Specialty and Architectural Lighting

At some point it will become necessary to change out old light bulbs, and for many lighting situations this does not pose a problem. Where a problem does occur is when bulbs in directional lighting, such as track lights, require replacement. While homes may have a few MR or PAR bulbs in various rooms, businesses like museums, art galleries, restaurants, and retail stores may have hundreds of bulbs with varying beam angles. Making sure these...

Legislation banning common incandescent bulbs has not been well received by most consumers. CFL and LED bulbs, often mentioned as the new go-to lighting option for homes, have caused an uproar. Consumers complain that the government is making them choose between one bulb that is "cheap and doesn't work" (CFL) and another bulb that is "too expensive and doesn't work" (LED). At the peak of these complaints, LED bulbs had cost around $35 each for...

With the change to Daily Savings Time, the switch to Spring, and the lengthening of the days and more wet weather, it's only a matter of time before bugs will be back in force around your home. But you don't have to suffer (as much) from creepy crawlies and flying insects when you utilize bug lights, a type of light bulb that has been used for decades to make sitting our your patio a little...

The EPA recommends that all consumers learn how to dispose of light bulbs, and for good reason. Fluorescent, LED, CFL and the many other types of light bulbs contain toxic materials that are harmful to your personal health and the environment. But did you know that they can be recycled, and that there is a wrong way and a right way to dispose of light bulbs? It's true! So to learn more about the correct...

For some people, the seasonal onset of fewer hours of daylight means dealing with seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Since the early 1970's when some initial research was done, many studies have confirmed that, in some people, there is a bio-chemical connection between exposure to daylight and depression. The Science of SAD The optic nerve carries light into the brain for visual processing. It also takes a turn into the hypothalmus - specifically, into a region...

If you've been to a hardware store recently to replace a light bulb, you know that this simple act has grown exponentially more complex in the past decade. With 100 watt, 75 watt, and 60 watt incandescent bulbs no longer being available in the US, the push is towards CFL and LED lighting. While manufacturers have attempted to educate consumers on the "new rules of lighting" for years now, it is very easy to get...

When it comes to saving energy, OFF always wins. Lighting is no exception. At work, when you head to a meeting in a conference room that is used maybe three hours a day, are the lights already on even if you are the first to arrive, or, do they automatically switch on when you enter? And then switch off when the meeting is over and the room is empty? When you go down the hall...

People cannot look at lighting as an expense, but rather as a way to increase sales and profitability. You can have the most beautiful retail store and the best jewelry, but in the end you want to be able to present your jewelry in the best possible light. -Mickey Minagorri, Artco Group, Director of Business Development As a consumer, you have most likely walked into a store and have unknowingly been affected by strategic lighting....

Fixtures can be categorized by application, mounting, light source, construction and light distribution. In this post, the focus will be on light distribution. For lighting specifiers and contractors, it's important, particularly for outdoor fixtures, to know the light distribution pattern and characteristics of the distribution. The shape (as well as brightness) of the area that is illuminated by the fixture will determine the effectiveness of the lighting for the intended purpose. It may also influence...

For you and me, the number of hours during summer, winter, autumn and spring might not make any difference at all. Daylight hours can be much longer than night hours, as happens during certain times of the year. But believe it or not, some people actually suffer because of the lesser daylight hours. Fewer daylight hours gives them something called seasonal affective disorder or SAD for short. It is a type of depression. SAD affects...