The 12th Annual Lighting Forum, hosted by Randy Reid, brings together leading voices in lighting and controls for a timely and thought-provoking conversation titled “Something About Sustainability and Controls.”

Joining Randy are Melissa Mattes, LC, LFA – Associate, DC Studio Manager, and Sustainability Lead at Sladen Feinstein Integrated Lighting Inc., and C. Webster Marsh, Lighting Controls Designer with Sladen Feinstein Integrated Lighting Inc., and Education Manager of the Lighting Controls Academy.

Together, they explore one of the most pressing issues facing the lighting industry today: embodied carbon. The discussion examines how the industry is evolving in its recognition of embodied carbon impacts—from materials and manufacturing to specification and lifecycle considerations—and what meaningful steps are being taken to reduce them.

The panel also dives into the critical role of lighting controls in advancing sustainability goals. From optimizing energy performance and extending product life to enabling adaptive reuse and smarter design strategies, controls are positioned as a powerful tool for designers seeking measurable environmental impact.

This engaging session offers practical insights, industry perspective, and forward-looking strategies for lighting professionals committed to designing a lower-carbon future.

Hosted by Randy Reid of the Edison Report, the Annual Lighting Forum brings together leading voices in the lighting industry for thought-provoking conversations.

In this installment, two lighting icons, Naomi Miller, Lighting Scientist Emerita at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Mary Beth Gotti, Chairperson of NLB join Randy for a conversation titled “Lighting Is Too Hard — A Candid Industry Conversation.”

The group discusses their recent workshop from the IES Annual Conference 2025. Topics include “Value Engineering,” the frustration with no set template for specification sheet information, the end of life for first generation LED luminaires, LED luminaire quality assurance as well as the incredibly pertinent “Right to Repair.”