February 7, 2026
5 Things to Know: February 7
Boston media features renowned figure in lighting debate. Plus, a private equity firm expands its portfolio.
Here's a roundup of some of the week's happenings curated to help lighting people stay informed.
1. Dr. Motta: From the AMA to Today
As the City of Champions turns its attention to the Super Bowl, Dr. Mario Motta appeared on Fox 25 in Boston — where championship trophies pile up, but sleep apparently does not.
Speaking with Fox 25’s Kerry Kavanaugh, Motta discussed emerging research linking nighttime blue light exposure to disrupted sleep cycles and broader health concerns. He emphasized that the issue is not light itself, but timing: blue-rich light after dark can interfere with circadian rhythms and suppress melatonin, a hormone critical to restorative sleep.
Motta first gained national attention in 2016 as a co-author of the American Medical Association’s report warning about blue-heavy LED lighting. Nearly a decade later, he told Fox 25 the core concern remains unchanged — greater awareness, fewer bright nights, and, when possible, a return to darkness.
2. CORE Industrial Adds Contractor to Diversified Portfolio
Private equity firm CORE Industrial Partners, already active in the lighting space through Kelvix and Vantage Lighting, has now expanded into the contracting world. Its facility services platform IMMEC has acquired Georgia-based Helton Electrical Services — a company known for electrical, utility, and HVAC capabilities.
CORE also previously owned Saylite, the Texas-based lighting manufacturer (once known as Texas Fluorescents) that shuttered a couple years ago.
Helton, founded in 1996 and based in Sandersville, Georgia, is known for handling utility distribution, commercial lighting and electrical work.
It’s another chapter in CORE’s evolving playbook. Is the firm nudging toward vertical integration — connecting fixtures, showrooms, and field services — or simply diversifying across independent silos? Hard to say. But with lighting brands, former distributors, and now a boots-on-the-ground electrical contractor under its belt, CORE’s industrial ecosystem keeps expanding.
3. Top 2025 LEED Rankings by Global Region
The U.S. Green Building Council and Green Business Certification Inc. have released the 2025 rankings of the top countries and regions for LEED-certified space outside the United States. Mainland China leads the list again, followed by India and Canada. New to the Top 10 this year is Vietnam, reflecting a sharp rise in certified industrial and warehouse projects. Globally, LEED adoption is shifting toward existing buildings and operational performance.
Top Countries and Regions for LEED (Outside the U.S.) — 2025
4. Benjamin Harrison’s White House Was Electrified — But He Wouldn’t Touch the Switch
People magazine’s recent feature on Benjamin Harrison reminded readers that fear of the unknown isn’t just for the common citizen — it once lived in the White House.
In 1891, during the Second Industrial Revolution, the Harrisons became the first presidential family to live under electric light. But while electricity symbolized progress, it terrified the president and first lady. According to memoirs by young White House electrician Ike Hoover, neither Benjamin nor Caroline Harrison would touch the light switches. “They were actually afraid... for fear of getting a shock,” Hoover wrote. As a result, staff left lights burning overnight until someone could safely turn them off in the morning.
“Alexa, turn off the lights.” Except in 1891, Alexa was a junior staffer named Wilbur.https://t.co/bcPfRbjbGE
— Inside Lighting (@InsLighting) February 7, 2026
Hoover stayed on for 42 years, eventually becoming chief usher under six administrations. Ironically, decades later, Lyndon B. Johnson developed the opposite quirk — famously shutting off lights wherever he went. From fear to fixation, America’s relationship with electricity has always had a human current.
5. Public Comment Window Closing for Two Proposed ANSI IES Standards
The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) is closing public review for two proposed ANSI standards on Monday, February 9. Industry professionals still have time to submit feedback on the following documents:
- BSR/IES RP-42 — A complete re-organization of the standard designations for open, non-proprietary dimming and control methods for luminaires and controllers.
- BSR/IES LP-30 — A new guide that expands on TM-30 Annex E, helping specifiers apply TM-30 color rendition metrics across all design phases with phase-specific considerations, deliverables, and criteria.
These standards aim to clarify technical language and improve practical application in lighting design.
View the drafts and learn more here.
