When the Seattle Seahawks face off against the New England Partiots at this upcoming Super Bowl, LED stadium lighting will illuminate the field. Scheduled for Feb. 1st, the game will be the first NFL championship match that has ever been lit with LED lights. The LED lights were installed last fall at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers were the first to play a game on Sept. 21st, 2014 under the new lighting system. The LED stadium lighting will significantly increase the light on the field and will produce a more vivid picture on the screen for the 110 million plus expected viewers of this year’s game. The light will shine in a more uniform manner than the legacy system, creating less shadows and a clearer view of the action taking place on the field. Another advantage of LED lighting is the fact that they don’t flicker, which will lead to less distractions during slow-motion replays. There will be 312 LED fixtures installed to replace the 780 metal halide lights. The new LED stadium lighting will use just 380,000 watts compared to the 1.24 million watts needed to power the old system. Combined with savings generated for lower air-conditioning costs, most venues that choose LED stadium lighting enjoy a 75% reduction in overall energy consumption. Further, the system will age more gracefully than metal halide lights, which take on a reddish hue and lose brightness over the years. The University of Phoenix Stadium was originally opened in 2006. With its innovative design that includes a retractable roof and field, it’s recognized as one of the most advanced stadiums in North America in terms of its engineering. This multi-purpose facility previously hosted Super Bowl XLII in 2008. It also hosts the annual Fiesta Bowl, and numerous international soccer matches. The stadium seats 63,400 fans, but is expandable to seat 72,200. Questions? This Super Bowl Sunday will be lit by LEDs? Just another reason that Flexfire LEDs is excited about being a part of the future of LED lighting! If you have any questions about LEDs, and specifically LED strip lighting, remotes, and dimmers, please stop by our website at flexfireleds.com or give us a call at 1-844-FLEXFIRE (1-844-353-9347) to talk with one of our design specialists...
Kitchen Lighting: 5 Ideas That Use LED Strip Lights...
posted by Taran Volckhausen
“There is too much light in this kitchen,” said no one ever. Many homeowners have found that adding more kitchen lighting dramatically improves their ability to prepare meals and enjoy time in the kitchen, a room that is often referred to as the heart of the household. Just as there are many ways to bake a cake, there are many ways to improve kitchen lighting with LEDs. In this post, we will walk you through a few popular options for improving kitchen lighting using LED strip lights. Under Cabinet Lighting Probably the most common application of LED strips in the kitchen is under cabinet lighting. With Flexfire LEDs strip lights, adding attractive task lighting is as easy as one-two-three. Start by peeling off the paper backing. Then attach the highly adherent adhesive to the bottom of your kitchen cabinets. Finally, plug them into a power source and voila, we’ve got light! It’s nearly that easy, but of course if you have questions about installing under cabinet lighting (such as what kind of power supply you will need or how to install a dimmer), our on-call design specialists would love to lend a helping hand. For this sort of installation, we generally suggest our UltraBright™ Architectural series, which comes in three different color temperatures of white — warm, natural and bright. Also, consider installing an LED dimmer for further user control. Above Cabinet LED Lighting Above cabinet lighting is an incredible solution for those who love the healthy, generous glow and sleek look of indirect lighting designs. Attach versatile, discreet LED strip lights to the top of any cabinet to provide a beautiful indirect light source without any visible wires or components. Adding high quality, indirect light will bring the kitchen to life; it’s a look favored by top kitchen lighting...
Granite, Marble, and Onyx Backlighting With LED Strip Lights...
posted by Taran Volckhausen
Translucent backlighting is a powerful tool for designers who want to create artistic, tasteful indoor environments. High quality bright lighting is key to achieving this look, and Flexfire LEDs strip lights definitely fit the bill. Using our strips to backlight onyx, granite, or marble panels maximizes the visual impact of these attractive materials in decorative wall panels, countertops, reception desks, floors and more. To create granite, marble, or onyx backlighting, we suggest using LED strip lights that are evenly spaced behind the material to create an even, bright glow. Our strip lights are the brightest available on the market today, which is a good thing if you want people to notice your installation. While many people use a professional contractor to perform this installation, it can certainly be done as a do-it-yourself project. Let’s look at some of the key factors to consider if you want this look in your home or business. First, LED strip lights run cooler than CFLs, and will be much safer to operate. Adding an aluminum heat sink will help the strips run even more efficiently, adding energy and cost savings to the list of benefits. LED strip lights are also smaller than CFLs, allowing more freedom to realize your design vision. Finally, LED strips can be cut, curved, and connected to fit any dimensions you have with little or no difficulty. When backlighting translucent materials, the idea is to make it appear as though the sun is shining through them. Many will claim that you need to buy expensive, custom-made LED modules to achieve this look. You are certainly free to do so, but our affordable strip lights will work perfectly as they can diffuse the light and create an even glow. Reliability is of course another important...
4 Ways To Create Ambient Light With LED Strips
posted by Taran Volckhausen
Ambient light is defined as the general illumination within a space. The availability of ambient light throughout the home is one of the most critical considerations in interior design. With LED strip lights, there are many more ways to effectively create ambient light to brighten the home for family and guests. Strip lights capitalize on the well-known benefits of LED technology – providing ample, beautiful light with low energy costs and incredible durability. But there is another important factor exclusive to strip lights, and that is their supreme design versatility. Our strips can be cut, curved and connected to fit any space and shine light exactly where you want it. Here are four ways to create attractive ambient light with LED strips: Indirect Light One of the best uses for LED strip lights is in indirect lighting projects. Indirect lighting is a great way to add focus, texture, layering and accent color to rooms throughout the house. Many people choose to run the strips above cabinets in the kitchen, behind mirrors in the bathroom, or in coves through hallways. Modern designers have expressed a preference for indirect lighting because of the way it hides fixtures and because it produces an evenly distributed glow of ambient light throughout the room. Pro Tip: Take extra care to make sure the high energy areas of your house have ample lighting. Where does the family gather? In the kitchen or the living room? Make sure that the lights you install are bright enough to energize a crowd, making everyone feel lively and excited to be together. Our LED strips are some of the very brightest LEDs you will find on the market. Task Lighting Ambient light in a room is not only measured by how attractive it is, but also by its functionality. One advantage of LED strips is that their versatility makes them great for task lighting installations. LED strip lights are perhaps the best solution there is for under cabinet lighting — a common example of home-based task lighting. Further, this is a simple DIY project that won’t require a huge electrician expense. To add kitchen task lighting, just peel back the adhesive on the back of our strips, stick them under the cabinet and connect them to a power source for incredible kitchen task lighting. Pro Tip: When installing task lighting, it’s a good idea to put in more light than you think you’ll need. First, these lights will last many years into the future, and who couldn’t use more light as the years go on? Second, when you’re focusing on a task, more light means better concentration and improved accuracy. Dimmers Dimmers are important for creating the right ambient light atmosphere in the home. With dimmers, you can turn down the lights as night falls, which will relax your mind and bring you closer to sleep. Dimmers can also be used to add light to a room where natural light normally enters, but perhaps clouds are letting in less light than normal and you need a little extra. With a dimmed LED strip lights, you will have full control to add the perfect level of light necessary for any given situation. Pro tip: Before you add a dimmable LED strip lighting system, it is a good idea to consider whether you want a hardwired wall dimmer or a remote inline dimmer. The latter option is easier if you have a professional electrician on hand, while the second option can be done as part of a DIY installation. Accent Light LED strip lights can also improve a room’s ambient light by adding accent. Running strips along toe kickers or under counters is a great way to add color or textures to a room. With LED strips, the possibilities are only limited by your imagination. If you’re looking to add an extra creative flair, add color-changing RGBs and harness the power of color psychology. For instance, say...
Wearable Blue LED Light Therapy To Treat Psoriasis Vulgaris...
posted by Taran Volckhausen
Philips has announced the release of a wearable device that uses blue LED light to manage mild to moderate cases of psoriasis vulgaris. The device, which will be available through distributors this month in Germany, Netherlands and the U.K., is called Philips BlueControl and will offer an effective form of treatment for the skin condition without requiring medication. Psoriasis is a skin condition that effects 125 million people across the planet. Of those suffering from the condition, 80% have the most common form, psoriasis vulgaris. Also known as plaque psoriasis, the condition causes plaques on the skin in the form of red raised skin and flakey “scales” that arise when the skin cells die. Symptoms of the condition include itching, pain and cracking. Needless to say, the physical and psychological effects can be debilitating for those patients suffering from this disease. While the precise causes of psoriasis are unknown, it’s generally accepted that the condition arises following damage to the immune system, enzymes and other materials, which leads to uncontrollable growth of keratinocytes (immature skin cells that produce keratin, a tough protein found in nails, hair and skin) that triggers the skin flakes and inflammation as the body works to rid itself of the growth. Existing treatments to reduce the symptoms of the condition include topical applications, prescription drugs and UV phototheraphy—a treatment which taxes patients and medical services by requiring frequent visits to doctors’ offices. Looking for a better way to treat this incurable condition, researchers have found simple LED blue light treatment slows rapid cell division and can also reduce inflammation, which are the root causes of psoriasis vulgarsis. Conducting clinical trials in Germany, Philips worked with researchers at the University Hospital of Aachen to investigate the safety and efficacy of the Philips BlueControl device to manage...