This January, the Lighting for Tomorrow competition announced the Call for Entries for its 15th installment of the program. Co-sponsored by the American Lighting Association (ALA), the Consortium for Energy Efficiency, and Underwriters Laboratories, the annual product awards, first launched in 2002, aims to recognize outstanding decorative, energy-efficient lighting in the residential lighting market. This year, the competition has introduced two new categories: connected lighting and residential ceiling fans. Winners for all categories are selected based on form and function, with an emphasis on energy efficiency.
The introduction of connected lighting as a standalone category reflects illumination advancements and the increasing importance of smart/connected lighting products that have been introduced to the market the past few years. Eligible entries for this category include smart light bulbs or fixtures, and lighting controls, systems, or system components.
Also new this year is the residential ceiling fans category, which reflects the ongoing demand for this fixture type in single- and multifamily homes. Ceiling fans with built-in LED lighting or kits are eligible for consideration; each entry is evaluated on lighting quality, not fan functionality.
The intent-to-submit deadline for this year’s competition is April 21. Winning products are to be announced at the ALA Annual Conference in September 2017 in Vancouver, British Columbia. To learn more about the program and the entry process, visit the Lighting for Tomorrow website.