*new goodies* UNITED by Modular Lighting Instruments

In simple terms, United is a naked ‘seamless’ fluorescent lamp in a powder coated aluminum housing. It is precisely that plain simplicity that makes Modular Lighting Instruments latest release so special. 

To start with, the exposed lamps ensure higher efficiency, thus reducing power consumption. That efficiency can be increased even further when selecting a white interior to amplify light reflection. 

United consists of one or more U-profiles, which are available with or without a cover. Anyone who believes fluorescent lights cannot create a cozy look should definitely rethink their view. 

United is the ultimate tribute to the fluorescent tube lamp. It radiates a warm, white color and is a welcome sight, in either white or black.  

You can download Modular Lighting Instruments latest mini book here or shoot us an email if you would like further info.

Auckland Council Orewa Road Lighting Technology Trial

Modus Lighting supplies Auckland Council the LED lighting and controls that deliver major energy and environmental savings.

Chris Byrne & Damon Birchfield Onsite at the Orewa Trial

There has been much activity in recent times with various New Zealand local councils exploring new road lighting efficiency concepts to identify energy, environmental and financial savings opportunities.

The Electricity Commission “RightLight” Efficient Road Lighting Programme that rolled out last year promoted processes and guidelines to encourage the undertaking of council road lighting technology trials and assessments.

Damon Birchfield, Energy Efficiency and Environment Officer at the (then) Rodney District Council was a participant in the EC training workshops and wished to progress the opportunity within the Rodney District with a well researched and rigorous road lighting efficiency study.

This has resulted in the Auckland Council Road Lighting Technology trial at West Hoe Road, just off State Highway 17 Orewa, north of Auckland. This trial deploys best practice LED road lighting fittings with advanced electronic control and dimming systems.

Philips SpeedStar Luminaire as Installed in Orewa Trial

Modus Lighting Ltd was the equipment supplier, IT designer and systems integrator for the project.

BEFORE - Traditional HPS Lighting at 100% light level

AFTER - MODUS LED Lighting at 100% light level

As well as LED appraisal, a significant part of this trial was to evaluate the practicalities of adaptive lighting for NZ roading conditions, as a means of achieving operational savings. Adaptive lighting is the selective adjustment (up or down) of lighting levels during different stages of the nightly period in accordance with the exact needs of the prevailing traffic and pedestrian activity levels.

The new lighting equipment on trial delivers full light output at high activity periods, is dimmed by 50% at shoulder periods and is dimmed by 75% at low activity periods.

AFTER - MODUS LED Lighting dimmed by 50% to 50% light level.

AFTER - MODUS LED Lighting dimmed by 75% to 25% light level

The trial employs Philips SpeedStar LED light fittings combined with Philips advanced electronic light level dimming and control to adjust the light output to deliver the exact amount of light required for the conditions, minimising waste light and waste energy.

The results of the whole-of-life assessment over a 30 year period are -

a) Energy saving (kWh) vs currently installed orange light (HPS) technology = 54% saving

b) Energy saving (kWh) vs traditional white light (MH) technology = 73% saving

All of the improvements are attainable at a lower whole-of-life financial cost than that of traditional High Pressure Sodium or Metal Halide technologies of an equivalent quality level.

Further details of the trial are available from Modus lighting Ltd General Manager, Chris Byrne at chrisbyrne@moduslighting.co.nz

Modus Lighting is now ready and able to supply NZ councils with energy and money saving technologies that far outperform outdated traditional options.

It's been a busy month for our favorite Belgians with more new lighting from Modular just released...

A Piece of Cake

Modular Lighting Instruments, the Belgian pioneers in architectural lighting design have just released a new luminiare - Soufflé, shown above, which continues the signature Modular combination of technicality and aesthetics.

Mothers Day, Sunday 8th May

Sunday 8th May is fast approaching and our friends at the Hamilton City Council sent us through this video of the the Color Kinetics installation on the Victoria Bridge in Hamilton lit up pink in support of the Waikato Breast Cancer Trust this Mothers Day.

The Waikato Breast Cancer Trust, working in association with GEO Skin Care, have a wonderful pamper pack for Mother's Day which contains 100ml hydrating hand and body cream and a gorgeous handmade natural soy candle - for only $30.00 (excl postage & packing $4.95).

A wonderful idea for a fantastic present for your Mum on Mother's Day. And not only does she get a gift for herself but 50% of the proceeds go back into the WBCT breast cancer research programme to support the fantastic work that they do - 2 gifts in 1!

Get along to their website for more information and to place your order, and if you are in Hamilton wander down to the river to see the light display on the Victoria Bridge.

http://www.wbct.org.nz/

What a nice Friday afternoon surprise.... 


We've just received a sample of the new Color Burst from Philips Color Kinetics via courier direct from PCK HQ in Boston.  New developments from Philips Color Kinetics generally cause some commotion in the Modus office, and this was especially true this afternoon as several of us have been waiting to get our hands on this little spotlight!!!  

The Key Issue...

Oooh!  New inspiration for lighting residential spaces from Modular... check out some fantastic international architecture in their latest publication The Key Issue.  Download it now or contact us for a paper version.....

Orewa road lighting technology trial.

Snap….Photographing the photographer !

Modus General Manager Chris Byrne and Damon Birchfield Senior Environmental Programmes Advisor Auckland Council, grimace for the publicity photographs at West Hoe Rd Orewa.

Merry Christmas - this years greeting.

Moo Moo MOO!

The inaugural Art in the Dark event was held in Ponsonby's Western Park on the 16th of October.  A wonderful night was had by all who attended as we wandered around a transformed urban space full of interactive installations by a selection of local artists.

Hybrid lamp - CFL/Halogen.

GE introduces 'hybrid' bulb with both halogen and CFL elements. Itt's like two bulbs in one, the halogen unit powering on almost instantaneously then fading off once the CFL element gets itself all riled up. It is brightness than current covered CFLs and great design!

Tony T - Waikato's Favourite Cover Boy

Work is well underway on our latest large scale civic project - and we were delighted to see rigger extraordinaire and all round fantastic bloke Tony from TRS on the cover of yesterdays Waikato Times working on the installation.

Tony and the rest of the team from TRS are in Hamilton with Modus Technical Manager Chris Huff, Pulse Digital and BRR working their magic on a stunning installation that will unveiled on October 16th.

Full article after the jump....

Art in the Dark 2010

Art in the Dark, an interactive community event, is set to light up Ponsonby's Western Park on the 15th and 16th of October 2010, from 7pm until late.

Modus are thrilled to be working alongside the Dry Dairy collective on their installation for Art in the Dark, especially after the amazing pavilion that they created at Splore this year lit with Philips Color Kinetics.  Be sure to mark this event in your calendar and get along to Western Park to check out not only the Dry Dairy installation but the whole event for yourself! 

New agency - Brick In The Wall

Modus has had the recent pleasure of becoming the new agent for another unique brand out of Europe.

Specifically from Belgium, Brick in the wall manufacture a range of light fittings which are totally borderless. Designed for that minimalist look, all of these fittings can be recessed into either concrete or normal gib walls then painted the same colour as the rest of the wall.

Bringing Colour to Dunedin!

Last week, our South Island Team, from Mark Herring Lighting put on a great colour lighting demonstration  at the Historic Dunedin Railway Station. We can't say that this treatment would be 'advantageous' for this amazing historic building, but as a canvas for providing education and illustration of what can be achieved with coloured light- it was fantastic! This turned out to be great night- thanks to all that attended! (and Trevor even got his picture in the paper!)

"Change is the essential process of all existence" Spock - Star Trek

Modular Lighting Instruments have just unveiled Spock........  until recently interior LED lighting has generally not been able to meet the illumination requirements of architects, designers and end users, retro-fit and "patchwork" LED solutions have been predominant in interior LED luminaires.

But changing technologies can now offer more advanced solutions.........

Spock is something completely different – a fitting designed as an LED luminaire with a unique aesthetic driven by technology with an unrivaled performance.

Modus Lighting now Tweet controlled.

A while ago now we had the privilege to supply a full LED colour changing system for the Sky tower to illuminate from the observation decks up.

Just last night Skycity started a program where you can text in what colour you want the LEDs to show. Go on give it a go!

Originally reported by Close up on TV one here

Think Led Lighting is complicated? Think again …

Everyone is talking LED and on the evening of Thursday 20 May 2010 our Philips Color Kinetics Light Show saw us light up the St John’s Heineken Bar in Wellington.

Light & Building Fair - Frankfurt :Next Generation Lighting Gets Real

As they have been for the last 20+ years, Modus people were busy exploring this year’s Light and Building Fair in Frankfurt in April.  Every two years this massive event showcases the very best lighting design and R&D efforts from the international community.

sem·a·phore (sěm'ə-fôr', -fōr') an apparatus for conveying information by means of visual signals, as a light whose position may be changed

Splore is an outdoor festival devoted to art, culture and community in the stunning Tepapakanga Regional Park just outside of Auckland City.  Alongside an impressive musical line up the bi-annual festival includes live performances, a variety of workshops and an art trail including site specific works throughout the site.