Specialty and Architectural Lighting

T5 fluorescent light bulbs are often overlooked as an excellent option for specific types of lighting in new construction and remodel projects. T5 fixtures can often be found in office lighting where ceiling fixtures supply the ambient illumination over workspaces. T5s are also frequently used in wall wash applications and...

Recessed downlights are a common lighting fixture found in most commercial and residential buildings. Lobbies, hallways and conference rooms often take advantage of the clean ceiling look of a recessed downlight to provide ambient or accent lighting in these spaces. In homes, kitchens are the most common location where recessed...

The next time you walk through your downtown after dark take a minute to notice the lights – on buildings, on poles and post tops, along sidewalks. How many of these light fixtures put the illumination only where it is required to meet the purpose of the fixture installation? There...

The specifications for light fixtures often include a value for IP, the abbreviation for International Protection Marking (sometimes referred to as Ingress Protection Marking). The IP rating system is an International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard that applies to many product categories including lighting. Why IP Ratings Are Important The IP...

Many LED lamps and fixtures on the market today include a dimming capability. While certainly a beneficial feature, often a necessary one, dimming LED lamps can be an adventure unless some basic steps are taken to ensure compatibility between the LED lamp and dimming control. In the world of tungsten...

Municipalities, utility companies, and other establishments offer a variety of rebate and savings programs to encourage individuals and businesses to replace old, inefficient lighting with new, energy saving products. Principally, these incentives are offered to support energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources to lessen pollution, overall energy...

Within the lighting industry, LEDs become more popular and versatile by the month. But with the bulb-buying public, LED has forced a change in how consumers think about light. From too many options to color temperatures to the rated lives of LEDs, we look at the challenges people currently face when switching from traditional lighting to LED.

Over two years ago, when we wrote this original post, there was general angst from lighting designers, contractors and owners about the usefulness of LED MR16 bulbs as viable replacements for halogen MR16 in commercial display lighting applications. At the time, we cited a USDOE report from 2014 that showed...

Effective lighting for retail stores focuses on two concepts: entice shoppers to enter the store and, once they are in the store, direct their attention to the merchandise. This basic formula gets more complex, depending on the store, with the need to find a balance with other important issues such...

Facility managers faced with a lamp replacement project may want to consider the LED option but worry about the reliability of the technology, higher initial costs and a predictable return on investment. Bosses may require convincing that now is the right time to adopt LED lighting for their facility. While...

Learn about the benefits and considerations of switching from metal halide and HID lighting systems to LED. While the energy savings and maintenance costs are better with LED HID replacements, does the technology live up to the promises of LED lighting manufacturers?

Lighting, one of the key components of the overall customer experience when dining out, provides the restaurant owner with the benefits of aesthetic appeal along with the hassle of ongoing maintenance requirements and potentially high energy costs. The emergence of LED lighting offers restaurant owners an opportunity to maintain or...

Emergency lighting that provides occupants with a clear path of egress is a code requirement in most commercial and institutional buildings. Emergency lighting can consist of dedicated emergency fixtures including combo exit/emergency units mounted on walls or ceilings. Another option is fluorescent fixtures that include both standard ballasts for normal...

For several years we’ve heard the drum beat of the impending take-over of the traditional metal halide LCD / DLP projector lamp by either LED or laser based projection systems. At this point in time (early 2016) the verdict remains on the side of traditional metal halide replacement lamps. Using...

Warehouses using rack storage systems present unique lighting design challenges particularly for retrofits intended to improve the lighting scheme. The layout of most product storage warehouses comprises a shipping and receiving area (may be the same or separate areas), a low, open storage area for bulky items and a high...