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2026 DLC Summit Registration is Now Open

William Attardi on March 31, 2026

Registration is now open for the DesignLights Consortium’s (DLC) two-day Summit in October. Taking place October 26 – 27, 2026 at The California Endowment in Los Angeles, “Next Gen Lighting: Controls, Integration and the Environment” will gather energy efficiency specialists, lighting and controls manufacturers and distributors, decarbonization advocates and other industry stakeholders to discuss the latest trends and technologies to maximize energy savings, enhance building operations and protect the environment through lighting. Co-hosted by the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, the 2026 DLC Summit will feature panels and small group discussions. See the full meeting agenda here. Interested participants can register here.  An Early Bird rate is available through August 1, 2026.  Visit the DLC website for more information

Registration Now Open for LEDucation 2025

William Attardi on December 31, 2024

LEDucation, a premier annual event for the North American lighting industry, is excited to announce that registration is now open for its 2025 Trade Show and Conference being held at the New York Hilton Midtown, March 18–19, 2025. New and returning exhibitors, industry influencers, and a myriad of engaging, educational experiences will help all attendees gain an advantage in the lighting business. With over 400 exhibitors gathered across four expansive Trade Show halls, attendees will be able to explore the latest advancements in lighting products and technologies that are shaping a brighter, more efficient future for our industry. For more information on these sessions including complete presenter bios, visit org/2025-presentations  Attendees can view registrations details and find a link to register at leducation.org/registration

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.