Not a Box Lighting: More Cardboard Design from David Graas
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA 
on 09.10.07
Designer David Graas (remember his awesome furniture?) has applied his cardboard-centric no-waste design philosophy to lighting with the fun "Not a Box" series. Again, using the packaging as the product, the pendant lamp "comes as a box with all parts inside (bulb, plug, cable etc. + manual). You cut top and bottom yourself and then install. The cut out of the lamp shape functions as a graphical image of the lamp that could be inside the box, but is not." Quite similar to the previous "Not a Lamp" design (pic below the fold), we love the cheeky, minimalist design; toss in the super-efficient design and recyclability, and you can't go wrong. Just don't forget to pop a compact fluorescent bulb in there. ::David Graas via ::MoCo Loco
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Looks cool, but it probably doesn't let as much light into the room as a simpler white shade. And that costs more energy (gotta use a more power-drawing bulb to get the same amount of light).
Seeing how it blocks most of the light coming from the bulb and I'd be afraid to use it with a compact fluorescent because of the heat build up I wouldn't call this green. Plus there's a fire hazard with the card board.
Don't the new energy saver bulbs use less heat? Plus the design appears to have a cut out in the bottom and the top. This would allow the heat to rise out of it and most of the light would shine out of the bottom.
Don't the knew energy saver bulbs use less heat? Plus the design appears to have a cut out in the bottom and the top. This would allow the heat to rise out of it and most of the light would shine out of the bottom.
Yes, efficient light bulbs put out less heat, so it would be safer with a compact fluorescent than with a regular old-fashioned light bulb, but at least that second one looks terrible as far as efficiency. The first might be OK if the interior of the cardboard is white.
It's discouraging to see Treehugger promoting wasteful designs like this. You'd think that here, if not in the world at large, the importance of good design for energy efficiency would be understood.