CRI, or Color Rendering Index, is the latest buzzword in consumer lighting circles. With the current phasing out of traditional incandescent bulbs, many consumers are scrambling to understand their remaining choices. Savvy lighting manufacturers understand this, and have invested a great deal in educating customers about things like color temperature, lumens, and now CRI. So how does CRI work? Basically, take a light bulb and shine it onto a few bright, colorful items. How natural do their colors look? Color Rendering Index is a mathematical measure of this, where a light source is tested and given a score from 0-100. Any light bulb, tube, or strip that measures greater than 90 is typically considered “High CRI”, and thus very effective at rendering natural-looking color at a given color temperature. As a point of reference, many of the fluorescent or other types of lighting that people consider “harsh” or “artificial” measure in the 50-70 CRI range.   Take a look at the two photos above. In the first photo, under lights rated at CRI 57, the orange bell pepper has lost much of its natural color, appearing almost yellow. Similarly, the green apple, red bell pepper, and yellow marker appear dull and lifeless. In the second photo, under CRI 93 lighting, the colors are much more alive in comparison, down to the white board on which everything is placed. Testing for CRI requires special machinery designed specifically for this purpose. During this test, a lamp is shone onto eight different colors (or “R values”), termed R1 through R8. The lamp receives a score from 0-100 for each color, based on how natural the color is rendered in comparison with how the color looks under a “perfect” or “reference” light source at the same color temperature...

Joining similar agricultural studies around the globe, Japan’s Shizuoka University recently found that exposure to red LED light delays aging in broccoli. Researchers from the school’s Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences examined the effects of exposing broccoli to red and blue LED lighting  just after harvest, and the results suggest the possibility of both extending the vegetable’s life and improving its nutritional quality. Specifically, exposure to red LED lighting was shown to delay the yellowing process, suppressing ethylene production and reducing ascorbate (AsA). Blue LED lighting did not significantly delay broccoli aging in this way. The full results were originally published in Postharvest Biology and Technology. So what does this mean for a potentially vegetable-optimized future? Will the supermarket produce section soon become a literal red light district? Might red LED kitchen lighting be the next design trend for health-conscious homeowners? Stay...

In keeping with its commitment to providing innovative LED lighting solutions, California-based Flexfire LEDs has announced its new UL Listed UltraBright™ High CRI Series LED Strip Lights. Designed to meet today’s higher lighting quality standards, this new line measures >93 on the color rendering index, fortifying the company’s reputation for delivering cutting edge technology at consumer-friendly prices. CRI, or color rendering index, is the standard measure of a luminaire’s ability to accurately render a specific color spectrum in comparison with a perfect reference source at a given color temperature (i.e. daylight). Simply put, if you direct the light onto a particular object, how natural do its colors look? Testing for CRI is a complicated process, requiring specialized machinery designed specifically for this purpose. Lamps are tested in terms of how they render eight basic colors (or “R values”), termed R1 through R8. A score from 0-100 is given for each color, and these eight numbers are then averaged to determine the lamp’s overall CRI rating. Those measuring above 90 are generally considered highly effective at rendering natural color; for a practical understanding, many of the traditional fluorescent lights that people consider “harsh” or “artificial” measure in the 60-70 CRI range. LED lighting is the established industry leader in energy efficiency, and advanced technological development means LED products are now available at dramatically lower prices than even just a few years ago. This dynamic is driving a worldwide shift to LED lighting, one that is further accelerated by government regulations such as those found in California’s Title 24. Established by the State’s Energy Commission, Title 24 addresses a number of energy efficiency standards, particularly those having to do with lighting. To be classified as “High Efficacy” and thus qualify for utility rebates and other advantages,...

If you want to run LED strip lights in a long, continuous section, you will need to use amplifiers. Fortunately, LED amplifier installation is a simple, do-it-yourself installation that is explained in the video...

Under counter LED strip lighting is an attractive, energy efficient way to add beautiful indirect light to your home, office, or retail space. At home, illuminate your kitchen or dining area with under counter LED strip lighting to create a warm, inviting atmosphere that draws family and friends to the heart of your home. This attractive upgrade is also extremely safe, as strip lights stay cool to the touch and contain no breakable glass or dangerous chemicals. Offices and retail spaces can also benefit from installing indirect LED lighting under counters. Bars and restaurants, for instance, are always searching for inexpensive ways to upgrade their visual appeal for both customers and employees. Flexfire’s UL Listed UltraBright™ and ColorBright™ series LED strip lights come in a variety of colors and light temperatures to suit any space, as well as offering a significant reduction in energy and replacement costs. LED lights last up to 25 times longer and are 75% more energy efficient than traditional incandescent lighting. Choose one of our convenient Flexfire LEDs strip light kits to suit the appropriate brightness, length and color of your under counter LED strip lighting project:      ...