Prolific Interior Designer Jamie Drake to Create New Collections with Hudson Valley Lighting

Jamie Drake was selected by Hudson Valley Lighting and has signed a multi-year contract to design a series of collections. This new alliance was announced by Brent Fields, vice president of Hudson Valley Lighting. The first “Jamie Drake for Hudson Valley Lighting” collections will launch at Dallas International Lighting Market in January 2016.Drake’s partnership with Hudson Valley Lighting underscores the company’s position in the design community as a manufacturer of high quality products created from a “design first” approach.

Drake, from his design studio in Manhattan will work closely with the Hudson Valley team to bring his own signature style and renowned design aesthetic, while maintaining the Hudson Valley Lighting genre. Drake is also known for his impressive collaborations with other high-end luxury brands, including a new rug collection with Stark carpet, bath fixture ensembles for French atelier THG-Paris, rugs for Safavieh, furniture lines for Theodore Alexander and Lewis Mittman and bath accessories for Labrazel. Drake also has first-hand experience in lighting as he has designed custom and one-off light fixtures for some of his past projects.

“In the last few years, Hudson Valley Lighting has continued to add modern, contemporary elements into our classic, traditional designs – and Jamie Drake is sure to add a new spin in a similar fashion,” said Brent Fields, vice president of Hudson Valley Lighting. “This collaboration couldn’t have come at a better time, and we are excited to work closely with him on new designs that will take Hudson Valley to the next level. This collaboration is sure to excite our current customer base, sales team and entice others to take notice of our luxury lighting brand.”

With more than 30 years in the industry, Drake has authored some of the country’s most glamorous spaces for an impressive roster of clients. Notable residences include a Los Angeles showplace for Madonna, apartments in the Dakota and other historic New York landmark buildings, and multiple projects for his longtime client New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, including the renovation of Gracie Mansion, the Mayor’s ceremonial residence, and various rooms at City Hall. His commercial work includes a from-the-ground-up medical facility in Florida and a private foundation in New York City.

Drake is also the recipient of countless industry honors and awards. He was recently hailed as one of the top 20 “power players” in Manhattan real estate by the New York Post and has been listed in Architectural Digest’s AD100, Elle Decor’s A-List and New York Spaces’ Top 50 since 2012. In 2011, he was inducted into the ASID College of Fellows and received a triple crown in 2003: the Interior Design Magazine’s Interior Design Hall of Fame, the IFDA New York Circle of Excellence for Interior Design, and the Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of the Year. He also received the D&D Designers of Distinction Award in 2000. Drake has also served on many prestigious boards, led or participated in captivating lectures and panels, and decorated more than 30 showhouses to date.

Superfast LEDs for Future Computers Set New Speed Record

An ultra-fast light-emitting device that can flip on-and- off 90 billion times a second and could form the basis of optical computing has been developed. At its most basic level, your smartphone's battery is powering billions of transistors using electrons to flip on and off billions of times per second. But if microchips could use photons instead of electrons to process and transmit data, computers could operate even faster. But first engineers must build a light source that can be turned on and off that rapidly.

Portland replacing 45K street lights with LEDs

The city of Portland is saving money and saving energy through a new project, and Portlanders can take advantage of the same savings, too. The Portland Bureau of Transportation is replacing 45,000 street lights with LED lights. PBOT claims these lights use less energy and last longer, saving money and cutting down on carbon pollution.

Plug mounted floor lamp

By stripping the humble floor lamp to its most basic parts, the Wald lamp presents a reconsidered floor lamp which is versatile enough for any environment. Wald HI•LO is a progression in design from the original Wald plug lamp. Fully dimmable and constructed from the highest quality components including aircraft aluminum it weights only 6.87 ounces. Available in three finishes, double bead-blasted and anodized in multiple baths to achieve a singularly distinct chroma.

This Light Diffuser Turns Your Smartphone Into A Lamp

The camera flash on a smartphone doubles as a helpful flashlight for those who need to find something in the dark, although that "flashlight" is too strong and harsh on the eyes to be used for anything else other than a flash. That is, of course, unless you own a silicon Travelamp light diffuser designed to soften the light from the camera flash into a comfortable lamp.

Mitigating foodborne pathogens with blue LEDs

Blue light emitting diodes (LEDs) have strong antibacterial effect on major foodborne pathogens, and are most effective when in cold temperatures (between 4°C and 15°C) and mildly acidic conditions of around pH 4.5, a team of scientists from the National University of Singapore has found. This opens up possibilities of using blue LEDs as a chemical-free food preservation method. Acidic foods such as fresh-cut fruits and ready-to-eat meat can be preserved under blue LEDs in combination with chilling temperatures without requiring further chemical treatments that are commonly needed for food preservation.

TOGGLED Adds Super Bright LEDs

TOGGLED, developer and producer of next-generation solid-state lighting technology and named in the Top 25 Most Innovative Companies in South East Michigan by Crain's Detroit, reported the addition of Super Bright LEDs, Inc. to its rapidly growing roster of LED lighting product licensees.

As a licensee, Super Bright LEDs, Inc. now has access to TOGGLED's broad portfolio of over 60 patents primarily related to LED replacements for fluorescent tubes, commonly referred to as TLEDs.

TOGGLED is a Michigan-based company and global manufacturer of commercial-grade LED lighting. The company says its products significantly lower electricity costs and deliver high-quality light in office settings, industrial environments and living spaces. Leveraging the design and engineering strength of its parent company, Altair, TOGGLED has expanded its intellectual property portfolio to become a leading patent holder in the LED lighting industry.

Have We Reached Peak Lightbulb?

Buying smart bulbs for the home is a little like choosing between HD-DVD or Blu-ray. Like regular old incandescents, or CFL or LED or halogen bulbs, smart bulbs—which can be controlled from your phone—fit into your regular old sockets. But unless you want to have a separate phone app for each room of your home, you'll need to choose a system and stick with it, hoping that the system stays around so you can buy replacements or additions in future. You also have to hope that the app you use to switch your lights on and off is updated to work on any new phone you might buy.

Extend the life of LEDs through protective coatings

As the LED and solid-state lighting (SSL) sectors continue to thrive, product developers are deploying the technology into decidedly tough environments. We discussed the need for robust thermal designs in Part I of this article in April. Now let's discuss the need to protect LEDs and circuit assemblies in harsh environments such as marine applications. Coatings and other protection technologies can extend the life and performance of SSL systems. With the rapid growth of the LED market, correct product selection is imperative to ensure LED performance and lifetime. In Part I, we discussed the importance of proper thermal management, including the various ways to ensure maximum heat dissipation in LED systems. The effect of excessive heat generation was discussed in direct correlation to LED lifetime.

Philips invigorates iconic National Theatre in Accra

On the occasion of Philips’ sixth consecutive Cape Town to Cairo roadshow, Philips uunveiled the newly illuminated National Theatre of Ghana. Philips, the global leader in lighting, has provided the theatre with a stunning makeover, using its latest connected LED technology to boost the beautification of the city of Accra, while also cutting energy consumption by up to 80%, as compared to the existing conventional lighting. The new lighting system is installed throughout the entire façade of the National Theatre, enhancing its distinctive architectural structure and contributing to the building’s energy saving performance.

The National Theatre of Ghana opened in 1992 and is a hub of culture and heritage, as well as a source of national pride for the city of Accra. The elegant and imposing National Theatre has a complicated construction molding and novel exterior features. When looked at from a distance, the whole structure looks like a gigantic ship or a seagull spreading its wings.

Philips’ lighting concept is focused on highlighting the significance of this iconic building as an architectural masterpiece and as a source of national pride to Ghana, and in so doing assist with the building’s energy saving performance.

The connected LED lighting technology used by Philips, creates more light, while making it more focused and controlled. Philips used its Vaya LED lighting solutions and tailored them to the specific needs of the National Theatre of Ghana; which included devising effective lighting while respecting the authenticity of the building. The lighting needed to enhance the beauty of the theatre without at any time overwhelming it.

The new connected lighting system covers the 78m base platform of the National Theatre and illuminates the entire area of the central ship, as well as the columns supporting the ship. With a lifespan of up to 50,000 hours, the new Philips lighting fixtures last much longer and reduce the need for periodic replacement. Each installed luminaire has its own IP address; making it feasible to produce up to 16 million different lighting colors as well as remotely monitoring the performance of each light point.

Commenting on the illumination of the National Theatre of Ghana, Felix Darko, General Manager – Lighting, Philips West Africa said, “The magnificent lighting at the National Theatre of Ghana is testament to the incredible advances that are being made in the efficiency and beauty of LED illumination. Connected LED lighting innovations are providing cities with completely new opportunities in the areas of energy efficiency and city beautification - policy makers and governments the world over are realizing the benefits. The LED lighting system at the National Theatre of Ghana, not only improves the commercial attractiveness of the facility, but will also contribute to the reduction of energy consumption in Accra.”

The announcements in Ghana formed part of Philips’ annual pan-African Cape Town to Cairo roadshow that kicked off on 11th May 2015, in Cape Town.  Ghana is the sixth stop on a journey covering 12,000 km across 11 cities and 8 countries over a period of 4.5 months. The roadshow has gained significant momentum over the past five years, allowing Philips to get to the heart of some of the key issues facing Africa –  including Mother and Child Care, the rise of non-communicable diseases, energy efficient LED and solar lighting technologies, as well as shining a spotlight on the need for clinical education and training.

 

Malls and municipalities find LEDs can be used for more than just lighting

Among the many promises of the Internet of Things — a network of Wi-Fi-connected devices and equipment managed with smartphones — is the automation of everyday life, whether finding a parking space or discovering a discounted blouse at the mall or lighting the streets when day shifts to dusk. Using a combination of LEDs and big data technology, public lighting is the potential backbone of a system that could use billions of fixtures to collect data about traffic congestion at an intersection or a consumer walking down the cereal aisle, to name just a couple of applications.

Combining Two Photovoltaic Materials Could Make Better LEDs

Invented at Hiroshima University, Japan, the quantum dot (QD) LED lighting system is a light-emitting diode using silicon quantum dot solutions and a polymer solution on top of an indium-tin-oxide (ITO) glass ply that was used as the anode for the LED. The silicon quantum dot solution is placed in the bottom of a glass vial that sits on a rotating stage; it's then synthesized through laser ablation with a 1-octyne solution over several eight-hour periods. Quantum dots are nanocrystals that emit light when "excited" based on their size and replace red, green and blue sub-pixels when implemented in QLED TVs. Although they cost more up-front than traditional LCD TVs, they are cost-efficient and color-effective on the long run.

Oceanside installs GPS-enabled LED street lights

GE Lighting has announced that the city of Oceanside, CA has installed more than 7700 LED street lights, with each luminaire equipped with the company's LightGrid network and control technology including the integration of a GPS IC.

The combination of efficient solid-state lighting (SSL), the ability to dim the lighting, and the location-aware communications is projected to yield $600,000 annually in energy and maintenance savings.


LightGrid is GE's outdoor network technology that is based on wireless mesh networking among luminaires with sporadically-located gateways that can utilize Ethernet or even cellular networks to backhaul the connection to a cloud-based control system.

Floor lamps with light footprints

There are a few basic rules to lighting: Make sure each room has three or more sources of light, place light at various heights and ensure that all tasks are well lit. These rules exist to make sure rooms have enough light to see in but also so that they cast enough of a warm glow that you want to be in them. Breaking these rules can ruin a whole room’s design, says Breeze Giannasio, a Malibu, Calif., designer. “People will worry about furniture, finishes, flooring, throw pillows — going to town on everything — but if the lighting isn’t right, you can’t see all of the work you’ve done,” she says.

LEDs to replace costly street lamps

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has placed a massive order for Light Emitting Diode (LEDs) which will replace costly mercury and sodium streetlamps. The use of LEDs will also save electricity, said sources. In the New West Zone alone, 17,215 streetlamps will be replaced with LEDs. In South Zone, nearly 8,528 streetlights will be replaced by LED lamps. East zone will have 6,815 streetlights replaced with LEDs while the Walled City will see 5,681 new LEDs.

USHIO America Introduces the New Uphoria 2 LED BR Lamps

Ushio America introduces the new Uphoria 2 LED BR lamps. The ENERGY STAR certified Uphoria 2 LED BR lamps provide energy saving, professional accent lighting with soft, glare-free illumination that’s perfect for any surface.

These dimmable R20, BR30 and BR40 LED lamps are designed in the classic shape of incandescent reflector lamps, but offer modern quality solid state illumination. The Uphoria 2 LED BR lamps are direct replacements for standard incandescent lamps offering significant energy savings and with a 25,000 hour life rating, lasting 10 times longer than the standard incandescent lamp life.

All Uphoria 2 LED BR lamps are 120V Warm White (2700K & 3000K), Wide Flood lamps. They are available in 7W R20, 8.5W & 10W BR20, and 12W & 17W BR40 types.

Study could lead to a new class of materials for making LEDs

Over the last decade, advances in the technology of light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, have helped to improve the performance of devices ranging from television and computer screens to flashlights. As the uses for LEDs expand, scientists continue to look for ways to increase their efficiency while simplifying how they are manufactured.

A new study by researchers from the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA is the first demonstration of electroluminescence from multilayer molybdenum disulfide, or MoS2, a discovery that could lead to a new class of materials for making LEDs. The study, led by Xianfeng Duan, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, was published in the journal Nature Communications on July 1, 2015.

Making the switch to LEDs cuts costs

For some businesses, saving energy may be as easy as changing light bulbs. The U.S. Energy Information says commercial businesses used 19 percent of their electricity, or 262-kilowatt hours, on lighting last year. The cost for commercial lighting hits $38 billion according to the Department of Energy. So, there's money to be saved by reducing those figures.

For many boutique retailers, small businesses and apartment complexes, saving money means unscrewing watt-hungry incandescent bulbs and switching to more efficient CFLs or LEDs. Although both are energy savers, LEDs deliver more savings and offer a longer life, up to 50 times incandescent bulbs.

Cree adds SC5-based 3.45x3.45-mm packaged LEDs in high-density and -intensity versions

Cree has announced the XHP35 family of packaged LEDs that will include products in both High Density (HD) versions with a domed primary optic and High Intensity (HI) versions with a flat primary optic. The new products mark the introduction of what Cree calls the SC5 (silicon carbide 5) technology platform being fully utilized in an LED in the 3.45×3.45-mm form factor, or what Cree calls the XP footprint based on prior packaged LEDs such as the XP-G/G2, XP-L and XP-E/E2.

Cree has announced the XHP35 family of packaged LEDs that will include products in both High Density (HD) versions with a domed primary optic and High Intensity (HI) versions with a flat primary optic.

The new packaged LEDs output a maximum 1833 lm from a single emitting surface, putting the LEDs in a class with multi-die LEDs in discrete packages but without the optical inefficiency of multi-die LEDs. Cree will supply the LEDs across the range of 2700K to 8300K in CCT; in 70-, 80-, and 90-CRI flavors; and in 2- or 3-step MacAdam ellipse bins.

Blue LEDs can be used to preserve food

Blue light emitting diodes (LEDs) have strong antibacterial effect on major foodborne pathogens and can be used as a chemical-free food preservation method, a new study has found.  The team, led by Yuk Hyun-Gyun from the National University of Singapore Faculty of Science, found that blue LEDs are most effective when in cold temperatures (between 4 degrees Celsius and 15 degrees Celsius) and mildly acidic conditions of around pH 4.5. This opens up novel possibilities of using blue LEDs as a chemical-free food preservation method, researchers said.

Lumileds delivers second-generation COB LEDs

Lumileds has announced the second-generation Luxeon COB (chip-on-board) Core Range of packaged LEDs that deliver 10% gains in efficacy and flux output, while matching the footprint of prior products. Called Gen 2 COB products, the family includes COB LEDs with light-emitting surface (LES) options that range from 9–19 mm.

As with many second-generation products, the new Lumileds COB LEDs offer product developers a number of options in new or refreshed solid-state lighting (SSL) lamps and luminaires.  The common footprint means that designs can easily be refreshed for higher output while using existing ecosystem components such as holders, optics, and heat sinks. Or developers can reduce the size of new SSL products or take advantage of a smaller LES while maintain the same flux output as prior-generation designs. And remember a smaller LES can enable better beam control or what Lumileds competitor Cree has called optical control factor (OCF).

Researchers at University of Virginia use LEDs to create wireless networks

University of Virginia (UVA) researchers have come up with a new way of using light as a form of enhancement to Wi-Fi-based networks, creating a method of using light waves from light-emitting diode fixtures to carry signals to wireless devices at 300 megabits per second from each light. Maite Brand-Pearce, a professor in the Charles L. Brown Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Mohammad Noshad, now a postdoctoral fellow in the Electrical Engineering Department at Harvard University, have filed a patent, along with the university, on their idea. Noshad also created a company called VLNComm, for Visible Light Network Communications, a firm that is developing a desk lamp prototype to provide an Internet connection through light.

Bellevue has a bright idea: Use LEDs in streetlights to save money

Just as homeowners are switching to compact fluorescent lightbulbs to save money and energy, so too are cities — on a large scale. Bellevue is exploring converting its 4,790 streetlights to LEDs in the hope of saving more than a third of its $1 million annual power bill. The change would replace the warm yellow glow of high-pressure sodium lights familiar since the 1960s with a clear, bright white light that some studies say increases visibility.
 

This Lamp Runs On Salt Water

As you can imagine of a country that is spread over more than 7,000 islands, many people in the Philippines aren't hooked up to the power grid, so a common light source is the relatively dangerous kerosene lamp. In addition to the fire risk, getting the kerosene is a chore that takes a lot more work than flipping a switch. Or, now, scooping up a bucket of seawater. Just put a cup of ocean in the bottom of the SALt lamp and it lights up.

Barrie set to replace about 11,000 light bulbs with LEDs across the city

The City of Barrie will be flipping the switch and going green when it comes to street lights. The city plans to change 10,660 light bulbs across the municipality with brand new LEDs. The city’s manager of energy says he can't wait for Barrie's big makeover. “Street lighting tends to be a big expense in a municipality. People maybe don't think about that, but it's our largest single bill that we get is street lighting,” says Barry Thompson. “We pay in the neighbourhood of $1.4 million a year to light our streets.”

Venture Lighting Europe opens new LED lighting showroom

Venture Lighting Europe has just opened its brand new showroom displaying its wide range of advanced VLED LED lighting products. Located at the company’s Castle Donington premises, the showroom also hosts full conference facilities and is open for sales meetings and customer product training.

The company’s new showroom is the perfect demonstration to its customers of the performance of each of its products and allows the team to explain the sustainable aspects of the LED lighting solutions and the energy savings to be gained.

As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of metal halide lamps, Venture Lighting has since seen a successful transition to include solid state lighting (SSL) and has devised a range of LED luminaires to be even more effective. Such has been the success of Venture’s high performance VLED range since its launch, it has seen a tenfold growth year on year.

PlanLED and GigaTera will update Yankee Stadium with LED sports lighting

PlanLED and GigaTera, the partners who made Seattle’s Safeco Field the first LED lit stadium in Major League Baseball, will team up again to use the same energy and money saving LED sports lighting to illuminate Yankee Stadium. "We are always looking for better ways to conserve natural resources at Yankee Stadium and are thrilled to be able to partner with GigaTera and PlanLED to install state-of-the-art LED field lighting at our venue,” said Doug Behar, Yankees vice president of stadium operations. “These new lights will not only help us reduce our carbon footprint, but they will showcase all of the world-class events that take place at Yankee Stadium in the most pure and natural lighting that currently exists.”

LED lightbulbs create wireless networks wherever they are installed

Various researchers have created ways to transmit wireless information from LED light fittings, to act as a form of enhancement to Wi-Fi based networks known as "Li-Fi." But now engineers at the University of Virginia (U.Va) have come up with a new twist on this theme – they claim to have created an algorithm that makes almost any device fitted with standard visible- light LEDs able to communicate with other equipment with similar LEDs. So, for example, the LED headlights in your car could communicate to the car in front of you through its LED taillights, or the LED display in your clock radio could tell the coffee maker to turn on via its indicator light.

Statue of Liberty now seen in a whole new light

The Statue of Liberty has a certain glow about her - thanks to a new lighting system. Onlookers and officials stood on the grounds and boats gathered in the waters around Liberty Island on Tuesday night to see the new ground lights get turned on. The system uses light-emitting diodes or LEDs. It comes from Musco Lighting of Oskaloosa, Iowa. Musco systems also are in place at the Washington Monument, the White House and the Flight 93 National Memorial.

New infrared LED from Osram is first to market for unlocking smartphones by iris scanning

Osram infrared technology is making smartphones even smarter by enabling mobile devices, for the first time, to be unlocked by scanning the iris of the user. Fujitsu Limited is using iris scanning in its ARROWS NX F-04G smartphone, which is being marketed by the Japanese telecommunications company NTT DOCOMO Inc. This smartphone, which is currently available only in Japan, is the first in the world with this extremely secure functionality for consumers, using infrared light emitting diodes (IREDs) from Osram Opto Semiconductors as the light source. These IREDs are the only products capable of the high power needed for iris scanning from a compact package. “We are delighted that once more an innovation from our company has made its way into an everyday application and has set new standards for the entire industry,” said Bodo Ischebeck, Vice President, Infrared Components at Osram Opto Semiconductors.

Secure methods for unlocking cell phones and tablet computers are gaining importance because these devices are being used increasingly for sensitive applications such as online banking and online shopping. Not only do these methods provide better security, but they also offer a more convenient way for users to authenticate their phones. Manufacturers are therefore turning more and more to biometric identification as a secure and convenient solution. In addition to fingerprint scans, many manufacturers are now considering iris scanning. With this new biometric unlocking method, an infrared light illuminates the user’s eye, and the camera on the smartphone simultaneously takes a picture of the iris in which characteristic features are then identified.

The Oslux SFH 4780S light emitting diode from Osram’s subsidiary Opto Semiconductors currently offers the best size-to-performance ratio and for the first time opens up compact and reliable iris scanning for mobile devices. It is only 2.4 millimeters high and achieves a typical radiant intensity of 2900 milliwatts per steradian – a combination that is currently available only from this infrared LED.

The Oslux SFH 4780S has a wavelength of 810 nanometers (nm). This enables the iris scanner to identify iris patterns for all eye colors – brown, blue, green and gray – with a high degree of reliability. The light source is also extremely efficient, minimizing drain on mobile device batteries. Osram Opto Semiconductors was recently presented with the 2015 Kaiser Friedrich Research Award for its work in developing the Oslux SFH 4780S IRED.

LEDs: Illuminating your light choices

The cheaper a technology becomes, the more pervasive it gets. So the precipitous price drops in the LED bulb market mean it's ready to go mainstream -- although you may need a few pointers about how to choose the right LEDs for your home. Just a few years ago, a 60-watt equivalent LED or light-emitting diode bulb cost $40 to $50. Last year, more advanced LED bulbs dropped to $10 each. A year on, prices have dropped 50 percent, with bulbs from TCP and Philips now under $5. GE is continuing the price war this summer with a new line of even smaller, less expensive bulbs dubbed the LED Bright Stik.

SemiLEDs (LEDS) to Release Quarterly Earnings

SemiLEDs is set to issue its Q315 quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 9th. SemiLEDs (NASDAQ:LEDS) last announced its earnings results on Friday, April 10th. The company reported ($0.09) EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $4.60 million for the quarter. On average, analysts expect SemiLEDs to post $-0.8900 EPS for the current fiscal year and $-0.7000 EPS for the next fiscal year.

Targeted LEDs could provide efficient lighting for plants grown in space

A Purdue University study shows that targeting plants with red and blue LEDs provides energy-efficient lighting in contained environments, a finding that could advance the development of crop-growth modules for space exploration.

Research led by Cary Mitchell, professor of horticulture, and then-master's student Lucie Poulet found that leaf lettuce thrived under a 95-to-5 ratio of red and blue light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, placed close to the plant canopy. The targeted LED lighting used about 90 percent less electrical power per growing area than traditional lighting and an additional 50 percent less energy than full-coverage LED lighting.

The study suggests that this model could be a valuable component of controlled-environment agriculture and vertical farming systems in space and on Earth, Mitchell said.

"Everything on Earth is ultimately driven by sunlight and photosynthesis," he said. "The question is how we can replicate that in space. If you have to generate your own light with limited energy resources, targeted LED lighting is your best option. We're no longer stuck in the era of high-power lighting and large, hot, fragile lamps."

One of the major obstacles to long-duration space exploration is the need for a bioregenerative life-support system - an artificial, self-contained ecosystem that mimics Earth's biosphere. A round-trip voyage to Mars for a crew of six, for example, could take about 1,000 days and would require more food, water and oxygen than current space vehicles can carry. Developing a module for efficiently growing crops would allow a space crew to grow food on long voyages and on the moon or Mars, said Poulet, now a doctoral student at Blaise Pascal University in France.

"If we can design a more energy-efficient system, we can grow vegetables for consumption for longer space travel," she said. "I can imagine a greenhouse on the moon."

The main challenge to creating a crop-growth module for space travel has been the staggering energy cost of the 600- to 1,000-watt conventional high-pressure sodium lamps traditionally used to mimic sunlight and stimulate plant photosynthesis in contained environments. The lamps also scorch plants if placed too close and require a filtration system to absorb the excess heat they create.

Targeted LEDs: Photosynthesis Power in Space?

If we end up in space, seeking carrots, bok choy, and other sustaining vegetables, we'll be very glad we have LEDs to power the plants in all that darkness. Or, that's one possibility. In the mean time, it's excellent to expand the ways we can keep plants alive in limited conditions, such as underground, in vertical situations, or in space. That is, researchers with Purdue University, in a study funded by NASA, have been thinking along those lines, according to a release. They have found that red and blue LEDs used in a targeted way can provide energy-efficient lighting to stimulate photosynthesis. Knowing this could advance the development of crop-growth areas for space exploration.

Dyson CSYS LED lamp review: Wonderfully designed, lasts half a lifetime

Dyson, the company that brought gadget lust to vacuum cleaners, fans, and airport bathroom hand dryers, is getting into LED lighting. Don’t expect another smart bulb though, Dyson is starting things off with a high-end, high-design task lamp called the CSYS. The CSYS wasn’t originally from a Dyson that you know and love (James, Esther, or possibly Freeman), but rather James Dyson’s son, Jake. The lamp first made headlines when it was announced in 2011 for its longevity — it was said to be good for 37 years thanks to its ability to cool its LEDs — and its $860 price tag.

Say it with light: Using LEDs to move data faster

Maite Brandt-Pearce, a professor in the Charles L. Brown Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Mohammad Noshad, now a postdoctoral fellow in the Electrical Engineering Department at Harvard University, have devised a way of using light waves from light-emitting diode fixtures to carry signals to wireless devices at 300 megabits per second from each light. It's like having a whole wi-fi system all to yourself; using light waves, there would be more network access points than with radio waves, so less sharing of the wireless network.

Automotive Lighting Manufacturer claims Revolutionary New LEDs

Missouri-based LED company, Diode Dynamics, has taken a major step forward in automotive lighting technology, by designing and manufacturing the first products using brand-new LED components, featuring an independent white chip in addition to multicolor functionality.

Previous generation multicolor chips feature only red, blue and green (RGB) chips, combining to create a poorly integrated white color. By adding a discrete white chip, the white color is substantially brighter and more balanced, when compared to that of old technology.

The company is now utilizing these components in a full line of LED products, making them the first manufacturer worldwide to bring the technology to market in automotive applications. By upgrading factory-installed LED lighting with the replacement products, vehicle owners can achieve multicolor functionality along with a crisp and pure white output.

Watch liquid nitrogen change the color of lasers and LEDs

When you drop lasers and LEDs into liquid nitrogen, the lights cool down and start turning one color into another. In the GIF above you’ll see it start from a urine yellow to a Mountain Dew color and then to a radiator fluid green and finally some super alien blood goo substance. It’s great!

This light bulb pulls double duty as a wireless speaker

If you live in a small apartment, the idea of a "smart home" is a hard sell. But lighting and audio are two things your landlord doesn't have control over, and now a new company called Astro wants to sell you a smart home product that handles both at the same time. It's called Twist, and it's an LED light bulb with a wireless speaker inside. Astro isn't the first to do something like this. A number of companies, including Sony, already have similar products on the market. Almost all of those work over Bluetooth, but the Twist speaker bulb streams music with AirPlay. That means you'll have to own an Apple device to use it, but the benefit is you get a much higher quality stream than you would with those competitors.

Tested: How Bright LEDs Are Compared to Other Lights

There are actually two more bulbs in there. I had a 100 Watt incandescent bulb with clear glass (instead of the frosted glass) and then there were two compact fluorescent bulbs with different power ratings (13 and 15 Watts). Maybe this data isn’t all too surprising. I did find that the LED bulb was listed at 9.5 Watts but measured at 10.43 Watts. Really, all the bulbs were off of their rating. The 200 Watt bulb only used 191.6 Watts but both 100 Watt bulbs were running at 110 Watts. Oh well, it’s not a big deal.  

Harvard Engineering introduces new EyeNut LED driver with ZigBee dongle

Harvard Engineering has added an additional EyeNut driver to its CoolLED range.

The CLZ 33W EyeNut LED driver with ZigBee dongle combines the company’s CoolLED driver technology with the benefits of the award-winning EyeNut monitoring and management system for indoor lighting, which provides individual luminaire control through a web interface as well as allowing energy consumption management and enabling a variety of control strategies to be employed.

The 33W LED driver, which operates at 2.4GHz and offers dimming down to 1%, is available in both built-in and remote variants. EyeNut drivers enable easy commissioning during the installation stage and reduce the number of components needed within the luminaire. The driver also works in conjunction with light engines from Harvard’s LEDeng range to provide an all-in-one controllable LED solution.

Based on the popular CL CoolLED platform, the ZigBee dongle enables the original platform to be maintained and is SELV compliant. This EyeNut enabled driver is perfect for retail, office and hospitality installations.
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Most Beautiful, True-to-Life Flameless Candle

Liown Electronics Co. Ltd., one of the world's largest suppliers of light-emitting diode (LED) flameless candles and lighting, introduced what in calls the most unique flameless candle the marketplace has seen to date – the Matrix Flame.

Using 76 micro LEDs in the tip, the candle continuously casts a flame that varies in appearance. This rapidly changing flame creates the most true-to-life flicker ever invented. Viewed from any angle, the realistic effect is the same, providing a stunning – and safe – ambience.

"We are so excited about our new Matrix Flame candles, and we know the marketplace will likewise be thrilled by the remarkable beauty of these candles. This product line is another example of thoughtful design together with ground-breaking technology by Liown," said Johnny Yang, chief executive officer of Liown.

Bright New Ideas in LED Lighting

LED light bulbs are much more efficient and longer lasting than their incandescent counterparts, but without all the “baggage” of compact fluorescent lights. LEDs don’t contain mercury, they reach full brightness instantly, and they have a more pleasing color spectrum than CFLs. Although LEDs haven’t completely taken over the market, it’s just a matter of time before they do. Let’s take a look at some recent innovations in the world of LEDs.

Access Fixtures Unveils An Extensive Line of Amber LED Luminaires

Access Fixtures, an environmentally friendly purveyor of commercial and sports lighting, has released a comprehensive line of wildlife safe, amber LED products. Wildlife-friendly lighting minimizes light pollution in thickly settled communities where bright artificial lighting has the potential to harm local ecosystems. As a strong supporter of energy efficient and environmentally conscious LED technology, the addition of the LED Wildlife Lighting product page was an easy decision.

"As the world becomes more aware of, and consequently more protective of, the environment, demand for lighting that does not have a negative impact on wildlife is increasing. We've built an entire category of wildlife-friendly lighting to satisfy that demand," said Access Fixtures' CEO, Steven Rothschild.

Wildlife-friendly LEDs are classified by the color of the light they produce. The light is set to a specific wavelength of 590 nm to produce a soft amber color that is not visible to animals. Light pollution—the hazy glow surrounding thickly settled areas—has been the cause of environmental disruptions for many species such as bats, birds, and even human neighbors. In coastal areas, the bright white lighting of typical luminaires is dangerous for sea turtles, as they use the white ambient light of the moon to head toward the ocean once hatched.

All wildlife-friendly amber LED luminaires are long-lasting, with a rated life of 100,000 hours, and are energy efficient. Customers can now choose from a variety of available amber LED products for their outdoor lighting needs. In addition to architectural wall packs and bollards, Access Fixtures has added high output flood lights, full cut-off wall packs, high bays, and sports lighters to its line of products.

LEDs Mimic Sunlight to Help You Sleep Better

The circadian rhythm of the human body is tied to changes in sunlight. As it gets dark, for example, melatonin tends to make us sleepy. But artificial light can wreak havoc with that cycle. Ss you lie in bed clutching your iPad, the device's blue light might actually be telling your body to wake up and stay active. Enter Silk by Saffron, a smart LED lighting system that changes color temperature throughout the day to correspond with the sun. Silk bulbs are a wirelessly connected system that shift from midday's cool blue intensity to the warmer tones of evening.