The home furnishings tradeshow will feature manufacturers from Spain and beyond.

by Mairi Beautyman

Interior Design · March 26, 2008

For the first time, five major fairs will showcase home furnishings from Spain and beyond at one destination in Valencia this fall. The 2008 edition of home furnishings event Habitat Valencia — September 23-27 at the Feria Valencia — will include the International Furniture Fair of Valencia (FIM), the International Decorating and Accessories Fair (DE>CO), the International Home Textiles and Decorating Fair (TEXTILHOGAR), the International Lighting Fair (FIAM), and the International Modern and Contemporary Art Fair (FIART VALENCIA).

Manufacturers will offer products including furniture, lighting, home textiles, decorating, accessories and modern art throughout all of the Feria’s pavilions. Items will be on view in nine categories over two levels: Classic, High Décor, Accessories & Textures, Design & Avant-garde, Modern, Contemporary Nature, Rest & Relaxation, Avant-garde, and Upholstered Furniture.

This year, organizers are increasing the focus on the contract market. Several installations will be on view, designed to demonstrate contract use of the home products.

Awards programs include the National Window Design Championship and the 7th Salón NUDE: The International New Design Show, honoring emerging designers. Attendees can also take advantage of the Habitat Valencia Training Breakfasts, a series of educational lectures.

Thirty forward-thinking designs will be honored in a ceremony on April 7.

by Nicholas Tamarin

Interior Design · March 28, 2008

Who has the brightest crystal ball of all? Messe Frankfurt has announced the recipients of its Lights of the Future Award, recognizing visionary lamp and lighting designs. Winners will take to the stage in a ceremony during Light + Building, International Trade Fair for Architecture and Technology, a massive lighting show on the Messe Frankfurt fairgrounds in Frankfurt, Germany from April 6-11.

An international jury that included lighting innovators Ulrike Brandi and Uwe Fischer winnowed down 197 entries from 143 companies and 24 countries to select the 30 energy-saving lamps and energy-efficient lighting systems, which will also be on display throughout the fair.

Competing designers were divided between student and professional categories, then called upon to demonstrate both technological prowess and design ability. Of the 30 winning designs (pdf), 11 were selected in the student category, with Lars Dinter taking home two prizes for his Nola and Eine Art Von Kerzenlicht designs. Zumtobel Lighting and Tobias Grau each took home two awards in the professional category, which also featured winning designs by industry heavyweights Belux and Viabizzuno.

Light + Building will also play host to the 32 winners of the Design Plus Award, now in its 25th year, which honors ground-breaking lighting designs that are about to be introduced, or have been on the market for two years or less. Winning companies include Erco Leuchten, Nimbus Group, and Berker, each claiming two trophies.

Aside from all the prize giving, the fair will feature international exhibitors in four sectors. Light will focus on product development, design trends, and technical innovation. Electro-Technology tackles systems integration and security and network issues. Rounding out the show floor is Home and Building Automation, and Architectural Systems.

From top: The LEED lamp from Tobias Grau and the Disk lamp from Belux are among the winners of the Lights of the Future Award.

Perfect Climate Control Puts Money in the Pocket and Heat in the Home

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Jan. 23 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — With oil prices spiraling out of control, people are seeking ways to save money while still staying warm this winter. Perfect Climate Control, a smart energy green company, has the answer. On January 2, 2008, oil broke the $100 mark. As of December 31, 2007, home heating oil cost $3.54 per gallon in New York City.

So, what can people do to save money? Perfect Climate Control can prove that the Fujitsu Halcyon heating system is not only super efficient, but will also lower oil bills and heat homes and businesses safely.

At current oil prices, Fujitsu heating systems cost 20 percent less to operate than an oil-fired boiler which operates at 70 percent efficiency (U.S. Dept. of Energy).

Individual room control and a ductless design also contribute to the Fujitsu efficiency and cost-saving model - up to 50 percent. Why heat the whole floor when heat is only needed in one room? Multi-zone capability, wireless remotes, digital controls, and timers make this easy to do. In addition, according to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, energy loss due to ductwork averages 27 percent.

David Fletcher of Perfect Climate Control shares some success stories:

One client in Arlington, Virginia was able to lower her gas heating bill from $1,100 to $300 a month during one of the coldest winters on record; in Washington, D.C., a customer lowered his gas bill to $5. The utility company actually refunded him money.

“Fujitsus were installed in 350 condominiums outside of Philadelphia,” Bill Hick, Northeast Regional Sales Manager for Fujitsu recalled. “When the temperature was 10 degrees and windy, it was toasty inside. In three years, the primary heat source, baseboard heating, had never been turned on.”

Fujitsu systems not only heat, they also cool. Year-round comfort is provided by the same super-efficient unit. It can also be a cost-effective solution for heating and cooling areas such as extensions, basements, and attics. Other benefits include humidity control and indoor air quality.

Centrally located in New York City, Perfect Climate Control is operated by licensed refrigeration engineers and teachers. They serve the tri-state area and offer free energy consultations.

For more information, visit: www.PerfectClimateControl.com.