This interesting article by the people at Luceplan just arrived in my mailbox this morning, and since it fits so well with my other posts of the last few days, I’ll include the total content.
“Saving resources is a demand that cannot be put off. For companies that produce lighting fixtures it’s an important issue. It entails not only the use of energy saving bulbs but also the design of lamps that make effective use of all types of energy sources and the improvement of standard performance levels. Design also needs to focus on the use of recyclable parts; assembly has to be rationalized to reduce packaging to a minimum; highly efficient new sources of light need to be studied and new types of energy and formal languages need to be explored, without neglecting people’s need to be surrounded by beautiful yet practical objects that enhance the quality of life.

Luceplan has forever committed its efforts to developing innovative solutions to reduce environmental impact. In 1999 Ross Lovegrove designed the outdoor lamp with photovoltaic cells ‘Solar Bud’. Next year, Luceplan’s focus on the environment continued in cooperation with Alberto Meda and Paolo Rizzatto. The duo -in advance of our times- introduced LEDs for domestic use by launching the lamp ‘Starled‘. In 2002, Luceplan funded a research project of two students on the use of natural light in internal spaces: the result was the lamp ‘Zeno’ by Diego Rossi and Raffaele Tedesco – a large luminous disk designed to mix multiple light sources, including sunlight. Technology improved and Luceplan continued to invest: in 2005, the duo Meda and Rizzatto returned their focus on LEDs to create ‘Mix’, a sophisticated and elegant reading lamp that was nominated by Legambiente for the Enviro-Friendly Innovation Award (Innovazione Amica dell’Ambiente). Two new eco-sustainable products were then launched at this year’s Salone del Mobile fair: the outdoor lighting system ‘Sky’ designed by Alfredo Häberli and the desk lamp ‘Berenice LED’ designed by Meda and Rizzatto. This latter creation was chosen for the architect Renzo Piano’s New York Times Building.”

In my last post I proudly showed the savings we had seen on our utility bill at the Form + Function showroom after switching to CFLs wherever we could.
It is indeed exciting, there is no doubt about it.
As a lighting showroom, we of course have A LOT of lights on all day long. We have no choice.
We have, however, over the years become increasingly aware of the fact that we all need to pitch in to reduce the use of items that cause a negative impact on the environment. With the arrival of much smaller CFLs and a variety of shapes that would fit into almost any fixture, we had no excuse not to go for it!
Of course we see it as an added bonus that green lighting is not only eco-aware, but cost effective.
Since you might have a hard time relating to our $600+ electricity bill (which is entirely for lighting) I have included a cost comparison chart published by the US Department of Energy.

To be honest: That doesn’t look quite as impressive. I save $20 in THREE YEARS! (Can’t buy a whole lot of lattes for that!)
But then again, that’s for ONE bulb. It all adds up!

This is exciting!!

Three months ago we decided to make a significant change in our showroom: We swapped all our lamps (bulbs) from incandescents to Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs.)
Our lighting showroom is 4500 square feet and besides our extensive selection of low voltage fixtures and lighting systems, we show a large amount of wall sconces, pendant lights, chandeliers as well as portable lamps. Up until now we only used incandescent lamps in all those fixtures.

Our utility bill shows a charge of $608.64 for 9/16 - 10/16 2006

and - tadaaa: $273.08 for the same timeframe this year!!!!

6953 kW used 2006/ 2870kW used 2007; the utility rates did not change.

Does it pay to go green? - We definitely know the answer now! This month’s savings might pay for our next office party!

Humming, flickering, ghostly color rendering, bulky tubes and fixtures with zero sex appeal – No wonder fluorescent lighting used to be relegated to garages and laundry rooms!
Not anymore!!

Fluorescent lighting has indeed come a long way, and it seems that new and exciting products are entering the market almost daily.
In our showroom in Santa Fe, NM, we are confronted on a daily basis with all the questions, trepidations, uncertainties our customers have with fluorescent fixtures, CFLs and other energy saving options for lighting their home. How much do I actually save?
What is 13W fluorescent equivalent to?
Can I dim my CFL? We’ll try to address some of these issues in our next posts.

George Kovacs 1928 - 2007

George Kovacs passed away Wednesday, June 20th during the Dallas June Market.
I missed my semi-annual chat with this lighting icon, who was always an inspiration.

Not only did he shape modern American lighting design, creating contemporary pieces with a retro flavor, but he always did it with a sparkle and his very own sense of humor.
I just have to think of the photo shoot of his collection of contemporary lighting with George in every photo - dressed as an angel! I still have the bobble-head figurine he gave me of George, the Angel.

On a recent trip to the Ruhr district in Germany, where I lived with my family for 12 years before moving to the US, our friends introduced us to the Zeche Zollverein mining complex in Essen.

The visit to this magnificent example of industrial Bauhaus style was one of the highlights of our entire trip.

Zeche Zollverein was built between 1928 and 1932 and was adopted in 2001 as part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage as only one of ten modern architectural projects in the world.

A central courtyard is surrounded by massive cubic structures with the dramatically sculptural pit-head mechanism to one side and the boiler-house that houses the

I couldn’t stop taking photos!

The design museum was a treat! Everyday objects with outstanding design - from packaging material to vacuum cleaners and cars were on display in the powerful structures that had housed the coal mine.

Of course I looked for lighting. Which lamps and fixtures had been chosen for their outstanding design. Not a large selection, but I was pleased to see the Tolomeo Mega floor lamp by Artemide.

This oversized floor lamp designed by Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina is a great addition to the Tolomeo family.

In 1989 the Tolomeo task lamp was given the Compasso d’Oro award for Italian industrial design. It was credited with having achieved the perfect marriage between design and engineering.

Since then, the Tolomeo’s award-winning design, engineering and performance features have been further refined in a complete series of models for table, floor, wall, track and suspension application.

The Tolomeo Mega has a fully-adjustable, articulated arm and body structure that allows you to direct the light where it is needed. The diffuser is available in a choice of sizes in parchment paper or in a palge grey. With its 150W incandescent bulb (G40) or halogen bulb (double envelope) it provides a generous amount of light.

www.red-dot.de

Cheers!

The Campari pendant light by Ingo Maurer has quickly become one of the most popular pendants on our web site as well as in our Santa Fe, NM showroom and it is easy to see why!

This unique pendant light is made of ten original Campari Soda bottles, individually detachable, surrounding a PAR lamp. The result is a charming pendant that not only provides a good, direct downlight, but sparkles with cheerfulness.

It was designed by Raffaele Celentano for Ingo Maurer in 2003.
True to Ingo Maurer’s tongue-in-cheek form the height of the Campari pendant is freely adjustable via a Campari crown cork.

On a recent trip to Germany I found the Campari used in several restaurants.

Please notice the unique cable lighting system used in this Pizzeria in Munich.

It is the YaYaHo system by Ingo Maurer

With a showroom with an eclectic mix of lighting fixtures as my source, I get to pick the lighting for my office, better yet, I get to redecorate as often as I want! (Daniel, my trusted electrician will attest to this with rolling eyes!)

I see my office as my lighting lab. Ok, that’s a good excuse and it sounds really professional, but the truth is that I LOVE good lighting fixtures and portable lamps, their looks, what they do for my room and my mood. I just can’t make up my mind and stick with one single desk lamp when there are so many great ones out there.

Talk about “pools of light”, “intimate focal points” - I have them!

And – just in case you are wondering: Yes, my office has walls covered in corrugated metal. It was easier to build than with sheetrock, easier for running conduit for my constant wiring changes – and I love the look!

The New Mexico sky provides a dramatic, ever-changing backdrop through my many small windows.

The Tizio desk lamp is of course a given choice for a contemporary desk.

Designed in 1972 by Munich-born designer Richard Sapper it has gained iconic status because of its unique design. It is in the permanent collection of MOMA.

The charm of the design is the fully adjustable, perfectly balanced arms that act as conductors, so no visible wires are necessary.