PA JAMES TO PILOT AIR-QUALITY MONITORING TECHNOLOGY AT DOZENS OF NYC NAIL SALONS

Public-Private partnership with Pegasus Capital Advisors and Lighting Science is a Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Action

NEW YORK — Public Advocate Letitia James today announced a public-private partnership with Pegasus Capital Advisors, to launch a pilot program of new technology to incentivize improved air quality and health conditions in New York City nail salons. The partnership is part of a Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Commitment to Action. The “Genesis Light” – a brand new technology from Lighting Science, a global leader in LED technology – is a desktop light that monitors and reports air quality using a sensor chip embedded in the lamp. Lighting Science and Public Advocate James will introduce the free prototype to numerous New York City nail salons beginning in January 2016.

Following a report issued by Public Advocate James last fall highlighting hazardous health conditions in nail salons, and significant public attention to the issue, this unique public-private partnership will help improve worker safety and allow for consumers and salon owners to make responsible decisions.

“Too many exploited workers and unknowing customers are being exposed to incredibly hazardous chemicals in nail salons across our City,” said Public Advocate Letitia James. “The innovative Genesis Light technology has the potential to transform the nail salon industry overnight without placing an undue financial burden on well-meaning business owners. We know that New Yorkers care about safety, and this technology will help thousands make the informed decisions they seek.”

The Genesis Light is a 24-hour lamp that monitors air quality that impacts health. It communicates with a remote dashboard and mobile devices through an app designed by Lighting Science. The unit feeds information back to an online dashboard where health officials can monitor air quality from participating salons. Salons managers can monitor air quality through an LED indicator on the Genesis Light or with smart devices fitted with the Lighting Science app. A simple graphic shows a positive emoticon for clean air and a negative emoticon when hazardous air quality conditions exist. The alert is based on the presence of key indicators like total volatile organic compounds (VOCs – including alcohols, aldehydes, amines, aromatic hydrocarbons, ketones and organic acids). These indicators will be reported to and archived on a central dashboard accessible to health officials. In the future it is hoped this information will also be available to the public.

“Pegasus aims to do well for our investors by investing in the health and wellness of people and our planet,” says Pegasus Chairman and President Craig Cogut. “This partnership allows us to activate the technologies and solutions at our disposal to try and create a safer and healthier environment for New Yorkers. We are thrilled to be working with the Public Advocate’s office, and share Public Advocate James’ ambitions to better the lives of nail technicians and their customers by improving the salon environment itself.  Furthermore, we applaud the pension system of the City of New York for investing in such a transformative company like Lighting Science”

“Lighting Science is at the forefront of creating solid-state, LED-based health solutions for the 21st Century,” says Chief Scientist and Founder Fred Maxik. “We are now using light to sterilize and heal wounds, correct vision, and even detect disease. Amazingly, we can keep people more alert, safe, and productive during work hours while also helping them get to sleep faster at night. Our new, revolutionary light engine — code named the Genesis Light — is an extension of our biological lighting series, which not only brings a full spectrum of health and wellness benefits, but can also monitor VOC levels and connect to smart technology in the home and workplace. By harnessing the power of light we are utilizing an organic resource, the oldest in the book, to solve the problems of the modern world.”

For this pilot program, Public Advocate James and her partners will identify a number of nail salons that will receive a free Genesis Light. The goal of the program is to inspire customers and regulators to make informed decisions that will ultimately incentivize a growing number of nail salons to better manage their air quality.

In September 2014, Public Advocate James released a report detailing hazardous health conditions in New York City nail salons. Her report revealed that popular chemicals – including formaldehyde – used in many nail salons have shown to be toxic and harmful to human health – causing an array of effects, from headaches and eye and lung irritation, to liver and kidney damage and birth defects. Public Advocate James has also introduced the “Nail Salon Health and Safety Bill” in the New York City Council, which will create an enforceable framework to improve the health and safety of nail salon employees and customers in New York City.

Nail salons interested in participating in the pilot program should contact: outreach@pubadvocate.nyc.gov

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About Pegasus Capital Advisors

Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P. is a private equity fund manager that has been providing creative capital and strategic solutions to companies across a variety of industries since 1996. Pegasus partners with management teams of growth companies, with a focus on those that benefit from the business implications of global resource scarcity. Sectors where this trend is most pronounced are food, water, energy, health & wellness and security.

About Public Advocate Letitia James

Letitia James is the Public Advocate for the City of New York, the second highest ranking elected office in the City. She is the first woman of color to hold a citywide position in New York City history. Letitia James is a strong advocate for criminal justice reform, and led the push for police body-worn cameras in the NYPD.  She has a long history as an advocate for children and families: as a City Council Member, she fought for Paid Sick Leave, and passed the Safe Housing Act, which ensured that thousands of families in rental buildings receive prompt and full repairs to their apartments. She is a leading voice in the fight for universal free school lunch for all public school students. Letitia James is a lawyer, and previously served as an Assistant Attorney General and a public defender.

About the Clinton Global Initiative

Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), an initiative of the Clinton Foundation, convenes global leaders to create and implement solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. CGI Annual Meetings have brought together 190 sitting and former heads of state, more than 20 Nobel Prize laureates, and hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations and NGOs, major philanthropists, and members of the media. To date, members of the CGI community have made more than 3,200 Commitments to Action, which have improved the lives of over 430 million people in more than 180 countries.

In addition to the Annual Meeting, CGI convenes CGI America, a meeting focused on collaborative solutions to economic recovery in the United States; and CGI University (CGI U), which brings together undergraduate and graduate students to address pressing challenges in their community or around the world. This year, CGI also convened CGI Middle East & Africa, which brought together leaders across sectors to take action on pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges.

For more information, visitclintonglobalinitiative.org and follow us on Twitter @ClintonGlobal and Facebook at facebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative.

About Lighting Science Group Corporation 

Lighting Science Group Corporation (OTCQB:LSCG) is a global leader in innovative LED lighting solutions that designs, manufactures and brings to market the most advanced, intelligent products for consumer, professional and retail applications. By inventing breakthrough, award-winning, LED lamps and lighting fixtures that truly work in sync with nature, we follow one of our core values by being committed to unleash the science of light to make people, and our planet, look, feel and heal better. Lighting Science is headquartered in Melbourne, Florida with international offices in Hong Kong. Find out more about us at www.lsgc.com and join us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest and the Lighting Science Blog.