IES and National Lighting Bureau Sign MOU to Advance Lighting Education and Outreach
New York, NY USA, 24 June 2026–The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and the National Lighting Bureau (NLB) are pleased to announce a memorandum of understanding enabling future collaboration to improve the quality of our lighted environments.
IES and NLB have agreed to collaborate to enhance the performance, quality, and sustainability needs of our buildings to improve the quality of life for people who share these spaces.
The objective of this MOU is to promote a mutually beneficial relationship between those active in the field of lighting, education, and public outreach while sharing knowledge, experiences, and best practices.
“The lighting industry benefits most when organizations collaborate around common goals. The National Lighting Bureau and the Illuminating Engineering Society share a longstanding commitment to advancing lighting knowledge and improving the quality of lighting for people and communities. This Memorandum of Understanding provides a framework for the National Lighting Bureau and the Illuminating Engineering Society to leverage our respective strengths in support of education, public outreach, and industry advancement.” — Mary Beth Gotti, Chairperson of the Board, National Lighting Bureau
Brienne Willcock, Associate Director of the IES, addressed the partnership between IES and the NLB: “At its core, the work of IES is about connecting people with knowledge. When organizations create more opportunities to share expertise and engage with one another, the benefits extend far beyond our profession. Some of our members invest their time and knowledge in both IES and NLB for the same reason: a belief in the value of quality lighting and its impact on people. This partnership builds on those relationships and creates new opportunities for education and public benefit.”
About the IES
In 1906 the IES was founded with the purpose of bringing together those with lighting knowledge to develop standards, promote research, and develop educational materials to advance the art, science, and practice of lighting design and engineering. The strength of the IES is its diversified membership including engineers, architects, designers, educators, students, contractors, distributors, utility personnel, manufacturers and scientists in over 60 countries. The IES is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit professional society writing the American National Standards (ANSI) for lighting.
About the NLB
Founded in 1976, the National Lighting Bureau (NLB) was established to promote excellence in lighting through education, awareness, and the dissemination of objective, science-based information on the benefits of quality lighting. The NLB brings together lighting professionals, manufacturers, designers, engineers, educators, utilities, and industry organizations to advance the understanding and application of lighting for the benefit of society. An independent, nonprofit organization, the NLB serves as a trusted resource for information on lighting quality, energy efficiency, visual performance, health and well-being, sustainability, and emerging technologies. Through educational programs, public outreach initiatives, research, and collaboration with industry stakeholders, the NLB works to increase awareness of the value of lighting and its impact on people, communities, and the built environment.