Phihong USA 48607 Warm Springs Blvd. Fremont, CA, 94539, USA

PHIHONG ANNOUNCES NEW 50W, 4-CHANNEL AC-DC LED DRIVER WITH STANDARD DIMMING

Fremont, CA - Phihong USA, a global leader in power technology including power supplies, adapters, Power-over-Ethernet and LED lighting, has developed a new series of multi-channel drivers for indoor and outdoor lighting applications. Designated the PDA050W-450G, the driver is equipped with four outputs of 450mA and offers a standard 0-10V dimming capability.

"The lighting industry is making a decided move from fluorescent and compact fluorescent bulbs to much more cost-effective and environmentally friendly LED diodes and drivers for longer lasting energy savings," said Keith Hopwood, vice president of marketing for Phihong USA. "Phihong is committed to staying ahead of the curve by introducing a line-up of cost-competitive external AC-DC drivers to retrofit existing lighting installations as well as for OEMs and their rapidly growing demand for high quality lighting power."

The power supply is equipped with four constant current outputs of 450mA at a nominal output voltage of 24.5V DC. With an AC input range of 90VAC to 304VAC the driver can be operated at the standard North American mains voltages of 120VAC or 277VAC for residential, commercial and industrial applications. The driver bears safety approval from UL, meeting UL8750, and has outputs that are class 2 per UL1310 that are appropriate for linear fluorescent replacement installations.

The PDA050W is water-resistant and fully potted with ingress protection ratings of 65 and may operate in a temperature range of 0C to 50C. The highly efficient and reliable driver has minimum average efficiency ratings from 82% at 120VAC input to over 84% at 277VAC input and has a calculated lifetime of 50K hours at maximum load and ambient 50C.

The LED driver comes fully equipped with input over-current protection, short-circuit protection, output over-voltage protection and open-circuit protection and has a minimum power factor correction greater than 0.9. Phihong also offers a 5-year warranty on select LED drivers including the PDA050W.

Designed in a typical ballast shape and size for ease of retrofit implementation in office lighting fixtures, the series measures 242mm x 43.5mm x 30.5mm and weighs 675grams. For more information including product datasheets please visit http://www.phihong.com/LED.

About Phihong

Phihong is one of the leading suppliers of power solutions, including power supplies, adapters, LED drivers and Power-over-Ethernet products to networking OEMs. With global sales for 2010 exceeding $550 million, Phihong has engineering and manufacturing facilities in North America, Taiwan and mainland China. For more information contact Glenn Morton, Phihong USA Corporation, 47800 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, CA 94538, or call (510) 445-0100, fax (510) 445-1678, email usasales@phihongusa.com, or visit http://www.phihong.com/LED.

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AC-DC LED Driver offers 0-10 V dimming capability.

29-02-2012 17:45 Another from the PureView videos I managed to get shot 🙂 NOTE - This is a Prototype device, final quality will only get better 🙂 Contact Me viewers@samjpullen.com Check out my site! bit.ly Follow Me bit.ly Facebook Me on.fb.me G+ Me bit.ly

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Nokia 808 PureView 1080p Indoor Video Test (Good Lighting) - SAMJPULLEN - Video

SATELLITE BEACH, Fla., Feb. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Lighting Science Group (OTCBB: LSCG.OB - News), the world's premier LED lighting manufacturer, introduced today a 4" version of its revolutionary Glimpse LED downlight. Mimicking the lumen (light) output of a 50 watt incandescent or halogen bulb in a downlight, the 9.5 watt Glimpse maintains the same top-tier performance that has come to differentiate the company's LED products from competitors like Cree, Philips and GE, while offering an improved, innovative thermal design that reduces the amount of raw materials needed for assembly by up to 70 percent.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lighting-science-group-continues-to-redefine-sustainable-lighting-design-with-smaller-glimpse-downlight-140718463.html

"The Glimpse highlights its energy saving appeal by ranking among the 'greenest' LED fixtures on the market today. In effect, Lighting Science Group has pioneered a product that not only consumes fewer initial resources, butbecause Glimpse is fully recyclable and free of toxic hazards, including mercuryalso generates virtually no waste," said Jim Haworth, the company's chief executive officer.

Available in both a 4" and 6" form, the Glimpse's low profile form adopts to most 4", 5" and 6" recessed downlight cans, and transforms it into a high performance LED fixture enabling a reduction of energy usage of up to 80 percentand a life up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent and halogen sources. To enable complete control and greater energy savings, Glimpse is dimmable down to 5 percent. It is as simple to install as screwing in a light bulb. A special feature of the Glimpse is its unique ability to be surface mounted as a light fixture making it ideal for commercial retrofit or new construction applications as well as making it compliant with California's Title 24 Residential Code.

"The Glimpse bridges the 'either-or' divide when it comes to pitting sustainability against energy savings. Our long-lasting, environmentally responsible downlight will ultimately save users hundreds of dollars in maintenance, replacement and energy costsall without sacrificing the premium lighting quality they've become accustomed to and deserve," added Haworth.

An instructional video on the Glimpse is viewable at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKV0prWPIco&list=UUrKZqWjEFQTnQv0HALlBCcA&index=2&feature=plcp

About Lighting Science Group

Lighting Science Group Corporation (OTCBB: LSCG.OB - News) designs, develops, manufactures and markets LED lighting solutions that are environmentally friendlier and more energy efficient than traditional lighting products. Lighting Science Group offers retrofit LED lamps in form factors that match those of traditional lamps or bulbs and LED luminaires designed for a range of applications including public and private infrastructure for both indoor and outdoor use. Lighting Science Group's Advanced Projects Group business unit designs, develops and manufactures custom LED lighting solutions for architectural and artistic projects. Lighting Science Group is headquartered in Satellite Beach, Florida; the Company's European operations are based in Middelburg, The Netherlands; and the Company has a sales office in Sydney, Australia. Lighting Science Group employs approximately 1000 workers building lighting products from domestic and imported parts. Lighting Science Group is a Pegasus Capital Advisors portfolio company. More information about Lighting Science Group is available at http://www.lsgc.com.

Forward Looking Statement. Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the performance of Lighting Science Group and its products and/or use terminology such as "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "intend," "plan," "project," "seek," "target," "soon," "will," "first of many" and variations of such words and similar expressions. Such statements reflect the current view of Lighting Science Group with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. In evaluating these statements, you should carefully review the risk factors detailed under "Risk Factors" in our most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission; these may cause our actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements.

Contact: Andy Beck Lighting Science Group 202-288-6862 andy.beck@lsgc.com

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Lighting Science Group Continues to Redefine Sustainable Lighting Design With Smaller Glimpse Downlight

PLFixtures (plumbingandlightingfixtures.com) has made available the full line of Kichler Design Pro LED lighting on their web site. Kichler Design Pro LED lighting features, 40,000 hours of life, up to a 80% energy saving over forms of lighting like xenon and halogen and a limited lifetime warranty.

North Berwick, Maine (PRWEB) February 29, 2012

PLFixtures found, after a thoroughly study, that besides the energy savings and longevity aspect of Kichler LED lighting, the ease of design and installation of this product made it extremely suitable for not only professional, builders and remodeling contractors, in both a residential or a commercial environment, but very well suited for the do-it-yourself home owner.

The modular designs created by the Kichler designers are truly a cost saving attribute in both installation time and in the long term service and maintenance of the product in their own right. For example; Kichler Design Pro LED Modular 2.0 24 Volt DC consists of the fixture(s), an optional full range dimmer switch module (12357 BK), and optional night light module (12356 BK). Fixtures and modules can be snapped directly together or connected by interconnect cables. This under cabinet or under shelf system is so versatile, Kichler Design Pro LED Disc lights can be added by using the 12359 BK Disc Driver module.

PLFixtures has discovered after seeing an actual installation of Design Pro LED Modular lighting that the product can be virtually invisible with compact size. Example a 12311 2-light LED under cabinet fixture module (pictured at right) measures only 6 L x 2-3/8 W x High. Equally impressive is the size of the LED disc lights from the Kichler Design Pro LED 24V Disc 2.0 system (also pictured at right). Measuring only 2-3/4 Diameter x 3/8 High they are again, virtually invisible behind the lip of an under cabinet installation.

Both the 24V LED Disc system and the 24V LED Undercabinet system are fully dimmable.

PLFixtures is also carrying Kichler Design Pro LED Direct Wire 2.0 120 Volt system favored by many professionals looking for a fast, simple energy efficient solution for Undercabinet . Both dimmable and non-dimmable fixtures are available. This system can be direct wired or the 10582WH Power Cord and Plug can be used.

plumbingandlightingfixtures.com, LLC.

361 Beech Ridge Rd.

North Berwick, ME 03906

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PLFixtures is Now Selling Kichler® Design Pro LED Lighting.

Cooper Lighting
1121 Hwy. 74
Peachtree City, GA, 30269
USA

Press release date: February 10, 2012

Ten innovative products, including eight LED luminaires, represent significant product developments and improvements to the lighting industry.

PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. - Cooper Lighting, an industry leader committed to delivering innovative products and driving transformational technology in the lighting industry, announces that ten of its innovative products have been recognized by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Progress Committee as providing "an advancement in the art and science of lighting." Altogether, Cooper Lighting had nine products accepted - including eight LED luminaires - and Cooper Controls, a business unit of Cooper Lighting, had an additional energy-monitoring product accepted. The products are featured in the 2011 IES Progress Report, which presents significant developments and improvements in the lighting industry over the past year.

The accepted products include:

o Cooper Lighting's Neo-Ray Straight and Narrow 22 LED Luminaires, available in three color temperatures and offering a 25 percent energy savings over fluorescent sources, create slender lines of continuous, uniform illumination for recessed, suspended, surface- and wall-mounted applications.

o Cooper Lighting's Corelite R Mini LED Luminaire is a unique 1' x 1' luminaire that provides a 28 percent reduction in energy with a 10 percent increase in delivered lumens, when compared to a traditional 32W compact fluorescent fixture.

o Cooper Lighting's Corelite Loft/Element Micro LED Suspended Luminaire, which features independent dimming of the uplight and downlight components, achieves a high luminaire efficacy of 85 lumens per watt (lm/W). Comparable to a 54W T5HO fixture, this design provides a 17 percent reduction in energy with a 7 percent increase in lumens.

o Cooper Lighting's Halo Stasis LED Luminaire, designed for retail, hospitality and commercial spaces, features tight optical control with minimal spill light and multiple patented field-changeable optical distributions including Spot (15 degrees), Narrow Flood (25 degrees) and Flood (40 degrees).

o Cooper Lighting's RSA COMBOLIGHT LED Luminaire is the first airtight, IC-rated multiple-head recessed luminaire that offers one to six heads equipped with 18W LEDs and a double-gimbal design that allows the product to tilt 45 degrees in any direction.

o Cooper Lighting's IRiS? Linear Spread Lens Trim, designed for use in multiple wall wash luminaires including compact fluorescent, halogen and ceramic metal halide sources, utilizes a unique color neutral glass lens technology eliminating the green tint of light found in standard glass. The result is increased optical efficiency with smooth vertical illumination.

o Cooper Lighting's Metalux Accord LED Series, which evenly distributes the perfect amount of "softer" light, is available in two light levels, multiple color temperatures and boasts an efficacy of 88 lumens per watt (lm/W) with a 50,000 hour rated life. A quick disconnect feature allows for simple future LED upgrades.

o Cooper Lighting's Halo H4 LED Adjustable Gimbals, the first small aperture (4-inch) adjustable downlights with the appearance and performance similar to a low voltage MR16 gimbal, features interchangeable reflectors with beam distributions of 25, 35 and 50 degrees, four color temperatures and an adjustable 35-degree tilt.

o Cooper Lighting's Halo 4-inch and 6-inch LED Wall Wash Downlight Trims deliver uniform illumination and are the first residential and commercial grade LED trims of their kind, allowing these trims to be used for both IC and non-IC applications.

o The Cooper Controls advanced Venergy Advanced Metering System is a code compliant energy saving solution, which monitors energy consumption, is easy to use, specify and scalable across any enterprise.

The Progress Report submittals, which include new products, applications, research, publications and design tools, are reviewed by the IES Progress Committee. The committee consists of industry experts from all different aspects of the lighting industry with the mission of keeping in touch with developments in the art and science of lighting throughout the world. The committee prepares a yearly review of achievements for the Society. Each submittal goes through a judging process and is evaluated for its uniqueness, innovativeness and significance to the lighting industry. Judging is not based on aesthetics, but focuses on and honors technical advancements.

The accepted products were presented at the IES Annual Conference in Austin, Texas this past November. The 2011 IES Progress Report was featured in the January issue of the Society's monthly magazine, Lighting Design + Application (LD+A). The Report is also posted on the IES website and is presented by IES Sections throughout the year at section meetings. To view the accepted products, click here to view the Report.

Cooper Lighting has made a significant investment in people, resources and technology to ensure the company provides first-class solutions to its customers' lighting challenges. The Company offers a range of indoor and outdoor lighting products and controls, all of which are specifically designed to maximize energy and cost savings. For additional information on Cooper's product offering, click here, and for information on Cooper Controls solutions, click here.

About Cooper Lighting
Cooper Lighting, a subsidiary of Cooper Industries plc (NYSE: CBE), is the leading provider of innovative, high quality interior and exterior lighting fixtures and related products to worldwide commercial, industrial, retail, institutional, residential and utility markets. As lighting technologies have advanced over the years, Cooper Lighting has been at the forefront of the industry in helping businesses and communities leverage the latest technologies to improve efficiency, reduce costs and enrich the quality of the environment. For more information, visit http://www.cooperlighting.com.

About Cooper Controls
Cooper Controls, a business unit of Cooper Lighting, is a market leader in energy management, architectural, and entertainment lighting controls. A subsidiary of global manufacturer Cooper Industries plc (NYSE: CBE), it was formed by its acquisition of Novitas Inc. in November 2005, Polaron plc in March 2007, PCI Lighting Control Systems in August 2007, and ALC Lighting Controls in November 2010. Cooper Controls includes leading brands such as iLight (International), iLumin (North America), Greengate, and Zero 88. For more information, visit http://www.coopercontrol.com.

About Cooper Industries
Cooper Industries plc (NYSE: CBE) is a global electrical products manufacturer with 2011 revenues of $5.4 billion. Founded in 1833 Cooper's sustained success is attributable to a constant focus on innovation and evolving business practices, while maintaining the highest ethical standards and meeting customer needs. The Company has seven operating divisions with leading market positions and world-class products and brands, including Bussmann electrical and electronic fuses; Crouse-Hinds and CEAG explosion-proof electrical equipment; Halo and Metalux lighting fixtures; and Kyle and McGraw-Edison power systems products. With this broad range of products, Cooper is uniquely positioned for several long-term growth trends including the global infrastructure build-out, the need to improve the reliability and productivity of the electric grid, the demand for higher energy-efficient products and the need for improved electrical safety. In 2011 fifty-nine percent of total sales were to customers in the industrial and utility end-markets and forty percent of total sales were to customers outside the United States. Cooper has manufacturing facilities in 23 countries as of 2011. For more information, visit the website at http://www.cooperindustries.com.

Contact:
Karin Martin, Karin Martin Communications
(630) 513-8625
Kmartin41@aol.com

SOURCE Cooper Lighting

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Cooper Lighting and Cooper Controls' Products Accepted into Prestigious 2011 IES Progress ...

Acuity Brands Lighting
1 Lithonia Way
Conyers, GA, 30012
USA

Press release date: February 16, 2012

Camelback Toyota focuses on innovative lighting control system to highlight new facility.

Auto dealerships, like most high profile retail businesses today, are fighting an uncertain economy and pulling out all the stops to service existing customers and attract potential buyers. In many cases an extreme makeover is the only viable solution to create a truly attractive and efficient selling environment.

Camelback Toyota (Phoenix, AZ) is one such dealership. The company recently built a new facility and leaned heavily on technology to help it achieve a competitive advantage. The result - from the indoor showroom to the outdoor lot - is a modern facility that is contemporary, attractive and efficient.

New and exciting features range from a high-end solar roof and iPads to Starbucks coffee and massage chairs. But the most visible and measurable change at Camelback is the network of more than 100 metal halide lighting fixtures featuring a state-of-the-art control solution that not only shines a spotlight on the 9.6-acre facility, but gives the ownership unprecedented control over its lighting.

Brent Tally, Director of Construction for the Van Tuyl Group - the largest privately held automotive group in the U.S. - was given the challenge to effectively manage the lighting fixtures that showcase the dealership.

"Outdoor lighting is a critical design and cost element for the dealership," Tally explained, "so we consulted with our local Acuity Brands representative, R.C. Lurie Co., to address our need for a lighting system that delivers both quality light and efficient performance."

R.C. Lurie recommended the Remote Operations Asset Management (ROAM) system by Acuity Brands Controls to achieve enhanced efficiency, dramatic energy savings and enhanced lot security.

Smart, Simple and Powerful
ROAM provides Camelback Toyota outdoor luminaire monitoring and control through smart photocontrols (nodes) that diagnose fixture malfunctions and wirelessly communicate information to a central collection point or gateway. Data is transmitted to a Network Operations Center (NOC) via cellular uplink or Ethernet, with system owners/operators able to access luminaire information through a secure web portal from the Internet.

Michael Spector, Facilities/Inventory Director for Camelback Toyota, says there is no need to continuously check on the lighting fixtures or pay an auditing service person to confirm they are operational or require maintenance. "The ROAM system allows us to control lighting fixtures through a secure web portal rather than relying on inflexible control panels located in boxes installed throughout the parking lot," explained Spector.

Customer Friendly
From the web-based portal, Spector and his team have complete flexibility for scheduling, controlling and reporting. Andy Dickert, Deployment Manager for Acuity Brands Controls explains, "By design, the Camelback Toyota system is divided into two simple lighting groups, one that consists of twenty four, 400-watt lights in the front of the property and a second that comprises seventy-seven, 750-watt fixtures throughout the rest of the lot. This scheme gives Camelback the ability to manage lighting in relationship to its needs and desires."

Tally explains, "Many Arizona residents, especially during the summer, wait until sunset for outdoor activities to take advantage of the cooler temperatures. The ROAM system enables Camelback Toyota to schedule the appropriate lighting when and where it is needed in order to showcase its inventory and to ensure safety."

ROAM enables Camelback Toyota to attract customer attention while reducing its carbon emissions in a secure, well-lit environment," Spector said. "The system is efficient and easy to use. We wanted a secure, Internet-based system that we could easily access for control or information from any of our U.S. locations. ROAM gives us the flexibility to set routine schedules, but also to remotely override the system when necessary. If a storm rolls in, for example, we can turn the fixtures on early from a computer."

Reduced Energy Use, Carbon Emissions & Maintenance Costs
Camelback Toyota relies on ROAM to reduce energy consumption; 25-50 percent of its outdoor lighting fixtures, for example, are turned off after midnight. "We estimate Camelback Toyota is saving approximately $350 per month on electricity, based on a $0.15 KWH energy use and an estimated six hours when the lights are turned off from midnight to 6 a.m.," said Dickert.

The dealership also uses ROAM to alternate the lamps that burn, which boosts lamp and ballast life at least 25 percent. "And with the ROAM system, there is no need to continuously check on lighting fixtures or pay an auditing service person to confirm they are operational or require maintenance," said Spector. "In fact, since we moved to the new location, we reduced the need to replace burnt out bulbs by 90 percent. This lowers our overall carbon emissions because we don't have to use trucks to replace the bulbs as frequently as we did prior to installing the ROAM system."

ROAM not only meets all of the dealership's needs with a sustainable, state-of-the-art solution, it also delivers a genuine payback to the customers, the community and to the bottom-line. In its current configuration, the system will pay for itself in just three years. And while Spector recommends the ROAM system to others because of its efficiency and ease of use, Tally is going a step further. "We have decided this is the system we want to build our future with," said Tally. "We are doing our next ROAM system installs in Scottsdale, Arizona at Pinnacle Nissan, Gwinnett Place Ford in Atlanta and David Maus near Orlando, Florida. We made the right decision with ROAM and will use the system in all our facilities moving forward."

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Dealership Creatively Cuts Lighting Use, Maintenance Costs & Carbon Emissions

Cree, Inc.
4600 Silicon Dr
Durham, NC, 27703
USA

Press release date: February 21, 2012

Five European Installations Yield up to 76 Percent Energy Savings

DURHAM, N.C. - Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq: CREE), announces participation in a series of energy efficiency renovations across U.S. Embassies in Vienna, Rome, Berlin, Madrid and Lisbon. The installation of energy-efficient interior and exterior LED lighting by Cree is part of a visionary program spearheaded by the Alliance to Save Energy and The League of Green Embassies, a U.S. Department of State initiative to promote international cooperation in energy efficiency and clean technology.

The range of LED lighting products being installed at each residence varies according to its unique needs. The energy savings for these installations as compared to the old lighting ranges from 45 percent to 76 percent, which can have significant economic impact due to the cost of electricity in these locations. Older, energy-wasting lighting is being replaced with energy-efficient LED lighting in security lighting, indoor lighting, area lighting, walkway lighting and parking lot and roadway lighting.

"The goal of the League of Green Embassies is to make each participating embassy as energy efficient as possible and to use these embassies as platforms for showcasing U.S. energy innovation technologies and products," said Bruce J. Oreck, U.S. Ambassador to Finland. "We want to encourage companies to create and showcase for a global market the latest technologies that reduce energy waste and lower costs."

The League of Green Embassies was established to advance the 2007 Presidential mandate to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in U.S. government buildings; to demonstrate the capabilities of U.S. products and technologies to the world market; and to increase the exports of U.S. products and services in line with the National Export Initiative.

"Embassies are a great vehicle to showcase U.S. innovation and influence global commercial and industrial organizations to take action, consume less energy and advance energy efficiency," said Greg Merritt, vice president corporate marketing, Cree. "Cree is excited to be part of the League's initiative and to provide the embassies with Cree? high-performance, energy-efficient interior and exterior LED lighting."

The completed installations are expected to be unveiled throughout 2012. The embassies will host a VIP and press reception and exhibition to provide guests a firsthand look at recent upgrades in the embassy. For more information visit http://www.leagueofgreenembassies.org/

About Cree
Cree is leading the LED lighting revolution and making energy-wasting traditional lighting technologies obsolete through the use of energy-efficient, mercury-free LED lighting. Cree is a market-leading innovator of lighting-class LEDs, LED lighting, and semiconductor products for power and radio frequency (RF) applications.

Cree's product families include LED fixtures and bulbs, blue and green LED chips, high-brightness LEDs, lighting-class power LEDs, power-switching devices and RF devices. Cree products are driving improvements in applications such as general illumination, backlighting, electronic signs and signals, power suppliers and solar inverters.

For additional product and company information, please refer to http://www.cree.com. To learn more about the LED Lighting Revolution, please visit http://www.creeledrevolution.com.

Media Contact:
Michelle Murray
Cree, Inc.
Corporate Communications
(919) 407-5505
michelle_murray@cree.com

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Cree Joins Forces with League of Green Embassies to Drive Energy Savings and Showcase ...

Tired of your garden? Do you yearn for an outside kitchen, complete with fridge, oven and sinks? Or perhaps an outdoor shower? Do you think your garden is crying out for luminous, glow-in-the-dark furniture? Or a chandelier as the centrepiece?

Sound crazy? Not at all! You’ll be pleased to know that all of this is coming to a highstreet near you in the next few years. The trade shows are buzzing with excitement at the incredible new products and materials coming on to the market. Admittedly, these items are currently right at the top end of the price scales but, as is the way with such things, they are likely to inspire a whole slew of products that will be on the high street before long.

You needn’t take my word for it, just take the case of outdoor sofas. About five years ago these same shows started to sell outdoor sofas to great fanfare. Now they’re for sale in department stores and DIY shops. Just like in clothes fashion - what happens in haute couture will be in the high street in just a few years. So what do you have to look forward to? Put simply, the key  trend is to make the outside as comfortable and stylish as any room inside the house, and doing this by taking pretty much everything you can find on the inside and making an outdoor version of it.

I’ll start with the floor. For several years there’s been a burgeoning market in fake grass. One company in London set up in the depths of the credit crunch and a year later they had a turnover of over a million pounds: there’s a demand out there.

But the people who make the fake grass have started to make it in different colours (stay with me, it gets better) and bingo! They are now selling outside carpets with bold shapes and patterns - looking very much like the carpets you would have inside you house.

And comfort? What started with outdoor sofas has now gone to some extremes. We have bean bags, day beds, circular sofas, four poster beds... all for the great outdoors.

Behind this are technical innovations which have made it possible to have water resistant but beautiful material on the sofas and cushions to give you all the comfort you’d expect from a sofa inside your house - but outside. The very latest; outdoor velvet.

And to go with the sofas and beds you need standard lights, table lights, sculptural lights, wall lights. Pretty much any light you would have inside is now available for outside use.

But, because it’s a garden they can go one step further and have much more fun with lights. What about giant, coloured, solar powered flower lights? Projections are coming into their own: lights, pictures, photographs, TV images projected onto walls of the garden. Interactive lighting displays where you can ‘move’ pieces around a chess board or the children can kick a virtual ball. And all of these remotely controlled, at the touch of an ipod.

A trend that’s been growing for a few years now is for outdoor fireplaces and fire tables, but artists are now taking this idea and making metal sculptures which visually interact with the fire. Outdoor art for the walls, colourful screens to cordon off areas of the garden or provide privacy, outside gyms, pocket showers, hidden swimming pools.

The sheer inventiveness, fun and excitement of these new products is something I’ve never experienced before. Technology, design and art are all working together to create some amazing things. So what are you going to create?

Caroline Tilston is a tutor at MyGardenSchool, where she teaches courses in Decorating Your Room Outside and Garden Design for Interior Designers. She is also a bestselling author of garden design books and prolific gardening journalist. Her company, Oak Studio Design Ltd, has been providing clients with beautiful gardens for the past 10 years.

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Indoor style, outdoors - 2012 garden design

EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio, Feb. 23, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GE Lighting (NYSE:GE - News) is taking its energy-saving, cost-reducing lighting solutions on the road again with the 2012 GE Lighting Revolution Tour. This tradeshow on wheels is designed to give designers, distributors, architects, contractors, facility maintenance and utility executives a first-hand experience of GE's latest innovations in lighting technology. This year, GE will be hosting commercial users and officials in nearly 50 cities, showcasing new advanced-technology products and solutions in areas ranging from architectural lighting to retail and outdoor lighting.

The tour kicks off in Miami, Fla. this week and concludes in Hendersonville, N.C. on September 20 after stops in 57 cities across North America. End-users are invited to join the revolution at http://www.gelightingrevolutiontour.com to learn about the tour stops and RSVP.

The 2012 GE Lighting Revolution Tour will give designers, distributors, architects, contractors, facility managers and other users a peek at the latest lighting innovations.

This year, on-board exhibits include products in-use, educational information and innovative solutions, all focused on helping lighting customers reduce energy. A new lighting-control solutions section highlights ways to make lighting operations easier to manage by adopting a low-maintenance control format. The latest floating, sleek and stylish 2X2 Lumination LED Edge light fixture will be suspended onsite, along with several new product lines including the GE ConstantColor(TM) CMH(R) Integral PAR 38 lamps, a replacement option that is four times more energy efficient than the Halogen PAR 38 lamp which will soon be eliminated. Refrigerated display case lighting, outdoor signage, indoor LED solutions and more will be featured this year.

In addition to the opportunity to see the latest lighting technology first-hand, visitors will have direct access to onsite GE experts who will be available to analyze specific lighting application challenges and objectives.

"We are excited to spend another year on the road showcasing GE's new and existing lighting technologies. With the new regulations taking effect, GE is setting higher efficiency standards for every platform, whether for retail customers or consumers at home," says Jim Benson, GM of Professional Marketing, GE Lighting. "GE Lighting is offering this tour as a way to engage customers and educate them about the energy-saving, innovative solutions GE has to offer in this new era of lighting."

The 2011 GE Lighting Revolution Tour reached 47 U.S. and Canadian cities last year hosting almost 10,000 total visitors over the course of 10 months.

"We're looking forward to another year of educating people on the most recent lighting innovations and options through this year's tour," Benson says.

For more information about the tour, visit http://www.gelightingrevolutiontour.com.

About GE Lighting

GE Lighting invents with the vigor of its founder Thomas Edison to develop energy-efficient solutions that change the way people light their world in commercial, industrial, municipal and residential settings. The business employs over 17,000 people in more than 100 countries, and sells products under the Reveal(R) and Energy Smart(R) consumer brands, and Evolve (TM), GTx, Immersion (TM), Infusion (TM), Lumination(R) and Tetra(R) commercial brands, all trademarks of GE. General Electric (NYSE:GE - News) works on things that matter to build a world that works better. For more information, visit http://www.gelighting.com

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GE's Greatest Breakthroughs in Lighting Technology Hit the Road

ATLANTA - February 20, 2012 - Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE:AYI; "Company"), a market leader in innovative energy-efficient lighting solutions, announced today a total of 10 lighting products, including new LED lamps, luminaires and lighting control software, have been selected by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) to be included in its annual Progress Report. The Progress Report documents significant worldwide developments and achievements in the lighting industry, including new products, applications and design tools.

The innovative and significant new Acuity Brands products selected by IES include:  Acculamp® S-Series LED lamp, Lithonia Lighting® RTLED indoor ambient LED series luminaire, Gotham®  Downlighting DLWLED lensed wall wash luminaire, Lithonia Lighting® Archway(TM) Passage(TM)  LED luminaire, Hydrel®  8100/8200 Series LED floodlight luminaire, Healthcare Lighting®  Surg5(TM) surgical T8 troffer luminaire, Winona®  Lighting Winline(TM) Submersible 607 LED luminaire, Winona®  Lighting Revel(TM) OLED surface mounted general illumination luminaire, Winona®  Lighting Kindred(TM) OLED linear general illumination luminaire, and SensorSwitch®  nLight® lighting control system.  

"Acceptance in the IES Progress Report is acknowledgement from representatives from leading lighting industry manufacturers and design firms that many of our new products and lighting solutions continue to achieve an advanced level of uniqueness and innovation," said Rick Earlywine, Acuity Brands Lighting Senior Vice President, Innovation & Technology. "We are proud to be recognized as a leader making significant advancements in lighting."  
About Acuity Brands

Acuity Brands, Inc. is a North American market leader and one of the world`s leading providers of lighting solutions for both indoor and outdoor applications. With fiscal year 2011 net sales of $1.8 billion, Acuity Brands employs approximately 6,000 associates and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia with operations throughout North America, and in Europe and Asia. The company`s lighting solutions are sold under various brands, including Lithonia Lighting®, Holophane®, Peerless®, Gotham®, Mark Architectural Lighting(TM), Winona® Lighting, Healthcare Lighting®, Hydrel®, American Electric Lighting®, Carandini®, Antique Street Lamps(TM), Tersen®, Sunoptics®, Sensor Switch®, Lighting Control & Design(TM), Synergy® Lighting Controls, Pathway Connectivity(TM), Dark to Light®, ROAM®, RELOC® Wiring Solutions, and Acculamp®.

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Contact(s):  

Jennifer Manocchio
jennifer@sweeneypr.com, 910.772.1688

Neil Egan
Neil.egan@acuitybrands.com, 770.860.2957

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Source: Acuity Brands, Inc via Thomson Reuters ONE
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Acuity Brands, Inc: Illuminating Engineering Society Selects Acuity Brands Lighting Products for Annual Progress Report