With the introduction of new LED lighting products, Akari are moving into a higher profile modus operandi and still maintaining their environmentally friendly ethics. Since the 1950s they have been producing remarkable eco-lighting sculptures that have always maintained a natural conservation of the environment. The products started and have continued to date using a simple bamboo and Japanese mulberry paper construction to hand-make beautifully natural eco-lights. And yes , their basic structure is handmade. Now they are going a step further and introducing one of the most promising forms of energy saving lights, using the energy conserving technology of LED (Light Emitting Diode).
Semiconductors and Electroluminescence a Growing Technology
LED lighting uses a semiconductor technology that has been around for at least half a century. Within that technology is the use of the electro-chemical mechanism known as electroluminescence. This phenomenon was first discovered over a century ago when certain materials, nowadays we use semiconductors, release photons of light when excited by electrons as in the case of applying an electric current. More scientific research and developments were made in the 1960s as to its use as a possible manufacturing lighting system; however it was a costly product relative to standard incandescent lights and similar products. With the increased awareness of environmental issues, LEDs regained the interest of green manufacturers.
LED Creating Its Own Limelight
It appears that the LED has really moved into the limelight with its many advantages when compared with other lighting technology systems both old and new. These include:
- Dependability
- High energy-saving qualities per units of light emitted
- Robust and impact resistant structure
- Long life
- Diverse applications
- Suitable for use across a broad spectrum of environmental conditions of temperature and humidity
- Construction with nonhazardous raw materials (i.e. no acid, lead, cadmium or mercury).
The future of our world really can look brighter in an eco-friendly way with LEDs and like products such as this.
Filed under eco lighting by on Apr 5th, 2010. Comment. 
I came across this cute Cow Over the Moon mini chandelier for a baby’s room which I thought was worth a closer look. You can actually have the chandelier personalised to include the child’s names and date of birth, at no extra cost. Of course if you plan to have several children, you may prefer to leave the name and date off.
There are two different product designs, one with three arms (or branches, as they are sometimes called) and one with five – the one in the picture has five branches. You have various options to choose from for further customising it and they will cost more:
- If you want to add hanging crystals to it (which you can see in the picture), you actually choose between different qualities of crystal at different prices.
- You can add chandelier lamp shades to the lights.
There is some flexibility with changing the shade design to one of your preference though there may be a charge for this. For instance they give you options of having - Lampshades covered in that Tinkerbell fairy dust. Alternatively you could choose between some
- Ostrich boa which will be hand tinted. They even have
- Local artists whom they employ to produce a completely unique design pattern
In fact, if you choose to go with the hand painted chandelier shades option and make it a completely unique shade, that would be also adding more interest to it as a possible future family heirloom.
As I explored further, I noticed they have at least 10 different designs with the same customisability and here is a photo of their Safari Walk about 3- arm Chandelier. In my opinion the cow over the moon is actually the cutest.
For those who are into creating a theme around this, you can even get matching lamps and all sconces.
Filed under mini chandelier by on Mar 30th, 2010. Comment.
