Uncharted Play started up in 2011 – their mission: to combine play with cutting edge technology to make the world a better place. It seems they have done just that with their soon-to-be-released debut product, the SOCCKET (seen above). As explained on Uncharted Play’s website, “The pendulum-like mechanism inside the SOCCKET captures the kinetic energy generated during normal play, and stores it in the ball for later use as an off-grid power source. 30 minutes of play can power a simple LED lamp for 3 hours”. The SOCCKET is available for pre-order now and will soon be available with a portable flashlight/tabletop lamp in addition to the built-in LED lamp seen above. According to an article on Yahoo! News, “The ball is distributed in six countries through local nongovernmental organizations, who are making sure it gets to the communities that can benefit the most”. Imagine the impact more lighting innovations like this could have on our world!

Hubbell is proud to be one of the sponsors of an new film documenting the lives and careers of linemen. Power is a necessity in today’s modern world. Most of us take for granted the work that it takes to build and maintain the power grid that supplies us with the electricity that powers our lives. Storm Soldiers is a film about the men who make it all happen. The linemen who work tirelessly behind the scenes so we can power our computers, heat our homes and light our lives. Danger is around every corner for linemen and the job is constantly on the top ten list for most dangerous jobs. This film is a tribute to the men and women that literally put their lives on the line everyday.

Visit the official Linemen site to learn more or click-here to watch a film-trailer.

LEDs aren’t just for commercial use – they can save you a lot of energy at home too! According to an article in National Geographic’s Environment section of their website, “Changing as few as five light bulbs in your fixtures to Energy Star qualified LED bulbs can also reduce your energy usage by 75 percent while providing vastly increased product life.” This could mean big changes in your electricity bill, as well as a large impact on the environment as many people and businesses begin to switch to more energy efficient light sources such as LEDs.

Check out the LED sections on our Columbia Lighting and Alera Lighting websites for more information on commercial LED lighting solutions!

Everyone has an old lamp sitting around that has seen better days. Whether it’s out of date or just looks old from wear and tear, refresh it with this simple DIY project found on The Huffington Post website. You can follow the instructions for a kid friendly version as seen above, or you could think of your own design materials for a more adult version. The possibilities are endless. While you’re at it, you can pick up a fun new shade and some energy efficient bulbs as well. What a great (and green) lamp makeover!

Trevor O’Neil – a finalist in a recent LED lighting design competition, Lighten Up! – produced these beautiful and unique LED fixtures from trees. The shades which house the LEDs are made from tree sap, while the bottom portion is the actual tree. The trees emit an equivalent of a 25-watt incandescent and the LEDs are easily replaceable. Where can you picture these being used? Restaurants? Parks? Our homes?

All of us at Hubbell Lighting were proud to exhibit our products at Lightfair 2013 in Philadelphia, PA. Click on the image above to watch a short virtual tour of our booth!

Lightfair 2013 has been awesome! Check out some photos of the HLI booth!

Are glowing plants the future of lighting? Some researchers think so. According to Antony Evans, a researcher on the Glowing Plant project, research has been underway since the mid 1980s. Evans stated that the project is about “designing and creating real glowing plants by adding bioluminescence genes using Synthetic Biology methods and Genome Compiler software”. Read more about the project or even support the research.

Submergence, Oslo from squidsoup on Vimeo.

Submergence transforms physical space into a Mixed Reality environment where virtual and real worlds coincide. The result is an immersive walkthrough experience that uses light to alter our perceptions of space and presence. The experience is akin to walking through an abstract virtual environment, where pixels on a screen are replaced by thousands of points of light floating in space. These points of light create evocations and atmospheres, presence and movement, in physical space. Submergence is a new project that continues Squidsoup’s explorations into placing digital media in physical space, blurring boundaries between what is real and what is computer generated by creating responsive, immersive and dynamic hybrid installation environments.

The piece uses 8,064 points of LED light suspended in a physical walkthrough space. The first installation measures 8m x 4m and 4m high.

The piece is divided into four sections.

1. Lanterns. Very slowly moving orbs of light inhabit the space, suspended in mid air. Approach them however and they move away.
2. Divided Space creates two volumes of negative space, divided by a moving plane. When entered, the divisions dissolve, leaving a trail of illuminated space wherever you are.
3. Swarm – the space is filled with beings that are attracted by your presence. With more than one person in the space, they are no longer sure where to go, and often change their mind about who they wish to be near.
4. Ecstatic is pure experience – feel the light as it intensifies.

Submergence is the culmination of Ocean of Light, a five year research project exploring interactive media experiences that occupy physical space, and looking at the relationships between immersion and interaction.

Short video showing how the project was installed: vimeo.com/60731077

Via Inhabitat:

Calling all architects, interior designers and lighting designers! Do you have a spectacular architecture or interior project that uses LED lighting? Share it with the world today in our Lighten Up! An LED Lighting Design Competition. We’re looking for the best and the brightest examples of residential and commercial interior lighting designs that make use of energy-efficient LEDs. Exceptional designs will be put up to a popular vote, and the top 15 entries in both categories will be reviewed by a panel of expert judges who will determine which two winning submissions should be awarded a $1000 gift certificate for use towards Elemental LED products. Judging will be based on aesthetics, creativity, innovation and how well LEDs have been employed a project’s space. Enter your work in either the residential or commercial categories (or both!) by Monday, April 22, 2013.