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Recent Trends In Horticultural Lighting by David Shiller

William Attardi on April 17, 2026

Recent horticultural lighting trends are centered on smarter LED systems, more precise spectral control, and tighter integration with greenhouse automation. The biggest shift is away from static lighting toward dynamic, data-driven lighting that can adjust intensity and spectrum in real time based on crop stage, natural sunlight, energy prices, and climate conditions. LEDs continue to replace older technologies like HPS because they deliver higher efficiency, lower radiant heat, dimming capability, and better spectral control. Industry and government sources also note meaningful electricity savings versus conventional horticultural lighting, which remains a major driver for adoption in commercial greenhouses and indoor farms. This efficiency story matters because energy is one of the largest operating costs in controlled environment agriculture. As a result, growers are looking for fixtures that do more than just provide photons; they want systems that can optimize output while reducing waste and heat load. More information is available here. Recent Trends In Horticultural Lighting | LightNOW

How eVTOLs Could Impact the Lighting Industry by David Shiller

William Attardi on January 27, 2026

Flying cars have been a sci-fi staple for almost a century. There is a type of small flying vehicle that is now very close to commercial production. An eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) is a new type of aircraft that uses electric power for vertical flight, allowing it to take off, hover, and land like a helicopter without a runway, while also transitioning to forward flight like a plane. These eco-friendly aircraft are designed for urban air mobility (UAM) to reduce traffic congestion, using multiple electric motors, advanced batteries, and often rotors or propellers for quiet, efficient, and potentially autonomous air taxi services. Here are some of the most likely impacts on the lighting industry at: How eVTOLs Could Impact The Lighting Industry | LightNOW

Data Center Boom Impacting the Lighting Industry by David Shiller

William Attardi on March 14, 2025

The data center sector has exploded into a major force in construction, fueled by the increasing demands of artificial intelligence. This surge is significantly boosting nonresidential construction planning, with projections indicating it could add substantially to U.S. economic growth in the coming years. This data center construction boom hasn’t gone unnoticed in the lighting industry. Some manufacturers are beefing up their product lines for the data center vertical. Some are increasing their marketing to position themselves as leaders in the data center lighting vertical, and some manufacturers are hiring specification salespeople to specialize in just the data center spec market. Major tech companies are leading the data center expansion with massive investments. Data Center Boom Impacting The Lighting Industry | LightNOW

What to Know About AI Agents and Their Impact on Lighting by David Shiller

William Attardi on February 9, 2025

AI agents differ significantly from traditional AI systems in terms of functionality. AI agents possess higher autonomy, making independent decisions without constant human oversight. AI agents are poised to reshape the lighting industry, bringing next levels of intelligence, efficiency, and personalization to lighting systems. Here’s how AI agents will transform various aspects of the lighting industry:

    1. Intelligent Lighting Control
    2. Personalized Lighting Experiences
    3. Automated Commissioning and Maintenance
    4. Energy Optimization
    5. Enhanced Design and Planning
    6. Integration with Smart Building Systems
    7. Market Growth and Innovation

More information is available here.  What To Know About AI Agents And Their Impact On Lighting | LightNOW

The Statue of Liberty was made with copper but due to oxidation, it turned green.

When the “Lady in the Harbor” first arrived in New York in 1886, she didn’t look like the mint-green icon we know today. In fact, for the first twenty years of her life, she stood as a towering, metallic beacon of reddish-gold. Designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and engineered by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, the statue was a gift from France to America. To build her, Bartholdi chose copper for three practical reasons:

  • Malleability:It could be hammered into elaborate, thin sheets.
  • Weight:Copper is lighter than stone or bronze, making it easier to ship 350 individual pieces across the Atlantic.
  • Durability:It was strong enough to survive a 27-day ocean voyage and the harsh winds of the harbor.

When she was unveiled on October 28, 1886, her skin—made of 300 copper sheets roughly the thickness of two pennies—shone with a bright, metallic brown luster. The transformation from “penny-colored” to “patina-green” wasn’t planned. Bartholdi actually expected the statue to age into a deeper, darker red. However, the unique environment of New York Harbor—a mix of salt air, moisture, and industrial pollution—triggered a process called oxidation.

The Timeline of Change:

  1. 1886–1900:The bright copper dulled into a dark, muddy brown.
  2. 1903:The first hints of a light green crust, or “patina,” began to appear.
  3. 1906:The color change was so controversial that Congress nearly stepped in. They appropriated $62,000 to paint the statue back to its original color, but the public protested, calling the idea “sacrilege.”
  4. 1910–1920:The statue was a patchy mix of brown and green until 1920, when the oxidation was complete, leaving her entirely teal.

While we now view the green color as iconic, it actually serves a vital structural purpose. The layer of verdigris (the green patina) acts as a protective shield. It seals the copper underneath, preventing the metal from further corrosion and weathering.  By the time the color fully changed, a new generation of immigrants had arrived in America seeing a green statue.