Last week, BEEx launched Lighting the Future, our new exhibit on advanced lighting and shading control systems. We celebrated with professionals from every corner of the sustainability and energy sector as well as family and friends. The 100+ guests who attended represented the lighting, building, utility, non-profit, and government industries – to name just a few.

Attendees had the opportunity to hear from BEEx’s Executive Director, Richard Yancey; Nilda Mesa, the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability; John Shipman, Department Manager of Distributed Resources Integration at ConEdison; Michael Colgrove, beloved BEEx Board Member and Director of Multifamily Programs at NYSERDA; and New York City Council Member, Costa Constantinides.

Guests spent the night testing out the dimming and brightening functions of lighting made by Encelium, OSRAM, Lutron, Crestron, and Enlighted. They saw automated shading designed by MechoSystems and Lutron, and they learned about best practices for completing successful retrofits. The room was abuzz with the overwhelming feeling that improving building efficiency presents opportunities for each of us do our part to combat climate change.

In case you missed the launch, the exhibit will continue to be on view in our downtown resource center at the Surrogates Courthouse. Additionally, the exhibit is accessible virtually, on our website.

Oh, and I can’t forget the photo-booth! BEEx staff and our guests took photos with props ranging from LED light bulbs to green wigs. Check out the hilarious results on the BEEx Flickr stream.