Last month, we explored Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) and its impact on the appearance of light. This month, we will dive into the exciting realm of color tuning and its transformative potential beyond merely selecting a CCT for your project.

Color tuning offers the flexibility to enhance any space by adjusting the color of LED lighting for various purposes such as ambiance, comfort, and well-being. With advancements in LED technology, it’s now possible to fine-tune LED colors almost infinitely, creating the perfect lighting for both commercial and residential settings. Lutron’s controls and systems enable three predominant color tuning techniques: Dim-to-Warm, Tunable White, and Full Color Tuning.

Dim-to-Warm

Dim-to-warm lighting adjusts the color temperature of a light source in proportion to its intensity. This mimics the behavior of incandescent lamps, which shift to a warmer color temperature as they dim. To recreate this familiar incandescent effect, LED sources capable of dim-to-warm dimming blend multiple LEDs of different colors. The Lutron Diva LED+ dimmer is a simple control input that achieves this effect, with the LED driver translating the control input to adjust both intensity and color temperature.

Tunable White

Tunable white lighting allows for the adjustment of color temperature and intensity independently within specified parameters. Traditionally, light sources, especially fluorescent lamps, came with a fixed color temperature. However, recent studies indicate health, comfort, and productivity benefits from adjustable color temperatures. Tunable white applications use sophisticated LED drivers and light engines to provide this flexibility. Ideal tunable white fixtures utilize one control input for intensity and another for color temperature. This setup can feature presets and raise/lower controls for user preferences, accessible via keypads or the Lutron App through the Athena commercial lighting control system.

Recently, the Athena Wireless Node (AWN) has been designed to harness the power of natural light through tunable white automation. This innovation allows users to adjust color temperature automatically throughout the day to mimic the natural cycles of the sun, promoting well-being and enhancing building efficiency. The AWN’s tunable white automation is also compatible with the Ketra Natural Show, enabling users to synchronize their lighting changes with specific times of the day. By scheduling Ketra’s Natural Light to match outdoor lighting conditions, users can bring the benefits of natural sunlight indoors, which aligns with our natural daily rhythms and creates a more satisfying environment for working and living. The key to Ketra’s Natural Light solution is its patented technology, which allows for dynamic shifts in color temperature and intensity across a nearly infinite spectrum of correlated color temperatures.

Full Color Tuning

Full color tuning enables altering the mixture of multiple independent base colors (like red, green, and blue) within a single light fixture. Initially popular in theatrical settings for its dramatic color changes, this technology has spread to commercial and residential environments. Full color tuning allows designers to accentuate different areas or architectural features with any color within the visible spectrum. Unlike dim-to-warm or tunable white, this technique is not restricted to white light but aims to produce a diverse range of colors. This dynamic method is perfect for applications requiring vibrant, shifting colors, using advanced controllers and software like Ketra design software to intuitively manage the RGBW modules in every Ketra light source.

Color tuning in LED lighting provides an unparalleled level of customization and enhancement for any space. Whether aiming to replicate the warm glow of incandescent lamps, adjust the color temperature for optimal comfort and productivity, or create dynamic, vibrant lighting effects, the advanced capabilities of dim-to-warm, tunable white, and full color tuning offer a solution for every need. As LED technology continues to evolve, the potential for innovative lighting design expands, offering exciting possibilities for both residential and commercial applications.

August 7, 2024 – Costa Mesa, CA – Western Lighting & Energy Controls and Forman & Associates have announced the merger of both companies to form one of the largest lighting rep agencies in the Southern California Region.

Currently, Western Lighting & Energy Controls serves as the representative for 90+ lighting brands across Southern California and is best known for representing Lutron. Lutron is the market leader in high-quality lighting, controls and automated window systems. Together, Western and Lutron have advanced the technology of lighting control in Southern California while maintaining top market position by focusing on exceptional service, quality and design.

Forman presently serves as the representative for 100+ lighting brands in Southern & Central California, Signify is its flagship manufacturer, with a robust portfolio of professional lighting solutions for commercial, industrial and entertainment projects, in addition to stock and flow demand. Signify’s Genlyte Solutions portfolio encompasses lighting controls and IoT platform brands, Philips Dynalite and Interact; global architectural lighting brand Color Kinetics; Philips LED lamps, EvoKits and Advance electronics; as well as indoor luminaire brands Alkco, Chloride, Day-Brite, Ledalite and Lightolier; and outdoor luminaire brands Gardco, Hadco, Lumec, and Stonco. Forman also represents Signify’s entertainment lighting brand Vari-Lite and emergency lighting brand Bodine.

By merging the extensive resources of two of Southern California’s top lighting rep agencies, the two companies are forging a powerful connection to create an unparalleled synergy in the marketplace.  The new company, rebranded as LINX Lighting + Controls, will provide comprehensive solutions for lighting and controls, along with dedicated customer service & field service support across all aspects of electrical, lighting, and control requirements for any project, linking our customers (specifier, channel, installer, end-user) together in success.

This strategic expansion reflects a commitment to the Southern California Lighting Community as well as to all our valued manufacturing partners. With offices in Van Nuys, Costa Mesa, and San Diego, the new company is positioned to service the region.

About Western Lighting & Energy Controls: (https://westernlightingandenergycontrols.com)

Established in 1996, Western Lighting & Energy Controls represents top manufacturers across Southern California. The company is committed to thorough understanding in manufacturer processing, development, and technical product support.

About Forman & Associates: (www.formanandassociates.com)

For 50 years, Forman & Associates has engineered, sold and managed major lighting installations, across Southern California. With roots in the entertainment industry they have expanded into a broad spectrum of architectural and general lighting products.

The Roof Bar at the PUBLIC Hotel boasts one of New York City’s finest 360-degree panoramic views. Positioned atop the hotel with floor-to-ceiling windows, this stylish happy hour destination offers sweeping vistas across Manhattan.

Boasting a sophisticated design, the interior vibrant blue lighting leads the eye to plush seating and a moody atmosphere. The linear floor lighting is a recessed system that is both striking and durable. Manufactured by ALDABRA PROFESSIONAL LIGHTING, their EK1 modular linear lighting system is waterproof, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications and is even suitable for use in swimming pools and fountains. 

Details on EK1 Linear Lighting System:

 Installations: ground or wall recessed with housing
Materials: aluminum or stainless steel 316L – resins
Finishes: anodized aluminum or satin stainless steel
Light source: mid Power LED 140 – 180 lm/W
Optics: transparent (45°) and opal diffuser (109°)
Functions: on-off, dimmable
Features: reduced dimensions – lengths up to 2 meters (78,74″)
Power supply: 24 Vdc constant voltage

 Get creative using the EK1 System in hotels, museums, restaurants and more. Great for steps, walls, niches, cornices, and windows. 

 See more about EK1 Here.

 

 

Forman & Associates, Inc. is proud to announce that Effective June 9th, 2024 we will represent both Color Kinetics and Genlyte Solutions in San Diego and Imperial Counties.

Forman currently represents several Signify US brands in San Diego including Philips Lamps, EvoKits, Advance components, Vari-Lite, and bodine.

The Genlyte Solutions portfolio includes Interact IoT Connected Lighting, Philips Dynalite; indoor luminaire brands Chloride, Day-Brite, Ledalite, and Lightolier and outdoor luminaire brands Gardco, Hadco, Lumec, and Stonco.

Forman & Associates continues to represent the entire Genlyte Solutions business in the Greater Los Angeles Area, including Orange County.

#sandiegolighting #socallighting #forman #50years

Emergency lighting is a vital part of a facility’s life safety program. It is important to carefully consider the needs of your facility to achieve the best results. Codes and regulations, such as the NFPA® 101® Life Safety Code®, establish guidelines for emergency lighting equipment. Incorporating the right combination of elements into emergency lighting design helps provide a higher degree of safety. The best emergency lighting system is carefully planned for a specific building and its occupants. This newsletter includes a summary of some of the significant factors involved in this planning process. Scroll below to read more on: Planning and Specifying Emergency Lighting Codes, Standards, and Requirements Comprehensive Catalog of Recommended Products Proximity, shape, and size of exits The configuration of walls adjoining the exit way, the amount of space devoted to exit passages and travel distance to exits should be considered when determining the number and placement of emergency lighting units.   Intended Use of Building Additional emergency lighting may be required depending on the types of people using a facility. Elementary school children and older adults may require more emergency lighting than apartment residents, college students, or office workers. Retail situations where valuable merchandise is accessible may also require extra illumination. Occupancy and building knowledge Places like auditoriums, convention halls and sports arenas will undoubtedly have large groups of people unfamiliar with exit paths and therefore require more emergency lighting than buildings with smaller groups of people. The number of people expected to occupy a building will influence the needs of the space.   Codes, Standards, and Requirements for emergency lighting Emergency lighting is a vital part of a facility’s life safety program. While it is essential to consult federal, state and local codes related to emergency lighting for your project, there are some general guidelines for code requirements. Although state and local building codes vary, most are based upon: The National Electrical Code®, NFPA 70®, Article 700; The Life Safety Code®, NFPA 101®, Sections 7-8 through 7-10; The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), which offers some general guidelines. The California Code of Regulations – Emergency Illumination 2571.16 Key Information These codes provide complete information on emergency lighting requirements; however, a good introduction is found in NFPA 101, Section 7.9.2.1-7.9.2.1.3. Below are a brief summary of requirements: Emergency lighting is required throughout the path of egress and must operate for a minimum of 90 minutes. Emergency lighting transfer must be automatic (within 10 seconds) of loss of the normal lighting supply power. Emergency lighting must provide an average of 1 footcandle initial illumination. Changes in direction must be clearly marked. Products must be UL tested & within code compliance. Emergency products must be periodically monitored once installed

From public schools to universities, cost-effective LED lighting can enhance the learning environment, increase a sense of security, and strengthen a school’s brand and reputation, while contributing to comfort, wellbeing, and sustainability.

 

Signify LED lighting creates inviting outdoor areas and indoor spaces that inspire concentration and focus to support your educational objectives for today, tomorrow, and the future.

 

The comprehensive portfolio provided below offers the most comprehensive collections of energy-efficient lighting technology to meet your project needs. All solutions are created to:

• Provide & capture energy savings and reduce costs
• Contribute to cognitive performance and support wellbeing
• Promote a sense of security by ensuring well-lit space both indoor and outdoor
• Create sustainable solutions for the future using lighting controls and IoT systems

Learning Areas

The wellbeing of students and teachers is of utmost importance.

• Excellent lighting quality
• Flexible and simple installation
• Solutions using linear suspended, wall mount, troffers, track, pendant, and retrofit options.

Social Gathering

Create auditoriums, lunch areas and other inviting spaces for socialization.

• Add flexible lighting to areas that often serve multiple functions
• Provide glare-free, high quality color, or color changing to enhance the space
• Solutions using linear suspended, troffers, downlights, high bays, pendants, or theatrical options.

Outdoor Lighting

Provide a sense of security outside of your school building by upgrading to LED lighting.

• Ensure parking lots & recreational areas are well-illuminated
• Illuminate walkways and paths
• Solutions using area lights, canopy lights, strip lights, wallpacks, wall sconces, and floodlights.

Security Lighting

Health and safety are paramount for the learning environment. Code requirements are simple using our extensive portfolio of products.

• Exit and emergency lighting offer guidance in hectic situations
• Consider UV-C lighting to fight against viruses and bacteria
• Solutions include Exit, emergency, controls, UV-C options

Download the Signify Lighting Portfolio Catalog Here

Showroom lighting must check a lot of boxes. The Holcim Innovation Hub is a showroom that showcases Holcim’s sustainable building solutions and serves as a co-creation lab to accelerate low-carbon, circular and energy-efficient building worldwide.

Located in Lyon, France, The Innovation Hub is a place where key stakeholders across the construction value chain gather to advance net-zero building. It offers working spaces to host start-ups and think tanks to accelerate innovation together. Officially opened in 2023, Holcim Innovation Hub profits of a tailor made and precise lighting project.

The featured product in this project wasTraceline by Reggiani; a linear lighting module able to provide excellent lighting results in a profile of just 20mm.

The whole project is in fact built around the use ofTraceline 48V mounted in a rectangular configuration. Thanks to the 48V track mounted inside the Traceline module, Yori Evo 48V projectors are installed and serve therefore as accent lighting for the showroom area.

Additionally, soft uniform wall wash providing lighting ambient to the space was created using theIncline custom 48V Wall Washer assures no glare and spaces design with human comfort in mind. The dedicated lens system ensures the majority of the intensity is evenly distributed across and down the wall with minimal spillback on the ceiling. Incline 48V Wall Washer is installed inside Traceline, completing the lighting project.

 

See more showroom lighting here: https://www.reggiani.net/projects/?cat=Showrooms

Inspired by L-Prize-winning technology, BloomBox combines breakthrough high efficacy LED technology and optics with low glare to bring quality illumination to a variety of applications.

Intentionally designed for efficient material use up-front, BloomBox’s focus on environmentally conscious construction and eliminating waste comes to life in its modular, field-replaceable LED tray design and optics.

Luminaire-level lighting control allows for improved occupant comfort, tailored sequences of operations, and easy updates to scenes or zones.

Highlights include:

• Efficacy: up to 170 lm/W
• Glare: UGR < 19
• Spacing: up to 14’x14′ OC
• CRI: AccuRender CRI 90+ standard
• Low-profile 2.18″ depth
• Field-replaceable LED boards

Now That’s Smart! An Open Platform Energy Management System By Autani   Autani is an open platform building energy system providing one of the most flexible and powerful controls system on the market. By offering an open platform system, users are are not locked into one single vendor making scaling your system easier than ever before.   The system starts with the powerful EnergyCenter Software: Autani’s EnergyCenter brings total control to your Smart Building in one efficient and convenient location, either on-site or remotely accessed online. Facility Managers can push scheduling and protocols across an entire network of facilities and generate analytical reporting that offers insights into how to efficiently manage your business resources.   Next, Autani saves on installation:  Autani systems are wireless, which means that installation is simple and efficient compared to wired solutions. The Autani Commissioning application dramatically reduces commissioning time for large-scale projects.    Finally, Autani provides flexibility, scalability and rebates:  The Autani system is built with upgrades in mind. Our easy upgrade path means that regardless of which tier is installed, you qualify for the most advanced lighting control system rebate available. Learn More Here

From offices, to healthcare, and even residential, the drum fixtures by Chameleon Lighting fit any type of space while giving the project a stylish edge. Available in multiple sizes and an array of finishes and fabrics, it’s the bold design that distinguishes the drums from other fixtures.

Chameleon Lighting manufactures both traditional fabric drums as well as the acrylic infused version. The polyester fabric is available in a variety of textures and colors ranging from natural burlap to metal finish to wood texture and more. (Custom options available).

Additionally, the drums can be hung as suspended pendants or surface-mount and have multiple light source options. Choose from diameters 12″ to 48″.