New legislation aimed at achieving continued energy-efficient development includes an incentive for increased labor wages and other important data points for review. “Buildings are responsible for 40 percent of total energy use in the United States, including 75 percent of all electricity use and 35 percent of the nation’s carbon emissions.”[1] To encourage energy savings, the U.S. Internal Revenue Code Section 179D now offers owners and designers of energy-efficient buildings significant tax deductions for new construction and retrofitted buildings meeting certain energy criteria under the ta ..read more

Alcon Lighting sales consultant Perris Weber has worked for the Los Angeles-based company for seven years. Perris, who talked about his motivation (“helping people create beautiful spaces”), conducts most business on the phone. As a seasoned lighting specification sales consultant, Perris, who also discussed his challenges, background and hometown, strives to be “accessible, efficient and resourceful.” This longtime lighting professional, recently interviewed at Alcon Lighting headquarters in Los Angeles, aims to come up with “solutions and suggestions” to his client’s ideas and accommodate an ..read more

As we continue to navigate the landscape of what commercial office space looks like in the post-pandemic era, let’s take a look at the top six architectural trends shaping the design of offices and, in turn, lighting, for the coming year: Table of contents Bringing nature indoors Textural and tactile touches Goodbye minimalism, hello maximalism Integrated technologies Branding as an experience Inclusiveness and accessibility Bringing nature indoors One trend that is likely here to stay involves incorporating natural elements in commercial interior designs. Bringing nature indoors can be lit ..read more

When it comes to lighting design, color rendering can greatly impact the overall aesthetic and functionality of a space. The ability of a light source to accurately reveal the colors of objects it lights is essential, whether it’s for retail displays, museum exhibits or residential homes.  Traditionally, the Color Rendering Index (CRI) has been used as the standard for measuring color rendering accuracy. However, with the emergence of new lighting technologies, such as LEDs, demand for a more comprehensive and accurate evaluation method arose. This led to the development of ANSI/IES TM-30 ..read more

The best hospitality and dining lighting creates a home away from home—making a guest feel warmth and comfort by creating an environment that either promotes feelings of relaxation or sets the mood for romance. Ideally, the guest glides effortlessly through the space, unaware of the thought and planning that went into the lighting design and layout. Besides setting the mood with lighting, hotel and restaurant designers, developers and managers are also concerned with costs and energy consumption. The goal is to reduce energy consumption, reduce heat, and eliminate bulb replacement co ..read more

The Man, the Myth, the Legend Twelve years ago, Christian Vincent Munoz, fresh out of architecture school, moved to Los Angeles and met Jay Hayden, an actor from Vermont. They grabbed a couple beers, started playing soccer together—and the rest is exposition. Today, they run their own design-build firm, David Vincent LLC. So, who is David Vincent? Jay & Christian “As complicated as this sounds, it’s my middle name and his middle name,” laughs Christian, Managing Partner and Co-Owner. Although “David Vincent” the person may not actually exist, the firm itself is swiftly making its mark ..read more

The health benefits of sunlight are countless. When it comes to physical well-being and mental health, sunlight provides essential vitamin D, promotes healthy bones and skin, and improves one’s mood. Most people, however, work indoors during daylight hours. With a combination of high-CRI, color-tunable LED lighting products, daylight harvesting and a floor plan that includes natural light sources, such as skylights and windows, you can upgrade your work or office lighting to provide many of the benefits of working outdoors under natural daylight. Table of contents The health benefits of sunli ..read more

Lighting for purposes of travel in—and habitation of—outer space will become a focal point in the lighting industry in the near future, Alcon Lighting contends. Our company, which works with America’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and commercial space companies, presents this Lighting for Space series to examine the unique requirements that come with lighting for space exploration. Topics addressed here and in upcoming articles focus on general issues without disclosing details to protect non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with private and government space efforts. Nothing ..read more

Color temperature is generally understood to be the color of light. Technically speaking, it is the scientific measurement of the temperature at which a black body would emit radiation of the same color as a given object. How does a temperature scale become a measurement of color?  Table of Contents What is Color Temperature? The History and Science of Color Temperature The Kelvin Scale and Electromagnetic Radiation The Origin of Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) Correlated Color Temperature versus Color Rendering Index Color Temperature in LEDs The Role of Color Temperature in Lighting ..read more

Series Contents: 1. The Foundational Principles of Lighting Design 2. Human-Centric Principles of Light and Lighting Design 3. Introduction to Photometrics 4. Things to Keep in Mind When Lighting For Mood 5. Mood Changers: Lighting Design 101 – Why Lighting is The Most Important Design Feature Good lighting design accounts for the nature and needs of those inhabiting any space. As a concept, human-centric lighting addresses the physiological impact of artificial lighting on the individual.  The human-centric lighting design goal is to integrate lighting technology and design principles ..read more