This is an interview Craig DiLouie did with Tony Costa, Product Marketing Manager, 3D Printing at Signify. It will inform DiLouie’ article for the August 2026 issue of ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR. DILOUIE: What are the benefits of 3D-printed lighting? What is the general state of adoption of additive manufacturing in the lighting industry? COSTA: 3D […] The post Interview: Signify’s Tony Costa On 3-D Printed Luminaires first appeared on LightNOW.| LightNOW
I had the pleasure of interviewing Collen Harper, the CEO and Executive Director of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES). SHILLER: IES’s announcement, two weeks ago, that it would provide shared admin and management services to the Audio Engineering Society (AES) is a very clever and creative tactic to address the IES’s financial challenges. I […] The post Interview: Colleen Harper On IES & AES Services Agreement first appeared on LightNOW.| LightNOW
Alloy LED has introduced ThermaLine™ 3 as an IP67-rated tape light engineered to perform in high-temperature environments that traditional LEDs can’t survive for long. Fully encased in heat-resistant silicone and equipped with premium gold contact points for superior conductivity and corrosion resistance, ThermaLine 3 ensures long-term reliability and optimal performance for steam rooms, saunas, […] The post Product Monday: High Temp LED Tape Light By Alloy LED first appeared on LightNOW.| LightNOW
2025’s holiday shopping season will mark a turning point in retail, driven by AI shopping agents. “Cyborg Monday,” a term coined to reflect this AI-infused evolution of Cyber Monday, highlights the fusion of human customer intent with machine decision-making. Instead of shoppers individually browsing online stores, AI agents—from chatbots and personal digital assistants to […] The post How “Cyborg Monday” Could Change E-Commerce first appeared on LightNOW.| LightNOW
A major breakthrough in targeted cancer treatment utilizes an innovative therapy of light-activated molecules to destroy malignant cells, while leaving normal skin tissue intact. The study centers on a new photodynamic therapy (PDT) approach that employs microscopic flakes of tin, called “SnOx nanoflakes,” in which “Sn” refers to the chemical symbol for tin. These […] The post Tin Oxide With IR Light Kills 92% Of Skin Cancer Cells first appeared on LightNOW.| LightNOW
China’s tightening of rare earth export controls, this month, has intensified global supply chain concerns with specific repercussions for the lighting industry. Beijing’s Ministry of Commerce expanded its rare earth export list, adding five new elements for a total of twelve. The new regulations extend beyond raw materials, also covering refining technologies, equipment, and […] The post China’s New Rare Earth Export Controls Could Impact Lighting first appeared on LightNOW.| LightNOW
Surging electricity prices have shifted voter sentiment in Virginia, New Jersey, and Maine, introducing energy policy as a defining issue in U.S. politics. Electricity rates—up 21 percent in New Jersey and expected to climb substantially in Virginia—are amplifying frustrations among households and small businesses, fueling electoral volatility heading into the gubernatorial elections and shaping […] The post Voters Angry About Rising Electricity Costs & Consequences first appeared on Li...| LightNOW
Contemporary water feature lighting merges art and technology to create immersive outdoor and architectural experiences. In 2025, designers are using dynamic lighting systems to enhance fountains, waterfalls, ponds, and interactive public installations, emphasizing both ecological sensitivity and emotional impact. The focus has shifted from static illumination to dynamic scenes that translate the character of […] The post Evolving Aesthetics in Water Feature Illumination first appeared on L...| LightNOW
New research from KPMG reveals that artificial intelligence (AI) systems have the potential to reduce energy waste in buildings by up to 30%, significantly improving energy efficiency and supporting sustainability goals. This is particularly important as buildings contribute roughly 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and with urban populations expected to reach 70% by […] The post KPMG Report Shows AI Can Reduce Building Energy Waste By 30% first appeared on LightNOW.| LightNOW
NEMRA’s Rep of the Future 2025 report highlights sweeping changes shaping the independent manufacturer’s representative (rep) landscape in the electrical distribution industry. Driven by accelerating technological, demographic, and economic trends, the report outlines how firms must evolve to meet rising expectations and thrive through 2030. Industry Context: Change as the New Constant Over the| LightNOW
2025| www.lightnowblog.com
Smart switches are rapidly gaining favor over smart lamps (bulbs) as the preferred technology for home lighting automation, thanks to their superior reliability, cost-effectiveness, and integration with daily routines. Unlike smart lamps—which lose their “smart” capabilities when a physical wall switch is turned off—smart switches control the entire circuit, ensuring lights remain responsive to| LightNOW
September 2025| www.lightnowblog.com
Facial recognition technology (FRT) is rapidly transforming the smart home landscape, integrating advanced security, convenience, and personalization into daily life, but not without risks. By leveraging sophisticated edge computing—the local processing of biometric data—modern smart home systems offer instant, hands-free access, personalized user profiles, and intelligent monitoring, all while aiming to balance privacy with| LightNOW
The IES has approved seven new or revised lighting standards: BSR/IES LP-30 Lighting Practice: A Comprehensive Guide to Specifying Color Rendition – Concepts, Criteria, and Implementation This Lighting Practice document provides guidance that bridges the gap between the science and practice of specifying the color rendering ability, i.e., color rendition, of white light sources.| LightNOW
mwConnect and Network Thermostat (NetX) have announced a strategic partnership designed to streamline HVAC integration into networked lighting control (NLC) platforms, to simplify and unify building automation for commercial facilities. This collaboration leverages the strengths of each company—mwConnect’s award-winning expertise in wireless mesh technology and NetX’s established track record providing scalable smart thermostat control for| LightNOW
Multi dimming protocol drivers have been around for a while. They started as 2-protocols, then grew to 3-, 4-, and occasionally 5-protocols. There are now 6-dimming protocol drivers available. Here are three different manufacturers that I’ve found: LTECH More information available here. Vivalec Lighting Solutions More information available here. GRE Alpha Electronics Ltd.| LightNOW
RAB Design is a lighting manufacturer based in Toronto, Canada (not to be confused with RAB in the US). One of their interesting products is their Snap N’Link Series Modular Light Bars that allow “LEGO-like” easy assembly, with flexible connectors, to create endless shape possibilities. Features include: Sturdy aluminum housing. Frosted polycarbonate lens that| LightNOW
Demand for U.S. industrial space—especially in the warehouse sector—fell for the first time in fifteen years during the second quarter of 2025, signaling a dramatic shift in commercial real estate dynamics since the pandemic-era boom. This decline was marked by an 11.3 million square foot contraction in the second quarter alone, with total net| LightNOW
The 2025 California Energy Code (Title 24) clarifies lighting and control requirements for single-family residential buildings. Here is a summary of the lighting changes: § 110.9: Lighting Controls and Components. All lighting control devices and systems, light sources, and luminaires must meet the applicable requirements of §110.9. § 150.0(k)1A: Luminaire Efficacy. All installed luminaires and light| LightNOW
The Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition) and the Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo stand out as Asia’s premier lighting events by combining innovation, sustainability, and cross-industry collaboration under one overarching theme: “Illuminated Designs for a Smarter Future.” What makes the two shows different and interesting are the wide-ranging integration| LightNOW
This is my latest article in LD+A Magazine’s September issue. Indian Community School’s lighting retrofit stands as a testament to the power of design in educational environments. Located in Franklin, WI, the school’s original lighting, while functional, failed to honor the architectural language of the building and did not meet the dynamic needs of| LightNOW
The 360 Solar Area Light collection by Landscape Forms, developed in partnership with FlexSol Lighting Solutions, represents the integration of aestetic design and off-grid solar lighting. The solar luminaires are visually distinctive, highly efficient, and resilient across varied environments and climates. Design and Technology 360 Solar features a unique, slim cylindrical profile created by| LightNOW
The Lumy Awards is a new industry awards program dedicated exclusively to honoring exceptional innovation, design, and distinction in lighting products. Launched last week, the Lumy Awards aims to fill a growing gap in the lighting industry by recognizing the products themselves—such as luminaires, controls, lamps, and components—rather than architectural lighting design or projects. The| LightNOW
The House Appropriations Committee recently approved the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, a critical legislative measure that sets federal spending priorities for agencies like the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This bill attempts to save the popular ENERGY STAR program within the EPA—an initiative long| LightNOW
July 2025| www.lightnowblog.com
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay (POWER) program is bringing futuristic visions closer to reality by achieving record-setting results in long-distance, wirelessly beamed power. This initiative aims to revolutionize the delivery of electricity, particularly for military and humanitarian operations where the logistics of providing energy across challenging terrain are| LightNOW
David Shiller is the Publisher of LightNOW, and President of Lighting Solution Development, a North American consulting firm providing business development services to advanced lighting manufacturers. The ALA awarded David the Pillar of the Industry Award. David has co-chaired ALA’s Engineering Committee since 2010. David established MaxLite’s OEM component sales into a multi-million dollar division. He invented GU24 lamps while leading ENERGY STAR lighting programs for the US EPA. David ...| www.lightnowblog.com
