Be In The Know

Helping You Stay One Step Ahead

Color tuning offers the flexibility to enhance any space by adjusting the color of LED lighting for various purposes such as ambiance, comfort, and well-being. With advancements in LED technology, it’s now possible to fine-tune LED colors almost infinitely, creating the perfect lighting for both commercial and residential settings.

When it comes to creating the perfect atmosphere in your space, the color temperature of your LED lighting plays a crucial role. LED fixtures are available in a variety of color temperatures, each designed to evoke different moods and complement various environments. Understanding Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) and how it affects the appearance of light […]

In the realm of commercial construction, where efficiency and flexibility are paramount, the integration of advanced lighting control systems has always been a significant consideration. Traditionally, the installation of control wires for these systems has been a standard practice. However, with the advent of wireless digital fixture control solutions like the Lutron Athena Wireless Node […]

In the intricate web of federal procurement regulations, two pivotal legislations stand as guardians of domestic manufacturing and economic vitality: the Buy American Act (BAA) and the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA). These legislative pillars play a significant role in promoting domestic manufacturing and economic growth. But what do these acts entail, why are […]

Outdoor lighting is a strategic blend of functionality and aesthetics. In this guide, we’ll break down the essentials of some main types of outdoor lighting to understand the key considerations that go into their design and implementation that contribute to the efficient and purposeful elements of exterior commercial design. Architectural Lighting – Crafting Impressions with […]

Light serves more than functional and aesthetic purposes. With Human Centric Lighting (HCL), the profound connection between light and our biological well-being is uncovered. Human Centric Lighting is rooted in the understanding of our body’s natural response to daylight and darkness. By mimicking sunlight’s progression throughout the day, HCL aims to support our biological needs […]

For the last few years, architects and designers have undergone a paradigm shift in their approach to lighting. The interplay of lighting and suitable luminaires can elevate or diminish an entire design. This newfound perspective on lighting extends to 2024’s lighting systems and fixtures, setting new standards in design, sustainability, and emotional impact. Over the […]

San Diego, CA (September 2023) – Western Lighting and Energy Controls, a leading manufacturer representative in Southern California, is thrilled to announce its strategic partnership with Phase Technology (PhaseTech). With this collaboration, Western represents PhaseTech’s residential portfolio, including PhaseTech and dARTS signature residential audio products and Rockustics outdoor products. This collaboration marks an exciting venture […]

Gabriela Hearst, the renowned fashion designer celebrated for her commitment to sustainable and ethical practices, has unveiled her first international flagship and second retail store in the vibrant city of London. This sophisticated space showcases her luxurious creations and embodies the values that drive her brand – a deep concern for the environment and responsible […]

Experience the epitome of craftsmanship as Western Lighting & Energy Controls proudly introduces MunnWorks to our line card. A renowned decorative framed and lighted mirror manufacturer, MunnWorks brings unparalleled elegance to the world’s finest hotels and residences. With a commitment to quality and eco-friendly manufacturing, they strive to produce groundbreaking designs. At MunnWorks, they understand […]

San Diego, CA (February 2023) – Western Lighting & Energy Controls is excited to unveil our brand-new Infrastructure Department, led by Infrastructure Manager David Martin. Our team of skilled and experienced professionals is dedicated to providing top-notch service and support for all your infrastructure needs. We specialize in lighting and energy control systems and pride […]

The new updates for Title 24 are effective as of January 1, 2023, and Western is here to support you by breaking down the important aspects of the Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Energy Code) for lighting and electric requirements in residential and nonresidential buildings (Title 24, Part 6), so you can stay up to date! […]

From CRI to TM-30 and More Who knew that a bowl of apples could change color so intensely? Look at your bowl of apples under natural daylight and then compare it to looking at it under artificial light. Suddenly, your apples look a bit different! But why? This is due to the color quality of […]

The Importance of Lighting and Controls in Healthcare Facilities When it comes to healthcare facilities, there is more to consider than just illuminating a patient room. These facilities can include emergency rooms, lobbies for visitors, offices for staff, even accommodations for assisted living, and those are only a few examples of what could make up […]

San Diego, CA (January 5th, 2022) – Western Lighting and Energy Controls (WLEC) is proud to add Selective Design as its newest manufacturer line representation in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, and Imperial Counties. Selective Design’s portfolio which includes Nakymatone, Gray Sound, Waterfall Audio, Architettura Sonora, HTE, and Zero-Ohm, really allowed Western to offer […]

Get to know H.E. Williams In the lighting industry, there are a variety of companies to choose from, each with their own strengths and benefits to suit your needs.  This month, we’d like to shine a spotlight on the All-American manufacturer, H.E. Williams and their “Made Right Here” mission. What makes Williams stand out in […]

Learn how the wireless technology of H.E. Williams and Lutron is the win you need In the ever-changing world of lighting solutions, everyone wants to have the latest and greatest technology for their company and clients. The technological revolution has left some businesses unsure of where to start. The game today isn’t about how much […]

Delving Deeper into the world of Emergency Lighting Welcome back to the world of emergency lighting! If you missed it, check out part one here.Emergency lighting is crucial for the safety of workplace buildings, schools, or any other establishments. But the details surrounding emergency lighting are anything but simple, from the regulations to the different […]

Exploring the American-Made Lighting Solutions from H.E. Williams When you think of Independence Day, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?For some, maybe it’s a poolside barbeque with drinks in hand, enjoying the summer day. For others, it could be the bright fireworks and sparklers that light up the night sky. For many, it […]

The Importance of Emergency Lighting At least once in your life, you might have been involved in an emergency that required you to exit the building. Whether it was at school, work, or anywhere else, you might remember looking for the bright LED sign with the word in all caps: “EXIT.”For businesses with warehouses, buildings, […]

San Diego, CA (February 8, 2021) – Western Lighting and Energy Controls would like to give a big hearty welcome to Lumca, the newest addition to our line card! This Smart Tech intelligent lighting manufacturer will be represented in all territories covered by Western: San Diego, Imperial County, Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, and Orange County. […]

Ultraviolet (UV) light has been studied in a myriad of ways since its discovery in the 1600s. Initially, observations were done from sunlight and its chemical reactions to different properties over time. With the advancement of technology, scientists were able to study UV in greater detail and simulate environments to study the effects of UV […]

San Diego, CA (July 6th, 2020) –  Western Lighting and Energy Controls (WLEC) is proud to add Gauzy as its newest manufacturer line representation in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, and Imperial Counties. Gauzy controls light by combining embedded material science with transparent raw materials. The result? An ever-so-sleek and modern LCG® (Light Control Glass). With just one touch, […]

Creating sustainable buildings is a topic that has been gaining increasing focus and attention over the past several decades.  As technology has evolved, so too has our ability to create buildings that meet our needs, while having minimal negative impact on the environment.   Ever since California’s first Title 24 building energy efficiency regulations went into effect back […]

Starting this month, January 2020, California’s energy code dictates that all new homes built in California must be equipped with solar panels.  This is a significant step forward in California’s goal of reducing carbon emissions and becoming entirely energy independent.  It is estimated that the impact to the environment of this change will be equivalent to […]

San Diego, CA (July 1, 2019) –  Western Lighting and Energy Controls (WLEC), one of the leading Southern California Representative agencies, announced today that Denise Jenkins, who held a position in Specification Sales, will be retiring effective July 31, 2019. Djana Venolia, a Brazilian architect and urban designer, will serve as the new Specification Sales associate.   Jenkins has […]

Whether they are at the office in front of a computer screen or home watching TV, people are spending more and more time indoors and away from natural sunlight. Humans have an inherent connection with nature and being outdoors, and we lose that connection when we are inside all day. Many lighting solutions, especially those […]

Modern Forms’ Radical Chandelier and Smart Fans   The Chronos Chandelier: Like gears in a giant clock, this massive sculptural chandelier chimes of daring lighting design. Suspended and powered from ultra-thin aircraft cables ranging from 20-130 inches in height, the chandelier is ideal for high profile architectural and commercial environments with tall ceilings and larger rooms. Hand […]

Lumecon LLC, established 2006, is a proud manufacturer of high quality LED lighting that’s affordable, creative and built to last. Based in Farmington Hills, Michigan, Lumecon has grown to become a US manufacturer of its own LED wallpacks, flood lights, canopies and post-top ornamental LED products, all of which feature the Lumecon ETD™ (Enhanced Thermal Dissipation) […]

LIGHTFAIR is the world’s largest and annual lighting conference, featuring approximately 200 hours of accredited courses over 5 days. This year marks the 30th anniversary of LIGHTFAIR, and will take place in Philadelphia, PA, between May 19-20 (Pre-conference) and May 21-23 (Trade Show & Conference). More than 25,000 registrants from every U.S. state and more than 80 countries are expected […]

Title 24 has been updated for 2019. Western presents an ongoing series, presenting the updates in an easy-to-understand fashion. This is Part 3.  Night Lights, Step Lights & Path Lights Page 260, Section 150.0-E: Night lights, step lights and path lights shall not be required to comply with Table 150.0-A or be controlled by vacancy sensors provided […]

The much anticipated 2019 version of Title 24 has landed, but do you know what the updated codes are? Western Lighting and Energy Controls is here to help you navigate the murky waters of the daunting 317-page energy code. Western’s team of lighting and controls experts aim to help you simplify the process of ensuring […]

Title 24 has been updated for 2019. Western presents an ongoing series, presenting the updates in an easy-to-understand fashion. This is Part 2: Residential Updates Residential Updates: Mandatory Requirements for Solar-Ready Buildings Page 122, Section 110:(a) Covered Occupancies1. Single Family Residences. Single family residences located in subdivisions with ten or more single family residences and where the application for […]

San Diego, CA (January 1st, 2019) – Western Lighting and Energy Controls, one of the leading Southern California Representative agencies, announced today that it’s now an employee-owned company through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Trust. The news was officially unveiled during the company annual sales meeting to reward our employees further for their hard […]

Orange County and San Diego Business Journal Recognize Best Companies for County’s Economy, Workforce & Business Costa Mesa, CA (July 1, 2019) – Western Lighting and Energy Controls, one of the leading Southern California Representative agencies, announced today that it was named one of the 2019 Best Places to Work in Orange County and San Diego. The […]

HE Williams has always been an innovator in the lighting technology arena. Recently, they have turned their technology efforts toward tunable lighting. Not only for architectural purposes, but for the scientific data supporting circadian lighting and its positive affect on the human body. The HE Williams family of Dynamic Lighting has developed four new categories […]

New at CEDIA 2017, LUTRON unveiled their latest Wireless Home Automation & Control System.  Introducing RA2 Select. Lutron has done it again! Introducing RA2 Select: Whole home lighting control made simple. In days past, a new product release or enhancement would require lots of explaining and/or training. Not so with RA2 Select! RA2 Select is so simple that […]

Car dealerships, such as National City’s Subaru (shown above), like to put a little daylight between themselves and their competition. They’ve gained considerable curb appeal from Cree’s purposefully-designed front-line outdoor LED fixtures, notably the AF Series Canopy and Edge High Output (EHO) fixtures, intended for high-lumen applications requiring high color quality. National City Subaru has increased their evening sales […]