The Shape of Light

There is nothing that captures the essence of a space quite like light.  It sets the mood, influences our behavior, and enables us to accomplish our tasks at hand.  Executed properly, good lighting can lift our spirit, focus our attention, and render the most ordinary space into something brilliant.

TruexCullins is teaming up with our friends at Conant Metal & Light for a special event this March. Together we will explore the art and science of lighting, with interactive exhibits that demonstrate the qualities of light and a showcase of beautiful fixtures by local, national and international designers.

The lighting industry is changing rapidly these days, in response to increasingly stringent energy codes, the desire for improved efficiency, and evolving technology.  The Energy Independence and Security Act was signed into law in 2007 and establishes new minimum guidelines for lighting efficiency.  The incandescent light bulb, which hasn’t changed substantially since Thomas Edison invented it over 100 years ago, will finally be phased out in favor of much more efficient light sources such as compact fluorescents and LEDs.

The phase-out of inefficient incandescent light is set to begin in 2012 with the prohibition of the 100-watt household bulb, and end in 2014 with the 40-watt bulb.  Under the terms of the law, all light bulbs must use 30 percent less energy by 2014.  By 2020, bulbs must be 70 percent more efficient than they are today, effectively banning the incandescent light bulb as we know it.

Lighting manufacturers are answering the call.  In response to these regulations, new bulbs and fixtures are being produced that are better than ever.  High quality fluorescent bulbs are now quiet, steady and warm, much improved over early models.  But the darling of the industry is clearly the LED.  The rapid evolution of solid state lighting is living up to its promise of high quality, long lasting, and low-wattage lighting.

We hope you can join us for this exhibit on Thursday March 4th at our offices at 209 Battery Street, from 5 to 8pm.  In addition to Conant Metal & Light, other participants will include: Con-Tech Lighting, Apex Lighting, Beeken Parsons, Leucos, Herman Miller, Arteriors, Philips, Liton, Haworth, and many more.  As we will see, the future is brighter than ever!

Rolf Kielman Steps in for Bill Truex at the BBA Summit

From the Burlington Free Press Business Monday
January 11, 2010

Burlington Business Association meets

Ideas abound to build on successes at BBA gathering

By Joel Banner Baird, Free Press Staff Writer

Coffee alone could not explain the early morning buzz.

Lofty visions and heartfelt missions animated dozens of entrepreneurs who gathered Thursday at Champlain College for the Burlington Business Association’s annual summit.

The takeaway?

The Queen City has gone gung-ho long enough on the charms of Church Street and the Waterfront; the business community needs to charge forth into an ambitious and marketable future.

But delight — as well as the devil — is in the details, they agreed.  A glance at the city’s not-so-distant past showed why.
Read more... http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20100111/NEWS01/100110011/Burlington-Business-Association-meets