Industry News

Wisdom for Good Lighting

Which flourescent and LED light bulbs offer the best reading light for senior citizens? The typical 60w bulbs just don’t suffice.  Good lighting for reading and other tasks goes beyond just wattage. Here are some guidelines to consider as our clients’ eyes begin to age:

  • Unavoidly, older eyes need more light to read;
  • To improve our visual acutiy, the light nees to be whiter (ie closer in color to daylight than to incandescent light);
  • To avoid glare and the resultig eye strain, a shielded light source is best.  So, a table lamp with an opaque shade is better than one with a translucent shade;
  • It’s better to have multiple light sources in a room than to rely on a single lamp;
  • Ideally, a task light should come between your head and the work surface to avoid creating bad shadows.

Right now LEDs have a little way to go before they can offer adequate reading light, but there are some promising fixtures that are due to come out in the very near future.

12-08. Wolf-Gordon Introduces Organics-Biodegradable Wallcoverings That Shed a New Light on Sustainability.

This new collection of eight patterns offers 100% organic wallcoverings for sustainable building. Continuing its commitment to the environment and sustainable building, Wolf-Gordon announces a new generation of sustainable wallcoverings. Organics, exclusive to Wolf-Gordon, is a line of 100% organic wallcoverings offering biodegradability, breathability, durability, and aesthetics – all at an affordable price. All wallcoverings in this collection are washable and Class A fire rated for safety.

Organics is a renewable wallcovering collection durable enough for any commercial interior. All eight Organics designs consist of three key components: Polyactic Acid (PLA), Kenaf (grass), and recycled news-paper. Polyactic acid, the topcoat and structural element, is a biodegradable, thermoplastic, aliphatic polyester derived from renewable resources including potatoes and corn.

This thermoplastic component provides strong fire ratings, turning to water vapor when it is heated or burned. The core component of these new wallcoverings is Kenaf, or grass, and the backing is made from recycled newspapers and magazines stripped of their formaldehyde and print inks.

Organics offers both sustainability and aesthetics, a rare find in the commercial design industry. From subtle striations to simulated animal prints, the eight designs draw their inspiration from the beautiful landscape of the Indian countryside. Patterns such as Jaipur, Kerala, Taj, and Taj Diamond provide decorative elements and vibrant coloring that are appropriate for any interior environment.