the award on behalf of the company at a ceremony in Detroit on 20 April.

Osram LEDs light Roman baths

Osram LEDs are illuminating the Roman Achillian Baths in Catania Sicily following a lighting project by the Institute for Archaeological and Monumental Heritage of the National Research Council (CNR-IBAM). Cutting power from 5 to 1.5kW, the original metal halide lamps were replaced by spotlights containing Osram Oslon SSL 80 and Duris P 5 LEDs, which “offer superior corrosion robustness and can optimally be used for applications in archaeological sites”, said the firm

B Plus L Technologies' LED drivers provide dimming control

B Plus L Technologies is proud to launch an exciting line of dimmable LED drivers. The X-Series LED drivers are designed to provide smooth dimming control using line dimmers for DC constant-voltage type LED light sources and AC MR16 LEDs. Available in 12VDC, 12VAC, 24VDC, and 24VAC outputs and 60W maximum load, these products will meet most application requirements. In addition, they have no minimum load requirements and thus are excellent solutions for retrofitting from halogen to MR16 LEDs, or for brand new MR16 LED installations. The X-Series LED drivers will providing smooth full range dimming without flicker using the recommended dimmers. They are tested to work with architectural lighting controls like Grafik Eye and Radio Ra.

Help pick Harrisburg’s new LED streetlights

Pick a light. Harrisburg City wants public input to help select the new LED-style streetlights that will illuminate neighborhoods. People are often told to run away from the bright, white light – but Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse is asking folks to head towards them. Until the end of April, Harrisburg will allow the public to give feedback on five different LED cobra-head-style street lamps. “We thought it would be important to get some public input,” he said.

Philips Hue integrates with Apple Watch

Philips Hue can now be controlled through Apple Watch. Easy and intuitive to use, Philips Hue can now be instantly accessed and controlled by a device you wear all day every day making certain that light personal to you is always at hand.

Apple Watch uses the widgets from the Philips Hue app to control the lights in your home and activate your favorite light scenes, ensuring you have the light that you want wherever you are in the house. If you have geofencing activated on your iPhone, you will get a notification on your Apple Watch to inform you that the lights are on as you arrive home, meaning you no longer need to look for the switch in the dark. Also through Apple Watch, precise personalization of your lighting is possible within the same room. Whether preparing dinner, working or reading a book, new lighting zones can be created thanks to Philips Hue and Apple Watch.

As a part of a seamless ecosystem covering bulbs, lamps and controls, as well as integration with the Apple HomeKit; Philips Hue offers new lighting experiences that are personal to you. From functional white light recipes that help you to relax or concentrate to creating your own light scene using a favorite photo to syncing your lights to your TV via one of over 230 third-party apps – with Philips Hue, the possibilities are endless.

The Philips Hue starter kit, comprising of three Hue bulbs and a bridge, will get you going. For further information on Philips Hue please visit www.meethue.com and for Apple Watch please visit www.apple.com/watch.

AllPixel LED Controller And PowerTap Kits Now Available

If you missed out on the crowd funding campaign and have been waiting for the AllPixel LED controller and AllPixel Power Tap Kit to become available, Maniacal Labs has today announced that they are now available to purchase from their Seeed Store. The AllPixel is a small board measuring 2.7 x 0.9 inches in size that has been designed to provide an easy way or controlling LED lights in different configurations and can accept 5-12v @ up to 5A via DC power jack.

Topbulb Revamps and Improves Metal Halide Line

Topbulb has recently completed their process of improving the metal halide line they offer online. Metal halide lamps are common in big box retail stores, parking garages, as security lighting, in sports arenas, and many other industrial and commercial applications.

"In spite of the movement toward LED luminaire options in the commercial and industrial sector," stated Andrew Shebath, Business Operations Manager of Topbulb, "metal halide lamps continue to maintain their presence in the market. Other than dedicated LED fixtures, there are few direct bulb replacements that match the lumen output of higher wattage metal halide."

In addition to the larger metal halide bulbs commonly found in sports stadiums and parking garages, small form factor ceramic metal halide has been embraced by high end retailers for accent lighting due to its clean white light and strong color rendering.

"While LEDs excel at reducing energy costs," continued Mr. Shebath, "the 25,000 hour rated life of some metal halide lamps compares very favorably against LEDs. Plus, the cost of metal halide lamps is significantly lower than LED direct replacement bulbs. However, as LED technology continues to improve and gain market share, the cost difference will narrow."

Topbulb has recently improved its metal halide selection with a number of brands and options. The website features a large selection of standard start, pulse start, and ceramic metal halide lamps from both premium and value brand manufacturers. These brands include Osram Sylvania, GE, Standard Products, Higuchi, and others. The lamps have been selected for their long life, stable color, and improved lumen maintenance.

Reflecting On The Past & Shining A Light On The Future Of LEDs

Typically, when a light bulb went out in a home in the past, it was replaced with another incandescent light bulb — the most popular and familiar lighting option. Now, consumers are switching out these bulbs with more energy-efficient options, which is due in large part to Congress mandating legislation in 2007 to phase out the incandescent. It’s not that these bulbs weren’t a viable technology, they simply weren’t efficient. They didn’t last as long and much of the energy they used to light up a room was lost as heat. As a result of federal legislation known as EISA — The Energy Independence and Security Act — the lighting industry began promoting better alternatives, including LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes), which use 80% less energy and last about 25 times as long as incandescent light bulbs.

Dauer produces 7W LED MR16 lamps with beam-angle options

Dauer LED has dramatically expanded its selection of 7-watt LED MR16 lamps to include beam spreads of 25°, 40°, and 60°, all in various color temperatures ranging from ultra-warm to cool. Ten models of Dauer 7-watt LED MR16 lamps are now available for interior and exterior applications. About 60 options are available in the full line of Energy Star approved, UL-listed Dauer MR16 12-volt dimmable lamps, ranging from 2 watts to 8 watts, with beam spreads from 15° to 100°, providing the discerning designer the best selection of high-performance bulbs in the industry. All include Dauer’s five-year warranty.

Electric Zone Inc. adds 150W LED high bay to Luciére series

Electric Zone, Inc EZ recently released the Luciére Series LED high bay fiixture, which is 40% more powerful than most high bays on the market today, allowing operators to replace their bulky and aging high-intensity discharge (HID) lighting systems with a lightweight, efficient, longer lifespan. This LED high bay pulls only 150 watts for standard 100~277 VAC, but produces more light output as that of 400 Watt metal halide (MH) light. The Luciére series LED high bay runs on less heat with thermally efficient housing design to ensure a longer lifespan.

Illuminates us on LED Filaments

LED filaments started showing up in light bulbs a few months back. [Mike] discovered that the strips are available in bulk from ebay and Alibaba. Always keen to work with new LED technologies, [Mike] ordered a few for experimenting and posted the results on his [mikeselectricstuff] YouTube channel. He also added the information to his website. The filaments consist of 28 LEDs connected in series. The blue LEDs are covered by the typical yellow phosphors to make them glow white.

Organic Semiconductors Could Lead To Cheaper, Greener LEDs And Solar Cells

New innovations in the field of organic semiconductors could lead to the creation of more efficient LED TVs and flexible solar cells that can be cheaply manufactured. Semiconductors work to convert electric currents to light; these devices are usually based on silicon, but this takes a huge amount of energy to produce, the University of Bath reported. The researchers believe they can overcome this problem through the use of organic semiconductors.

Edison Opto introduces new PLCC high-voltage and wide-angle SMD LEDs

The internationally renowned LED packaging manufacturer Edison Opto introduces new high voltage SMD LEDs which include 3030 HV (1.5W 45V) and 5050 HV (12V/60V/65V) models. Edison's HV SMD LEDs feature high lm/$ and high luminous efficiency; for example, the 3030 series can achieve 190lm under 1.5W 33mA (equivalent to 130lm/W). The 5050 series SMD LEDs can reach 360lm under the operation of 2.7W 60mA and deliver the best performance of 150lm/W under 1W 20mA. The high voltage and low current operation decrease the complexity of circuit and mechanical design and therefore simplify module design and power settings. In addition, the compact sizes of 3030 HV and 5050 HV SMD LEDs are suitable for limited space outdoor AC modules, reducing the size and cost of luminaires under development. Used with an optical lens, the 3030 HV and 5050 HV series SMD LEDs are optimized to be applied in any kinds of lighting sources, including street lights, high/low bays, outdoor flood lights, and LED bulbs.

Consider your options when choosing LEDs

If you’re making the switch to LED grow lighting from your current HID or HPS system, there can be many factors to consider. Two leading light manufacturers provide their tips for choosing the right company to meet your needs. Ron James, division manager of PARsource Greenhouse Lighting, recommends growers should take these factors into account when switching to LEDs.

Bellingham plans to convert streetlights to LEDs this year

City streets soon will look more colorful at night and be cheaper to light as staff members move to replace the city’s less-efficient street lamps with energy-saving LED lighting this year. Replacing about 3,600 city-owned high-pressure sodium lights with LEDs should save about $3.5 million in energy costs over the life of the bulbs, public works staff told members of Bellingham City Council Monday morning, April 13.

Read more here: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2015/04/14/4240761/bellingham-plans-to-convert-streetlights.html#storylink=cpy

Philips provides Light as a Service to Schiphol Airport

Schiphol Group, Cofely and Royal Philips have entered into a collaboration for the new lighting in the terminal buildings at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The light as a service means that, Schiphol pays for the light it uses, while Philips remains the owner of all fixtures and installations. Philips and Cofely will be jointly responsible for the performance and durability of the system and ultimately its re-use and recycling at end of life. By using energy-efficient LED lamps, a 50% reduction in electricity consumption will be achieved over conventional lighting systems.

In association with architects Kossmann.dejong and Philips Design, lighting fixtures were specially developed for Amsterdam Airport Schiphol that will last 75% longer than other conventional fixtures as the design of the fixtures improved the serviceability and therefore improved the lifetime. In addition, the fixture components can be individually replaced. This will reduce maintenance costs and means that the entire fixture does not have to be recycled, resulting in the greatest possible reduction in raw material consumption.

By applying circular economy principles, Schiphol Group, Cofely and Philips have created a new standard in the transition towards sustainable lighting. The innovative light design also provides a better lighting experience and is part of an extensive renovation of the terminal intended to increase passenger comfort and capacity at Schiphol.

Philips will retain ownership of all the equipment, Schiphol Group will lease it for the duration of the contract. At the end of the contract, fixtures will be re-used elsewhere after upgrading, resulting in maximum resource reduction.

Supported by Cofely’s round-the-clock presence at Schiphol, Philips and Cofely can provide real-time management of the lighting system to generate an optimal lighting experience and sustainability. At the same time they will also be responsible for the intensity and reliability of the lighting, based on a KPI model.

Orlando Eye to shine with 64,000 LED lights

After a four-week-long installation process, the Orlando Eye reaches a luminous construction milestone when it will officially light up for the first time at a special event for Merlin Entertainments employees, friends and family. About 64,000 LEDs were installed on the observation wheel. The LED lights — or light-emitting diodes — will use 92.7 percent less energy than traditional light bulbs, Merlin Entertainments said. The Orlando Eye will offer a variety of lighting options to celebrate holidays and other special occasions.

LED Luminaire Design Change May Hamper Repairability

Separating the AC/DC driver from the LED load in a lamp fixture brings new freedom in design, but also may greatly reduce the possibility of repairing the unit many years later. It’s not news that LED-based bulbs are replacing the venerable incandescent bulb. In many jurisdictions, the basic incandescent bulb (especially for higher wattages) can no longer be sold; only “specialty” versions are still allowed. The basic bulb has served us well for over 100 years, with the standard “Edison” A19 base in the U.S. and similar versions in the rest of the world (there are other standard bases in use, as well, such as the smaller candelabra).

LEDs to illuminate streets of Raj cities

Streets in urban Rajasthan would now be illuminated with the energy efficient and smart light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. The state government on Friday signed an MoU with a public sector company to replace 16.5 lakh conventional streetlights with LEDs in 44 of its municipalities over the next two years.

Dyson leaps into lighting with LED lights engineered to last 37 years

Dyson is widely known for its futuristic vacuums, Airblade hand dryers, and bladeless fans and heaters. Now, it hopes to be known for something else: efficient LED lights. The company announced  that it is entering the lighting market with the CSYS task light and the Ariel ceiling light. Dyson's new lights use a technology that reportedly resolves the overheating problems that many existing LED lights suffer from.

Loyola University’s Rhinoceros Uses Chroma-Q LEDs From 4Wall DC

MD- Rhinoceros, a play written in 1959 by Eugene Ionesco, was recently revived in a lively production at Loyola University Maryland under the direction of Dr. Natka Bianchini. Katie Kudrick of 4Wall DC was the Lighting Designer for the show, and as such was tasked with finding the best way to invoke the changing moods of the play. Both Director and LD decided the best way to do this was via the use of bold color choices.

LED curing ELPEGUARD Twin-Cure thick film coatings

LEDs are found in a growing number of applications, one of them being the light source applied when curing coating materials. UV LED modules are much more efficient, cooler, longer lasting and less risky as they operate without producing harmful UVC radiation and ozone. The solvent-free thick film coatings ELPEGUARD Twin-Cure FP 115-0304 and FP 115-0306 have been developed for LED curing at a wavelength of 395 nm, followed by air humidity cross-linking in shadow areas.

Ever wondered how they change the massive bulbs in an IMAX projector?

LED display manufacturer Optec Displays makes move to Ontario headquarters

Optec Displays Inc. will move its headquarters from its current location in the City of Industry to 20 miles east in Ontario, California by the end of April. Citing the need to grow its facilities, Optec will move its administrative offices, tech support, research and development, engineering and product assembly to 1700 S. De Soto Place in Ontario. The new facility is 81,000 square feet, which is more than double the size of its current headquarters. Optec has approximately 90 employees. Up to 75 of those will be working out of the Ontario headquarters.

“We have been looking forward to this move for a very long time,” said Optec CEO Shu Wu. “Our City of Industry headquarters has served us well for the past five years, but we have simply outgrown it. To keep up with increasing demand, we need more room for our engineering, assembly, inventory, shipping, tech support and the sales department.”

New orders come in for LEDs, Orion says sales top $72 million

Orion Energy Systems Inc. in Manitowoc said Monday it expects its sales in the year just ended reached $72 million to $74 million, as it continued a company shift toward sales of LED lighting products. The manufacturer said LED sales rose to become 41% to 43% of total sales in the fiscal year that ended March 31, compared with 5.4% in fiscal 2014. Orion didn’t announce anything regarding its profit or loss forecast for the fiscal year just ended. Full-year results are expected to be announced in May, the company said.

Why the graphene light bulb could switch on a new era of innovation

Graphene, the world’s wonder material, has been talked about and hyped so much ever since it was isolated in crystal form in 2004 that some surely thought it could never live up to its early promise. Now, just a decade after its official discovery and five years after two physicists at the University of Manchester won the Nobel Prize for this discovery, we’re about to see the first commercially viable consumer product using this material: the graphene light bulb.

Fulham expands line of 347V LED drivers

Fulham, Co. Inc., a global leader in LED solutions, has announced the expansion of its ThoroLED brand of 347V constant current LED drivers. The four new cURus listed LED drivers feature 0-10V dimming capability with output current ranging from 650 to 1050mA. The new single channel drivers include both 28W and 40W options, conform to IP64, and are RoHS compliant. They join Fulham’s existing LED driver line, which includes a wide array of dimmable and non-dimmable constant current and constant voltage models.

ABB Lighting adds value to LED luminaires with custom lighting controls

ABB Lighting, a manufacturer of customized LED luminaires in the United States and Canada, is making it easier to navigate the new world of smart lighting, by offering custom lighting controls on advanced LED luminaires. ABB offers custom photo sensors, motion sensors, vacancy sensors, occupancy sensors, timers, wired and wireless controls and Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) systems. ABB Lighting provides custom lighting controls from the industry’s leading brands, including Lutron, Leviton, Watt Stopper/Legrand, and others.

Solid Apollo offers placement guidance for LED strip lights

LED strip lights are an incredible way to bring lighting to places never thought possible. The short length, low profile design and simple adhesive backing, brings a large range of possibilities where LED strip lights can be placed. But trying to find the perfect location to place the strip can be difficult. Trying to weight the different options of where to place the LED strip light for the most illumination and to avoid hot spots can be difficult to balance and achieve. Solid Apollo LED has extensive experience giving tips to make any installation as successful and as simple as possible. Here are four top tips we give to every customer.

Taiwan explores pesticide-free farms by replacing the sun with LEDs

Chang Chen-kai is part of Taiwan's new generation of high-tech farmers that is harnessing the island's technological edge in light-emitting diodes to grow vegetables indoors under bright LED lights. Chang works in an air-conditioned "grow-room" at a plant factory operated by ARWIN, a biotechnology company, where plants grow in nutrient-filled water instead of soil and the temperature and humidity are controlled. LED lights imitate the cycle of night and day.

LEDs going into more Longmont lamp posts, street lights

Longmont Power and Communications will finish installing more efficient LED lights around the city this year. LEDS, or light-emitting diodes, require less energy and give off less waste heat than traditional compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or high-pressure sodium lights. LEDs don't have to be replaced as frequently as other kinds of lights. "We've all seen traditional street lights flicker and go out when they reach the end of their life," said LPC Spokesman Rochat in a news release. "An LED streetlight instead begins a slow fade — so slow that even at the end of its 20-year expected life, it's still giving off 90% of its normal light."

LED Cello Lights Up The Stage

The cello, played well, is a soulful instrument. So human, so organic. The last thing you’d think a cello needs is high-tech enhancement. And yet, several years ago the visual artist Erika Harrsch began collaborating with cellist Maya Beiser and composer Paola Prestini on a new work. Harrsch had an idea: What about an LED cello? An instrument covered with panels of light-emitting diodes. Harrsch says at first, it was a tough sell. “I remember when I came to Paola and Maya, like, ‘I want to make an LED Cello,’ they’re like, ‘what?!'”

LIFX adds a more affordable white bulb to its smart lighting lineup

The battle for control of the emerging smart lighting market is heating up, with new products coming in thick and fast from companies big and small. Recently Dutch lighting behemoth Philips announced the Hue Go—a portable version of its now iconic Hue connected LED bulb—and Aussie smart-lighting startup LIFX Labs follows suit with a new product of its own. The company, which pioneered Wi-Fi-enabled color-changing LED bulbs in 2012, has finally gotten around to adding a white-light-only bulb to its portfolio. It’s called the LIFX White 800 and is the company’s cheapest offering yet at $40 each. Being Wi-Fi-enabled, like its color-changing predecessors, means it requires no hub.

These modern Edison bulbs actually run on power-sipping LEDs

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could have the best of both worlds? Well now, thanks to London-based design label Buster & Punch, you no longer need to choose between efficiency and aesthetic appeal. The company, which makes everything from steampunk-ish liquor cabinets to high-end light switches, has recently unveiled a line of LED light bulbs that look nearly indistinguishable from the classic incandescent bulbs we know and love.

Take light with you with new Philips Hue Go

Philips is pushing the boundaries of how light can be used in and around the home to enhance a space, heighten a mood or simply ease day to day life. Philips Hue Go is a versatile lamp that transforms the way light is used throughout the home; unplug it from the mains and it becomes a portable center piece. Lasting for up to three hours in battery mode, Philips Hue Go can be moved from the garden to the living room to the bedroom without the worry of wires; letting you create and enjoy a new ambience each time.

It can also be positioned in different ways to adapt to your needs; enhance a living space by positioning it to face a wall washing it with light, add ambience to an intimate dinner by placing it as a center piece on the table or focused on a piece of work by directing the light where you need it. Taking good design up another level, Philips Hue Go’s thick walled spherical body expresses solidity and material richness, while its translucent design gives the impression of pure light without clutter.

With a control button on the product itself, it’s easy to change the light when your smart device is not at hand. Choose from seven different light effects ranging from functional warm white light and cool energizing daylight, to one of the five natural dynamic effects - Cozy Candle, Sunday Coffee, Meditation, Enchanted Forest, and Night Adventure. Each dynamic effect has its own characteristic flow and mix of colors, delivering ‘living’ light that enriches a romantic dinner, a relaxing bath or a Zen moment. Through the Philips Hue app, you can select functional white light for everyday tasks and to find optimum settings to help you relax, read, concentrate and energize. You can choose from more than 16 million colors to personalize your lighting to suit any occasion, mood or moment.

Just like Philips Hue, Philips Hue Go can discretely alert you to a new email or change in weather via a gentle ‘light notification’ wherever you are in your home, as well as deliver immersive moments that expand TV viewing into the whole room or take gaming to the next level through third party app integration. Philips Hue Go works seamlessly with all Philips Hue and Friends of Hue products, easily integrating into an existing network. However setting up a new network is also very simple, just make sure the Philips Hue bridge is connected to your wireless network, then simply download the Philips Hue app to your smart device and plug in Philips Hue Go.

Philips Hue Go costs €99.95 and is available in Europe from April 2015 and North America from June 2015

LEDs spark high-wattage growth for ABQ's Nicor

Those lights in your ceiling are changing, and the commercial lighting business has quietly gone through its biggest revolution in 100 years. LEDs — or light emitting diodes — have become the go-to technology for commercial lighting because they're brighter and much more efficient than incandescent bulbs or fluorescent bulbs. Albuquerque's Nicor Inc. is taking the technology and running with it, and the company has seen such explosive growth in the industry that it's planning on doubling its square footage and adding at least 25 people by the end of 2015, said president and CEO Rocklan Lawrence on Monday.

Orphe LED Shoes Makes Walking A Lot More Fun And Colorful

We’re not sure how many of you guys remember this, but back in the day shoes that came with lights in the heel that would light up whenever you walked were a pretty big thing. It was a trend that unfortunately did not live very long, although to date you still see some kids who are wearing variants of the design. However instead of being used for casual wear, wouldn’t such shoes work better in a performing context? That’s what Japanese startup No New Folks Studio are trying to do with the launch of their Indiegogo campaign that is basically seeking funding for similar shoes dubbed Orphe.

Library Saves 235,300 kWh Per Year with LEDs

Gumberg Library at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh recently completed a lighting upgrade on its first floor, using Eaton’s Neo-Ray Index light-emitting diode (LED) luminaires. The lighting upgrade to the first floor study area and stacks included replacing a fluorescent system consisting of over 500 fixtures producing 37,160 watts. The new 110 Neo-Ray Index products consume only 5,170 watts, significantly reducing the upgraded floor’s energy consumption—more than 235,300 kWh per year.

That Lamp You Had in College? It’s Now a Luxury Item

Bronze floor lamps made by artist and designer Philippe Anthonioz for high-end brand Ralph Pucci. At about 6 feet tall, his L136 model bears a family resemblance to that college-furniture staple, the torchière halogen lamp, but its sinewy metal form and rough, heavily worked surface brings to mind the work of 20th-century masters Alberto Giacometti and his brother Diego. The latter was one of Mr. Anthonioz’s mentors in the early 1980s.

The bright future of LEDs

LED technology is increasing market share around the world. The reason is simple: LED lamps are much more durable than conventional light bulbs and more energy-efficient. Both are desirable traits when it comes to lowering costs and taking care of the environment.

LEDs lighting future automotive path

Technology has long shaped our lives directly and indirectly, whether we realize it or not. Just two weeks ago, I was cruising down Heckscher Drive around 6 a.m. headed to the Cars & Coffee at the Concours. On my early-morning drive, the LED headlights from my new Lexus RC F test vehicle cast an extremely bright-white light onto the nearly pitch-black road. I could see several yards ahead of me, maybe even a football field’s length.