DECO: What is a typical workday like for you?
Rudy: I approach my work with initiative, meaning I do not wait for direction; I try to deliver finished products that surpass the expectations of the client/employer. First thing I do is review any pending items to track their progress or follow up needed then look over new requests and prioritize them so I can keep the work flow organized.

DECO: What’s it like to be a part of the Marketing team?
Rudy: It’s very fun learning each other’s work ethic and personality, as well as further developing great communication skills and background knowledge in the lighting industry.

DECO: How has your career evolved at Deco Lighting?
Rudy: More assignments have been bestowed upon me as the time has passed. I love being able to help my bosses and colleagues out at Deco. Every project they give me makes me learn new things and ultimately makes me a stronger designer and professional.

DECO: What different projects have you worked on in the past?
Rudy: I work mostly on developing new logos, updating product specification sheets, social media layouts, touching up images for social media and Deco’s variety of catalogs.

DECO: What are some hobbies you hold outside of Deco and the lighting industry?
Rudy: I really enjoy designing things for my freelance business. My freelance firm, Elegant Graphic Designs, allows me to stay current with design principles. I also enjoy watching shows such as Dwayne Johnson’s Ballers on HBO.

DECO: What’s your favorite part of working at Deco Lighting?
Rudy: I enjoy working in an environment where I can be free to put out my creative designs. I also enjoy getting to know all of my colleagues and their backgrounds.

DECO: In the LED lighting industry, what do you see as one of the most exciting developments in the near future that will make a large impact?
Rudy: The more advanced lighting technologies get, the more it can help influence a person’s health and well-being. This is extremely fascinating to me, due to the way lighting can have such a big impact on the occupants of a space.

DECO: What is a typical workday like for you?
Peter: I come in normally around 5:30am to 6:00am to start the day.  I tackle all of the notifications that went out the evening before that consist of tracking information and order confirmations to ensure that all of the accounts that I look over receive all of the important details about their orders. After that, most of the day consists of managing customer relations and tracking various issues or concerns that may arise.

DECO: What’s it like to be a part of the Customer Service team?
Peter: It can sometimes be a bit hectic since there never seems to be enough time in a day to get all of the projects done, but the appreciation I get from my customers when projects are completed is worth every second of the hectic day.

DECO: What are some hobbies you hold outside of Customer Service and the lighting industry?
Peter: My hobbies include playing tennis and tinkering with cars. I am a national tennis champion of a league I participate in since my high school years. Updating and tinkering with cars has always been a passion of mine that I’ve been meaning to spend more time on lately.

DECO: How has your career evolved at Deco Lighting?
Peter: I have been given more responsibility over the year and a half I have been here. Being in a growing company is complex and implementing new processes and procedures is challenging but exciting at the same time.

DECO: What’s your favorite part of working at Deco Lighting?
Peter: The company culture and trust from our superiors that we will be accountable for our work load. Our upper management gives us the freedom and responsibility to execute projects effectively.

DECO: In the LED lighting industry, what do you see as one of the most exciting developments in the near future that will make a large impact?
Peter: The new technologies that are coming into the lighting industry are most exciting to me. Lighting controls and smart electronics fascinate me because of how ubiquitous they are becoming. The huge cost savings that lighting provides now is also a topic of interest for me, and seems like a no-brainer to me when it comes to the efficiency of newer LED technology

DECO: What different projects have you worked on in the past?
Peter: The Beltway Plaza project was very interesting to me because it incorporated brands that I’m familiar with and use every day.  Seeing a lot of local projects that span from high schools and universities to roadways and even the Rams Stadium were interesting to be a part of.

DECO: What is a typical workday like for you?
Jaime: My work day is busy, whether it’s managing our customers daily quotes needs, or being able to advise and support other departments with their needs, I always have a full plate. It’s very rewarding for me to be able to provide customers the proper care and guidance throughout their purchasing process.

DECO: What’s it like to be a part of the Quotes team?
Jaime: I have a great time being part of the quotes team, because of the different sides of Deco’s operations I get to be involved with. I find a sense of fulfillment being able to quote jobs, and eventually winning them.

DECO: What different projects have you worked on in the past?
Jaime: I’ve worked on a variety of projects throughout my years at Deco Lighting. The project that most caught my interest was a huge military base I helped cross. The most interesting part was looking at the layout of the entire base.

DECO: What are some hobbies you hold outside of engineering and the lighting industry?
Jaime: I’m basically a family man, whether it’s playing outside with my four boys or just having an overall good time with them — my hobbies usually revolve around them. I also have always enjoyed to draw in my free time.

DECO: How has your career evolved at Deco Lighting?
Jaime: I have learned a lot from how a business goes from being a mom and pop to being major conglomerate, and how interesting it is to grow along with a company. I have not only learned practical knowledge, but also have learned how to fine tune operational processes along with Deco’s growth.

DECO: What’s your favorite part of working at Deco Lighting?
Jaime: First and foremost, my coworkers are my favorite part of working at Deco. We have an upbeat company culture that promotes interaction and collaboration throughout departments. I also enjoy being able to provide our customers the best pricing on top-quality lighting fixtures.

DECO: In the LED lighting industry, what do you see as one of the most exciting developments in the near future that will make a large impact?
Jaime: I am interested in seeing the new technologies, and new fixture designs that will being going to market in the near future. Each application has its own respective line of suitable fixtures, and the design of these fixtures should be very interesting to see.

DECO: What are some tasks you manage here at DECO and what is one of your favorite things to work on?

Chris:  I do a little of everything here. I mostly deal with revitalizing old products. I like seeing when projects are finished and they are self-sufficient.

DECO: What different projects have you worked on in the past?

Chris: I’ve work on almost all of the products here. Some projects that I’ve worked on include the GO-LED Retrofit Kit and D533-PRO canopy light, along with several area lights and wall packs.

DECO: What drove you to become a design engineer and why do you enjoy working in this role?

Chris: I like seeing how things are made and I really enjoy problem-solving.

DECO: What has been your most significant accomplishment as a design engineer?

Chris: Finishing up old legacy products that were stuck in R&D limbo like the Game Over LED Retrofit Kit.

DECO: What are some hobbies you hold outside of engineering and the lighting industry?

Chris: I enjoy doing dragon boat racing on the weekends. It is like canoeing but with 20 people on the boat. It’s a great way to exercise, get outdoors and hang out with a bunch of cool people.

DECO: In the LED lighting industry, what do you see as one of the most exciting developments in the near future that will make a large impact?

Chris: Wireless control and color tuning; those technologies give more power and flexibility to the end user.

How do you typically go about starting a project and working to meet the customer’s specifications?

Chris: I try and get as much of the information beforehand in order to see what needs to be done and ensure that’s done both correctly and in a timely manner.

DECO: What are some tasks you manage here at DECO and what is one of your favorite things to work on?
LINDSEY: I am mainly in charge of working on the Ronde architectural LED fixture and figuring out variations that improve its functionality. I also am very systematic in my approach to working, so if it involves standardizing and problem-solving then I tend to be more in my element.

DECO: What different projects have you worked on in the past?
LINDSEY: I’ve worked on camera stabilization systems, high-speed cameras, luminaires, and rollercoasters.

DECO: What drove you to become a design engineer and why do you enjoy working in this role?
LINDSEY: I was driven to becoming a design engineer when I would repair older cars. I would get pretty involved in fixing these older vehicles, and found the correlation with engineering. I enjoy this role the most because it allows me to exercise my problem-solving skills.

DECO: What has been your most significant accomplishment as a design engineer?
LINDSEY: My most significant accomplishment has been merging the internal components of four different products into one cohesive system. I enjoy improving products and reducing the cost of their related manufacturing and overall purchasing costs.

DECO: What are some hobbies you hold outside of engineering and the lighting industry?
LINDSEY: I belong to a Maker Community, which is a network of individuals who do woodworking, welding, and metal work on their free time. I also like to write, perform comedy skits, and enjoy learning programming languages (HTML, VBA, etc.)

DECO: In the LED lighting industry, what do you see as one of the most exciting developments in the near future that will make a large impact?
LINDSEY: I am attracted to the LED lighting industry because it will infiltrate all aspects of society, in other words it is becoming pervasive.

DECO: How do you typically go about starting a project and working to meet the customer’s specifications?
LINDSEY: I typically tend to start by looking at what products are already out in the market, and evaluating them for what works and what doesn’t. I then monitor the entire process, from fabrication and assembly to installing with a focus of best practices.

DECO: What are some tasks you manage here at DECO and what is one of your favorite things to work on?
RENATO: I manage projects in new product development and also problem solving on existing products. My favorite thing to do here is come up with brand new innovative product designs.

DECO: What different projects have you worked on in the past?
RENATO: I have worked on the development of toys, consumer electronics, furniture, as well as juvenile products such as baby strollers. I also have an extensive background in graphic design, working on a range of materials from brochures to advertisements.

DECO: What drove you to become a design engineer and why do you enjoy working in this role?
RENATO: My main motivator is to create cool new products that I can be proud of. I especially enjoy the design engineer role because it gives me the chance to develop great new products based on my own designs.

DECO: What are some hobbies you hold outside of engineering and the lighting industry?
RENATO: I really enjoy painting, sculpting, creating murals, and really designing almost anything. I also love snowboarding, beach activities, and travelling.

DECO: In the LED lighting industry, what do you see as one of the most exciting developments in the near future that will make a large impact?
RENATO: I’m really looking forward to the continued development of even more efficient, better-looking LED fixtures that are easier to install.

DECO: What is your role here at DECO and what are some different tasks that you handle?

CARLOS: My title is Applications Engineer and some of the things I work on daily are photometric layouts, customer service support, analyzing and updating IES data, and using our newly-acquired NFMS to run performance tests on fixtures.

DECO: What drives you when designing layouts and working in the architectural space?

CARLOS: Competition is what gets me up and running every day, and I enjoy modeling the spaces to get them as close to the real installation. Having to bid on projects against the competitors and winning is something I always look forward to.

DECO: How do you typically go about starting a project and working to meet the customer’s specifications?

CARLOS: Efficiency is always the key, to use less poles, consume less power,  and make the project as safe and compliant as possible. In most of the designs I try to use the “less is more” approach but not all projects are the same.

DECO: What are some interests that you hold outside of DECO and the lighting industry?

CARLOS: I’m a movie-goer, kayaker, music listener, amateur chef, camper, sneaker collector, comic book reader, and painter. I design my own furniture and sunglasses among other cool objects.

DECO: In the LED lighting industry, what do you see in terms of current trends and exciting possibilities for the future?

CARLOS: Currently the custom retrofit options that Deco’s engineering department offer are something that has impressed me. Knowing we can utilize any existing housing from a competitor and offer an optimal solution at the same time reducing waste and showing the reuse. I also am interested in the OLED development, this technology will be seen more and more as it’s improved.

DECO: Thanks for your time, Carlos, we enjoyed learning more about your interests and what motivates you in this role.

Keep an eye out for the next edition of Interview with an Engineer!

Next-generation LED lighting systems truly are a game-changer in the lighting industry. From their amazing efficiency and flexibility in design to the way they distribute light more evenly, LED lighting solutions are the key to illuminating modern spaces. Whether it is a shopping mall, entertainment venue, corporate office, or manufacturing facility, property planners and building owners can upgrade from older technologies, such as metal-halide or fluorescent, to an energy-saving LED system that will add value to the space. There is no doubt that upgrading to LED lighting is an investment, but the upfront costs are heavily outweighed by the benefits of lower energy bills, longer fixture lifetimes, and added value for customers and employees.

Energy-efficient LED lighting is changing the way people think about lighting. Rather than just acting as a tool to light up a space, modern lighting technologies are able play an active role in accenting an area or creating a pleasing atmosphere for people to thrive in. In addition to the energy savings provided by LED lighting, public spaces can design their lighting layout to better accommodate employees and patrons. LED lighting provides a more pure, evenly-distributed level of illumination compared to older forms of lighting, such as CFL or metal-halide. This enables businesses to create a more natural, comfortable setting for employees or highlight certain areas more effectively within retail spaces. A report from the British Council of Shopping Centres notes that upgrading to sustainable LED lighting increases the valuation of shopping malls by five percent. This further backs the notion that placing a focus on sustainability is an extremely worthwhile investment for any business, and an advantageous venture  for those operating public venues.

Aiming to reduce their company’s environmental impact, as well as improve the quality and longevity of their lighting systems, The Staples Center and Microsoft Theater, both owned by AEG Worldwide, recently upgraded their dated metal-halide high bays to DECO Digital DHBX-LED fixtures. The upgrade to an LED solution from Deco Lighting aligns with AEG’s 1EARTH environmental sustainability program and the venues are now on track for massive energy savings in the years ahead. Through AEG 1EARTH, AEG demonstrates that it is possible for a company to reduce their environmental impact while driving business value through sustainability, all while cutting operational costs and improving the atmosphere within these public spaces. For more details on the LED upgrade at these venues, be sure to check out our recent case study on the project: Staples Center / Microsoft Theater Case Study

In addition to providing higher-quality illumination for public spaces, LED lighting has also been shown to generate increased sales in retail applications. Retail spaces can benefit in unique ways from LED lighting technologies, utilizing smart controls to further interact with consumers. Allowing for lighting layouts that accent specific products, LED lighting provides a unique opportunity for retail businesses to provide a more interactive shopping experience to customers that drives sales. Deco Lighting is heavily invested in smart lighting technologies and is currently developing a proprietary Bluetooth mesh technology that will be available for all Deco Digital LED lighting solutions in 2016. Bluetooth technology and smart systems will allow for even more control over the lighting of a public space, provide greater energy savings, and deliver the freedom to create modern lighting designs that provide functions beyond simply lighting alone. For example, an LED lighting system fitted with bluetooth technology would have the ability to push useful information to a customer’s smartphone, from providing facts on a specific product to displaying a list of complementary products.

Innovative LED lighting solutions are driving the market forward with their amazing lifetimes, low energy consumption, and quality of light, providing businesses the opportunity to retrofit or upgrade existing fixtures to LED and improve their bottom line, experiencing high ROI and working to lessen the impact their business has on the environment.

Smart Lighting and Lighting 2.0 are terms being tossed around in the lighting industry, but what are they and what benefits can they bring to cities and businesses worldwide? The move to upgrade outdated fixtures with energy efficient LED lighting is already sweeping across the world, with businesses, governments, and consumers alike eager to save on energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint. The benefits of LED lighting are numerous, from their incredible energy efficiency and quality of light to their flexibility in design and layout. However, another revolution is gaining momentum and is posed to become an invaluable complement to next generation lighting systems. Smart Lighting will change the way we think about lighting, moving from simple binary systems to intelligent networks that can monitor and adapt to changes.

As the number of smart devices connected to the Internet of Things continues to grow, new innovations in technology will allow lighting solutions to become smarter and more adaptable, enabling consumers and building designers to save more on energy and customize how they brighten or accent spaces with light. General Electric estimates that there will be 50 billion connected “things” by 2020 and that the data provided by their interactions with the environment will reach into the exabytes!

Among the global shift to energy-saving LED lighting technology will be the customization that smart lighting introduces. Innovative LED solutions are already available with wireless connectivity, and smart lighting controls will allow lighting products to interact with the spaces around them in entirely new ways. From business being able to program specific schedules for their light fixtures to run on, to smart grids with street lights that react to traffic patterns and dim when they aren’t needed, smart lighting technology will aid cities and businesses in reducing their energy consumption by giving them the power to control their lighting and utilize it when and where they need most.

In addition to benefiting the environment, smart lighting will reduce the installation costs related to modern lighting systems as traditional wiring setups are bypassed in favor of wireless retrofit systems. Ditching complex and costly wired controls will also give lighting designers unprecedented freedom in how they craft lighting that perfectly accents the interior and exterior spaces around us.

With Bluetooth mesh technology coming to Deco Digital lighting products in Q1 2016, customizing and controlling lighting systems will be even easier. With a single smartphone connected to a Bluetooth mesh network, property managers and city planners will have the power to control the lighting for entire buildings or large areas for greater flexibility, customization, and energy savings. Additionally, smart lighting with Bluetooth mesh technology will allow the devices to exchange valuable data and become increasingly adaptable. This data will provide building owners with energy-usage information and inform the network of which areas of the building can be modified to save energy throughout the day. The Lighting Controls Association estimates that this automatic control of dimming and switching by building management systems can deliver lighting energy cost savings of up to 38%! That’s on top of the 50% or more in savings that comes from switching to next-generation lighting solutions alone.

Deco Lighting is at the forefront of LED lighting innovation with the Deco Digital line of top-quality, energy efficient products designed and manufactured right in the heart of Los Angeles. On top of their extended 219,000-hour lifetime and unmatched 10-year warranty, Deco Digital LED products will all be compatible with bluetooth mesh technology when it is introduced in early 2016. Smart lighting systems will pair with Deco LED products to create extremely adaptable solutions and will allow consumers to truly take control of their energy consumption.

Whether you are looking to illuminate a parking structure, manufacturing warehouse, or outdoor space, some common lighting options include metal-halide, fluorescent, and LED. Some version of a 400 watt metal-halide high bay fixture is frequently used in many warehouses and outdoor parking areas. While this has been a traditional choice in the past due to its bright output, the high energy consumption and quick decay of lumen output in metal-halides have motivated many consumers to begin using more durable and longer-lasting LED technology. For example, the lumen output for a metal-halide fixture can decrease by up 50% once 40% of its rated lifetime has passed, yet it will still continue to consume 100% of the energy.

Upgrading to LED lighting lessens the impact a business has on the environment and saves on annual energy expenses as well as maintenance costs, amounting to thousands of dollars when entire warehouses or offices are upgraded. With cost being a primary concern for most consumers, some are startled at the thought of replacing entire fixtures or lighting systems since the initial cost of upgrading to LED lighting is often slightly more expensive. However, retrofitting traditional lighting systems with energy-efficient LED lighting is an investment that will quickly pay for itself, especially as LED prices continue to decrease.

LEDs can be installed in a wide range of styles that enable you to customize the look of your space without having to renovate, and with Deco Lighting, you do not even have to replace any fixtures. Deco’s unique, patented LED board allows us to custom retrofit any existing lighting fixture to LED. For instance, Deco’s Linea family of retrofit kits is designed to easily upgrade any existing fixture to state-of-the-art LED technology. Because fluorescent and HID lamps are so rigid in the way they need to be installed, your options for moving or adjusting them are limited. Thus, an LED lighting solution can also save you money by giving you more flexibility in your lighting design. Deco also offers a convenient Payback Calculator, which allows business owners and project managers to calculate how much money they will save by switching from traditional lighting to energy-efficient LED technology.

For example, a company choosing to upgrade its warehouse fixtures from 400W metal-halide high bays to the equivalent 120W LED solution would experience roughly 75% in electricity savings. Additionally, LED fixtures emit far less heat than traditional metal-halide and fluorescent fixtures, subsequently lowering cooling costs. The driver components of Deco LED products are positioned on the circuit board in a manner that prevents the build-up of heat, removing the need for fan cooling. In fact, Lightsearch estimates that this reduction in cooling costs often equates to as much as 30% of the energy saved from upgrading to LED lighting alone. As the number of light fixtures being replaced in a building increases, so will the building’ total energy savings. The graphic above compares the Deco Digital LED board to its equivalent traditional counterparts, a metal-halide lamp and T5 fluorescent tube, across several variables, highlighting the incredible benefits of upgrading to LED.

Safety is another major concern for consumers. Increasing lighting in dimly-lit industrial parking lots and commercial buildings helps employees and customers feel safer at night, and LED lighting provides higher levels of light output and visibility for employees without drastically increasing a business’ energy bill. LED lighting is the most energy-efficient technology on the market and the optimal choice for any commercial lighting application. Environmentally-friendly and cost efficient, LED lighting removes the headache of constant maintenance associated with traditional lighting fixtures, and no other lighting product comes close to the level of innovation that LED technology provides to consumers.

Consumers interested in making the switch and upgrading to energy-efficient LED lighting can turn to Deco Lighting. Partnering with Nichia to develop LED products that use only the highest-quality components, Deco Lighting offers industry-leading lighting solutions that are made right here in the USA. Consistently developing long-lasting, superior LED solutions, Deco is so confident in their products that they have backed all of their LED luminaires and retrofit kits with an unmatched 10-year, 100,000-hour warranty, which includes labor and the LED driver, an industry first. You can learn more about Deco Lighting’s full line of LED products and retrofit kits here.