Check out this very nicely constructed presentation on engaging with circular economy design principles in architectural lighting projects from Mark Ridler, Head of Lighting Design at BDP, a global architecture/engineering design firm. From this year’s LpS Digital Symposium (associated with … Continue reading circular economy approaches in lighting design
A few interesting pieces relating to developing a Circular Economy: Philips hosted a expert panel debate in Brussels: In the past century, the developed world has followed a linear model of production and consumption. Goods were manufactured, sold, used and disposed. It has created immense wealth, but this model is starting to reach its limits. The circular economy aims to decouple economy growth from the use of natural resources by using resources more effectively and repeatedly, thus eliminating waste. It provides multiple benefits, including: innovation, new business models, creation of more value, reduce waste landfill and emissions, and better quality … Continue reading circular economy update
Nice article in Fast Company introducing the principles of Circular Economy strategies, mostly taken from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. A circular economy is one where goods are restored and regenerated more widely, moving from a system of virgin inputs and piles of waste to one that returns used products to a useful state. It is also an economy that minimizes resource use by moving away from individual ownership towards more leasing, renting, and sharing. The aim is to cut environmental damage and allow companies to keep control of the value in their products. Continue reading how to build a circular economy
I’m very pleased to see the recent push from Philips to highlight the importance of implementing a “Circular Economy.” I’m particularly thrilled with the comments coming directly from the top, Philips’ CEO Frans van Houten: “For a sustainable world, the … Continue reading philips endorses circular economy
A quick field report from my visit to Euroshop 2023 in Dusseldorf, Germany! Long story short: I saw tremendous innovation in lighting and digital media technologies throughout the show floor – but unfortunately with the notable exception of Hall 9 … Continue reading euroshop 2023
Are we specifying, producing and installing lighting systems that we will be proud of in the decades to come? Given all that we know about the disastrous effects of global warming, resource depletion and toxic pollution, are lighting designers proud … Continue reading specifying a brighter future
I would like to thank the US Department of Energy’s Solid State Lighting team and the Guidehouse team for hosting a most interesting R&D discussion on Advanced Lighting & Manufacturing. I highly commend the US DOE team for their continued … Continue reading 2020 US DOE LED R&D Discussion Meeting – Adv Lighting & Manufacturing
welcome to the luminous ‘20s The past decade saw incredible transformation in architectural lighting. LEDs and digital controls completely disrupted decades-old technology paradigms. Yet the transformation to LED technology was so drastic, most manufacturers could barely keep up. Playing it … Continue reading six disruptive trends in architectural lighting
Taking a moment to reflect on this past year, let me review 3 major topics I put forth attempting to drive innovation in the architectural lighting industry. Ambient Communications At the start of the year I spoke at several conferences … Continue reading closing out a year of innovation
I am thrilled to announce that Koerner Design has won a prestigious design competition hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy. The U.S. DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy hosted a Manufacturing Innovator Challenge focused on the Sustainable … Continue reading koerner design wins US DOE sustainable luminaire design competition
Below is a complete list of Brad Koerner’s conferences, publications, professional honors, etc.: Lectures and Presentations Publications Blog and Social Media Publications Project Publications Biographical Honors Patents Continue reading conferences, publications, etc.
Today I took the time to explore Dutch Design Week, to tour the immense range of offerings scattered throughout the city of Eindhoven. A dazzling display of aesthetic, technical, and programmatic creativity, DDW showcases top creative talent from across the country, ranging from college kids in design, art, architecture, multimedia and fashion degrees, from individual artists to the powerhouse design brands. Stepping back, there were clear trends. Sustainable thinking was a huge component of the show, with countless examples of innovative uses of alternative natural materials, use of recycled man-made materials, and systemic circular economy product designs tied to innovative … Continue reading the light engine of the future
It is so nice to see Philips Lighting finally package together a series of internal sustainability programs and initiatives into one comprehensive presentation to the public. Called “Bright Lives, Better World“, the program addresses a range of issues, such as … Continue reading philips lighting: bright lives, better world program
A great article just appeared in the New Yorker comparing the history of light bulbs and the challenge of switching from an industry structure around planned obsolescence to an industry built around durable products — effectively circular economy strategies. Some notable sections … Continue reading planned obsolescence vs. LED lighting
A great article at The Verge about ewaste recycling. Stunning is the complexity and thin margins associated with recycling electronic waste. How is the lighting industry going to respond? What is the end of life scenarios for our products? I … Continue reading ewaste empire
I was in the cool Local Goods Market store in De Hallen in Amsterdam this weekend and saw this amazingly simple fixture by local Amsterdam design shop Waarmakers (who I posted about previously here). Talk about circular economy design at its finest!!! Why are … Continue reading waarmakers cardboard LED lamp
According The Verge, Apple recovered $40m in gold and $6m in copper from its recycling program. How much value is out there from dead light fixtures??? The circular economy can generate incredible value if implemented correctly. Continue reading apple recovered $40m in gold
At the latest Apple media event, the company presented a robotic rig named “Liam” that they’ve developed for tearing apart iPhones at EOL for recycling. It’s definitely a step in the right direction towards a circular economy (and terrific to see … Continue reading apple’s recycling robot
When you are either specifying or engineering a light fixture, I implore you to think about the broader issues of sustainability and the lighting industry’s impact on our tiny planet. There are many sustainability certification programs out there and frankly, I … Continue reading beautiful factories
Lux Review posted a nice article profiling Philip Lighting’s recent arrangement with Schiphol airport to provide “light-as-a-service”. Here is the text of the article for posterity: Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport won’t be paying for its new light fittings. It will just pay for the light that … Continue reading light-as-a-service at schiphol airport
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