The Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) Integrated Home Competition is now accepting entries.

The purpose of this guidance document is to provide helpful information that will assist manufacturers of residential and hospitality luminaires make the choice between socketed and integrated design approaches. 

Join us and invite others interested in the technical aspects of residential lighting for this unique chance to discuss technical information with others in the industry and to get your questions answered.

Send an email to Liz@ALALighting.com for the invite.

Work one-on-one with the Light & Health Research Center (LHRC) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City to develop new fixtures for your product line as well as lighting design recommendations to improve sleep, health and well-being. 

he Integrated Home Competition identifies and supports newly available products that will help achieve this vision of a comfortable, convenient, connected home.

Learn more about the competition in this video, presented by Alice Rosenberg. Principal Program Manager at CEE, and Terry McGowan, Director of Engineering and Technology at ALA.

This December CSA Group opened its new Lighting Center of Excellence in Irvine, Calif.

The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) is pleased to announce the publication of the Consumer Guide Lighting Your Way to Better Vision (IES CG-1-20). This groundbreaking, non-technical document addresses vision issues from extreme low vision to aging in place and how lighting can help improve quality of life. 

Lighting products may present hazards if not properly designed and constructed. These hazards include fire, electrical shock, and physical injury. To reduce these risks, nationally accredited safety standards specify testing and construction requirements for lighting equipment. These safety standards are developed in a consensus process by technical panels composed of diverse stakeholders including safety experts, product experts, product users, and regulators. Lighting product safety standards are primarily developed by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) in the United States, and The CSA Group (CSA) in Canada.  

In both countries, wiring regulations are enforced to help ensure safe installation and use of electrical equipment. In the United States the National Electrical Code (NFPA-70)[i] applies, while the Canadian Electrical Code Part I, Safety Standards for Electrical Installations (CSA C22.1)[ii], applies in Canada. Both specify that luminaires (lighting fixtures) must be certified compliant with the appropriate safety standards.

It is apparent that there is a robust system in place to help ensure lighting safety. This system depends on products being certified.  Without this certification, the product you buy may be hazardous.

Selecting the proper light source for a luminaire has become a complex and confusing choice for many luminaire manufacturers. In particular, when developing LED luminaires the designer is faced with the choice of whether to create a luminaire with integrated LEDs, or utilize sockets that can accept a standard lamp.

Presentation by Terry McGowan, fIES, LC, Director of Engineering, American Lighting Association

ALA now has access to information and reports dealing with smart home products and systems resulting from focused research on the technology as well as the market forces, trends, customer needs and behaviors.

UVC germicidal devices:

What consumers need to know

With a shared commitment to the safety and performance of electrical lighting, UL, a leading global safety science company, the American Lighting Association (ALA) and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) have released a new position paper due to an increased demand for sanitizing and germicidal capabilities in the face of COVID-19. 

Ultraviolet germicidal devices are rapidly entering the consumer market due to increased demand for sanitizing and germicidal capabilities in the face of COVID-19. But are they all safe? Such UV germicidal products may not be effective and when used improperly can cause damage to eyes and skin as well as to pets, plants, and home furnishings.

Consumer UVC germicidal devices are entering the market rapidly because of an increased demand for sanitizing and germicidal capabilities in the face of COVID-19. But are they all safe?

We have listed links to further reading on UV-C light. These are technical articles recommended by Terry McGowan, Dir. of Engineering, American Lighting Association.

The use of germicidal lighting as a potential way to combat germs and viruses, including COVID-19, is receiving a lot of interest and publicity lately. Germicidal ultraviolet "light" or GUV refers to the technology of germicidal lighting, which utilizes ultraviolet-emitting sources. While GUV is a technology with great opportunity, it is more complicated than simply turning on a UV light.

Safety Considerations for Ultraviolet (UV) Germicidal Devices

Presented by Bahram Barzideh

Primary Designated Engineer Manager for Lighting and for LED Components