At Wolfers Lighting, we are very invested in greener living. In order to keep you updated on the latest energy efficient trends, we constantly research what’s up and coming in the green lighting industry.
Check out some of our favorite energy articles by clicking on the article titles below.
LED sources have a long list of benefits - energy efficiency, low power consumption, long life, durability, no emitted heat, lack of infrared and ultraviolet emissions, mercury free - that make them an ideal choice for many common applications.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is defined as useful light (in Lux) or illumination where you need it most, per watt of power consumed. LED sources excel by reducing power consumption while focusing their directed light specifically where it is most needed. LED sources are already 5x more efficient than incandescent and most halogen sources, while rapidly gaining ground on fluorescent. This is increasingly important as legislation and new regulatory requirements pose limitations on energy consumption for both new construction and retrofit projects.
Cost Savings
Cost savings from LED lighting goes beyond increased energy efficiency to include all expenses throughout the useful lifetime of the light fixture, or Total Cost of Ownership. Consider for example a traditional incandescent source. While its initial cost may be less than a dollar, its energy consumption will cost more than l0x that over its relatively short life at which point a new source must be purchased and replaced beginning a new cycle.
Long Source Life
Traditional light sources report lifetime in terms of "mean time to failure," which defines the average time it takes for some percentage (typically 50%) of all sources to fail completely and require replacement. LED sources report lifetime differently. For LED sources, lifetime is reported as "mean time to reduced light output,” which defines how quickly the amount of light generated by the LED source will diminish by a readily detectable amount (typically 70% of original intensity). Given these differences, LED sources in contrast to traditional light sources will not leave you in the dark. This is important to consider when comparing lifetime statements. Moreover, what really matters to a specifier is the LED lighting fixture lifetime. LED fixture lifetime is typically less than the published LED source lifetime as the LED source lifetime assumes optimal operating conditions.
Durable
In addition to long lifetime and the subsequent reduced maintenance, LED sources are extremely durable with regard to impact, vibration and other disruptions. Therefore, LED sources are ideal for remote locations, areas with high vibration (generated from industrial or earthquake activities) and other difficult environments for traditional lighting sources.
No Mercury
Fluorescent and compact fluorescent sources contain mercury and therefore may require special handling for disposal/recycling, and regardless contribute to proliferation of hazardous waste. LED sources are mercury free, which is not only good for the environment but can also save on disposal/recycling fees.
No Emitted Heat
LED sources provide illumination without emitting heat. As such, they can be used in heat sensitive areas, near people, furnishings, and tight spaces where conventional sources could be dangerous or potentially damaging.
No Ultraviolet Rays
UV rays can degrade materials like plastics and fabrics, as well as fade paint and dyes. LEDs do not emit ultraviolet rays, making them ideal to use in art galleries, museums and retail displays.
Standard Code and Regulation Compliance
Energy efficiency is becoming an increasingly important global topic. As a result, regulatory bodies at all levels are posing new requirements for limitations on the amount of energy consumed by lighting, lighting pollution and lighting inefficiencies. Examples are California's Title 24, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (essentially banning the incandescent bulb as it is known today), Energy Star, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Dark Sky. LED lighting is one of the best alternatives to traditional lighting for compliance with many of these regulations and has the potential to significantly reduce energy consumption by light sources in the future.
Choosing the Right White
Selecting the right white light source for an application can be challenging as there are many metrics describing performance and quality. Color Temperature and Color Quality (the accurate rendering of the color of illuminated objects) are two of the most important metrics for any light source. With LED lighting, Color Consistency (repeatable color temperature and color quality from fixture to fixture) is also an important metric./li>
Color Temperature
Color temperature characterizes the color appearance of visible light from a source and describes the apparent warmth or coolness of that light source. Particular color temperatures are associated with certain environments or applications, and their use can affect moods, influence buyer behavior, and increase productivity in the workplace. Color temperature is measured in degrees on a Kelvin scale. A lower color temperature indicates a warmer (more yellow/red) light while a higher color temperature indicates a cooler light (more blue).
A Closer Look at Color Temperature and its Associations
Color Temperature
Warm
White
Neutral
Cool
Daylight
2700K
3000K
3500K
4100K
5000K
Light Sources
LEDs
Incandescent
Halogen
Fluorescent
Metal Halide
Metal Halide
Associated Effects and Moods
Warm
Friendly
Friendly
Neat
Bright
Cozy
Intimate
Inviting
Clean
Alert
Open
Personal
Non-threatening
Efficient
Exacting coloration
Exclusive
Appropriate Applications
Restaurants
Libraries
Showrooms
Office areas
Galleries
Hotel lobbies
Office areas
Bookstores
Classrooms
Museums
Boutiques
Retail stores
Office areas
Mass merchandisers
Jewelry stores
Homes
Hospitals
Medical examination areas
In addition, certain light sources are associated with particular color temperatures. Using LEDs with fixed color temperatures makes it easy to replace or combine with current light sources. The table below outlines color temperature as it relates to light sources, moods and effects, as well as environments and applications.
LED lighting fixtures provide environmentally-friendly and energy efficient sources of light for your project. At Wolfers Lighting, we get a lot of inquiries regarding which LED application is best. We can help you separate the fact from fiction when it comes to the truth about LED lighting.
Here is some information we find helpful for you to better understand LEDs:
LEDs have a long life, but like all light sources, they slowly fade over time.
LEDs do not radiate infrared heat, only visible light. However, waste heat is produced during the conversion from electricity to light and may harm the LEDs if it is not properly removed from the lighting system.
By any measure, illuminance or luminance, LEDs have enough light output for use in even very large outdoor daylight visible installations.
The ROI for the use of LED lighting systems in an installation is surprisingly rapid when taking maintenance and energy cost savings into consideration.
Source: “The Seven Great Myths of LEDs,” Philips Solid State Lighting Solutions Featured in Wolfers Newsletter, “The Edge”, May 2009
Utilizing data from his company’s 2006 and 2008 Smart Market Reports on green building, as well as from a few other studies, Harvey M. Bernstein, Vice President of Industry Analytics, Alliances, and Strategic Initiatives for McGraw-Hill Construction, offered the following conclusions:
Green is a market differentiator: While the residential market overall has plummeted, the green residential market is climbing at a steady pace, increasing fivefold between 2005 and 2008 and expected to triple by 2013. The total residential green opportunity in 2013 will be $40-$70 billion.
Interest in green homes spans all income levels: While the greatest percentage of demand for green homes (27%) is within the $50,000-$74,000 income range, 30% of the demand falls into the two lower income brackets.
Younger generations will expect green options.
Green-home buyers are driven by operational cost savings and improved health. Associating green with quality will be a strong selling point in the down market.
As a builder’s green building experience increases, perceived costs decrease.
Energy Star is the most well-known product standard.
When remodeling, homeowners will spend the most on features that make their homes greener, versus those that increase comfort or improve the appearance.
Featured in Wolfers Newsletter, “The Edge”, March 2009.
Lutron Working Display Model Shows True Energy Savings in Digital Form
Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. has introduced an educational energy savings display that digitally shows customers how much energy they are saving as they dim the lights in a room. Featuring a working Skylark dimmer and a room photo that shows the visual effects of the control, the display provides a digital readout of light level, percentage of energy saved, and how long the light bulb life will be extended—all according to the user’s manipulation of the dimmer. For more information: www.lutron.com/energy.
Incandescent Light Bulbs Will Not Disappear
Congress recently set new standards for greater efficiency in lighting. It doesn’t matter what technology the light bulb makers use to get to reach the goals. The practical effect will be to phase out most of the incandescent bulbs that we know. In the coming years, you most likely will see manufacturers come out with next generation, efficient incandescent bulbs. These may end up being a transitional technology that will not meet the standards in the later years of the phase-out, when light-emitting diodes (LEDs) become more economical, but manufacturers are confident that these new standards are workable.
Featured in Wolfers Newsletter, “The Edge”, May 2008.
