February 1, 2025  

5 Things to Know:  February 1

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Another agent acquisition just happened.  Plus, Current strikes a deal with a Chinese company.

 

Here's a roundup of some of the week's happenings curated to help lighting people stay informed. 

 

1.  FRM Completes Acquisition of All Four TEAM Lighting Offices

In Monopoly, collecting all four railroads can happen quickly or take longer than expected. For lighting agency FRM Lighting and Controls, acquiring all four TEAM Lighting offices in North Carolina may have followed a longer-than-expected path, requiring multiple phases over two months but ultimately reaching completion.

FRM set out to acquire the four independent businesses operating as TEAM Lighting, longtime lighting agent partners of Hubbell Lighting which is now Current. With FRM and its merged counterpart, Bell & McCoy, expanding across the southern United States — partnering with Current in many of those markets — North Carolina remained an outlier. The acquisition strategy unfolded in phases: FRM secured the Charlotte and Durham offices in early December, followed by the Greensboro office in late December.

Now, the final piece is in place. The Greenville, North Carolina, office, which covers the coastal region, officially joined FRM as the transaction closed on January 31, 2025. With this latest acquisition, FRM has fully integrated TEAM Lighting's North Carolina presence into its growing footprint.

 


2 .  The Atlantic Columnist Strongly Criticizes LEDs, Especially Cool Color Temperatures

A recent article in The Atlantic by Gilad Edelman took a strong stance against LED lighting, particularly criticizing cooler color temperatures. The piece expressed a clear disdain for the technology, arguing that it negatively impacts ambiance and human well-being.

With mainstream publications influencing public perception, such critiques may shape broader opinions on lighting technology and design. While the Lighting People who read Inside Lighting approach the topic with technical expertise, widespread media narratives like this can affect consumer preferences and policy discussions. Here are just some examples of Edelman’s hot takes on LEDs:

  • "Let’s ignore the existence of Wi-Fi-enabled smart bulbs, which are a solution in search of a problem."
  • "Daylight sounds like it should be warm and natural; it is instead cold and ugly."
  • "The culprit is not LED technology per se, but the bafflingly unhelpful way in which LED bulbs are labeled."
  • "The first generation of LED lights were just heinous."
  • "Cold white might have its uses — interrogations, morgues — but the home is not one of them."
  • "These are the victims of an extensive body of online propaganda."
  • "If Marcel Proust could write In Search of Lost Time by incandescent lamp, you don’t need 5,000 kelvins to write an email."
  • "For everyone else, let there be light — but, for God’s sake, let it be warm."

 

The article repeatedly contrasts 2700K and 5000K lights but doesn't mention more intermediate CCTs or anything about how accurately a light source renders colors, like CRI or TM30.

 

The Atlantic article (paywall) »

 

Full article (no paywall) »

 

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW




3.   Solar Streetlights & Cowboy Hats

France-based Fonroche Lighting has officially opened its new U.S. headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas, marking a significant expansion for the solar streetlighting company. The 20,000-square-foot facility was unveiled during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on January 22, 2025.

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Above:  Fonroche ribbon cutting ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas
Image credit: Fonroche Lighting America

Five of 11 people photographed at the ribbon-cutting wore identical large brown cowboy hats — a possible indication that none of the five were true Texans.

Fonroche also made news this week as Fox 5 Las Vegas reported that local crews began installing 86 solar-powered street lights in an East Las Vegas Valley neighborhood plagued by copper wire theft. This follows a successful pilot program in the area. Clark County officials noted that the installed cost per fixture is approximately $3,761, with total costs, including labor, reaching up to $5,600. The solar lights, which are not powered by municipal electricity via copper wiring, are expected to provide a long-term solution to ongoing street light outages due to copper thefts.

 

More Info: New HQ »

 

Vegas story »

 


4.   Current Reaches Patent Agreement with Chinese Company

A lesser-known division of Current Lighting, Current Chemicals focuses on advanced materials and specialty chemicals for the lighting industry. As part of its ongoing efforts to expand phosphor technology applications, Current Chemicals has entered into a patent license and supply agreement with Hongli Zhihui, granting the company rights to use KSF phosphors in its LED products worldwide.

KSF/PFS phosphors enhance LED efficacy by improving color rendering index (CRI) without compromising efficiency. Under this agreement, Hongli Zhihui will integrate KSF phosphors into its lighting products, supporting its expansion into high-end lighting applications, including general and automotive lighting. The partnership strengthens Hongli Zhihui’s product offerings while furthering the global adoption of high-performance LED technology.

 

Learn More »

 


5.   A Useful Outdoor Lighting Ordinances Map

Leora Radetsky, Senior Lighting Scientist at DesignLights Consortium (DLC), recently announced that the organization has added 279 new ordinance links to its Outdoor Lighting Ordinances Map, bringing the total to approximately 1,000. The interactive map, updated quarterly, helps users find regulations addressing outdoor lighting and light pollution across various jurisdictions.

Among the latest additions are:

  • The Hull, Massachusetts bylaw, which includes light pollution prevention language aligning with DLC's LUNA technical requirements,
  • Public Act 103-1007 in Illinois
  • Nearly 200 ordinances in Pennsylvania.

Users can easily locate specific ordinances by utilizing the search bar in the upper left corner of the map.

 

DLC Lighting Ordinance Map »

 

 

 

 




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