Efficient Lighting and Solar Powered Solutions
Potential savings : enormous and everywhere
Lighting technologies are in constant evolution and we are working to transform how we light our world. We can make a considerable dent in carbon emissions by using lighting a lot more energy efficient.
Twenty percent of the world's electricity is used for lighting. Lighting accounts for nearly 10% of global CO2 emissions, more than cars worldwide.
Efficient lamps and smart controls are now available to be scaled globally in our everyday's environment so let's use them indoor, in the streets, in parking garages or for decorative purposes.
Comparative Analysis of Lamps
This table aims to provide an overview of the lamp technologies and characteristics that are available on today's market. The data comes from datasheets of the leading manufacturers and only represents a selection of a wider range.
The main purpose is to highlight the advantages and drawbacks of each technology in terms of energy efficiency and related lighting efficacy.
| Metal Lamp | Sodium Lamp | Mercury Lamp | CFL | MEDL | LED | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comparative analysis of today's most common lamp technologies | ||||||
| Lifetime (h) | 6,000 | 9,000 | 6,000 | 20,000 | 60,000 | 50,000 |
| Initial luminous flux (Lm) | 17,000 (250W) | 25,000 (250W) | 10,000 (250W) | 9,000 (120W) | 11,000 (165W) | 6,500 (100W) |
| Heat radiated (C) | 200-300 | 200-300 | 200-300 | 80 | 110 | 40 |
| Start up time (s) | 300-600 | 300-600 | 300-600 | 2 | 1 | Instant. |
| Able to re-start instantaneously ? | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Color rendering (Ra) | 68 | 25 | 40 | 82 | 85 | 80 |
| Color temperature (K) | 4,800 | 2,000 | 5,700 | 4,000 | 6,500 | 5,000 |
| Glare | Intense | Intense | Intense | Moderate | Low | Low |
| Luminous flux decay | Rapid | Rapid | Rapid | Slow | Slow | Very Slow |
| Heavy metal content (mg) | 20-30 | 20-30 | 20-30 | 4 | 6 | None |
Overview of the highest efficient lamps on the market
Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lamps
LED are more than four times more efficient than incandescent bulbs and they are more efficient than compact fluorescents (CFLs), the next most efficient light source available today.
Combined with smart controls, they can cut CO2 emissions by 50 to 70%. LEDs offer the most efficient and environmentally friendly lighting source (no mercury or lead).
They offer far more durability and much longer life times. LED fixtures can last 10-25 years, which can significantly reduce maintenance costs and impact on the environment.
Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL)
These lamps have a high luminous efficacy, guarantee an immediate, flicker-free start and weigh less. Due to the low consumption of power and the long life of these lamps, both energy and maintenance costs are saved. The ballasts for their operation can be built-in the lamp or incorporated into the luminaire.
Because of the diversity of glass bulbs these lamps are mainly used to replace tungsten lamps in restaurants, salesrooms, homes and rooms with decorative lighting. Lamps that are both compact and powerful are used in special fittings for the direct and/or indirect illumination of offices.
Magnetic Electrodeless Discharge Lamps (MEDL) aka Induction Lamps
In fluorescents, each time the lamp is started the electrodes degrade a little, eventually causing the lamp to fail, since a MEDL lamp has no electrodes, it can last at least 60,000 hours.
MEDL save up to 60% electricity with the same light rendering compared to traditional discharge lamps. They allow instant starting and restarting with no warm-up time and come in various colour temperatures.
With power ranging from 80 to 400W and high efficiency of more than 75 lm/W, induction lamps are an ideal choice for a lot of commercial or industrial applications including external lighting.
Fiber Optics (aka Optical Fibers or Optical Arteries)
Optical fiber illumination is of particular interest to the lighting designer. Requiring minimum upkeep, the medium allows the designer true flexibility; it permits originality and brings a fresh, individual approach to lighting design.
Often used for decorative applications, a main lamp source feeds the fibers which transmit light. Colored wheels are sometimes used to achieve special effects.
In some buildings, optical fibers route sunlight from the roof to other parts of the building. In this case there is no artificial light involved, the purpose is to redistribute natural daylight to the darker rooms which have no openings to the outside.
Street Lighting, Car Parks
LED for Street Lighting
LED outdoor luminaires have many advantages over conventional high pressure sodium (HPS), metal halide, and fluorescent lamps. The inherent directionality of LED emitters make them an ideal choice for roadway lighting. LED luminaires direct more light on surfaces where it is most needed.
Meanwhile, the marriage of smart controls and LEDs makes dimming easy, this allows for unprecedented control of the light patterns on the ground and the near total elimination of wasted light. The quality of the light produced and their long lifespan is another advantage.
LED outdoor lighting also reduces costs, enhances public safety, minimizes light pollution and makes public spaces friendlier at night.
The following table shows the power savings achieved by LED lamps in comparison with standard HPS lamps:
| LEDs Lamps consumption |
Standard HPS Lamps consumption |
Lumen Efficiency Obtained | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comparison of LEDs against Standard Street Lamps | |||
| 48W | 75W | 3,300 | |
| 60W | 125W | 4,400 | |
| 80W | 150W | 6,600 | |
| 100W | 175W | 7,600 | |
| 125W | 200W | 9,400 | |
| 140W | 250W | 10,600 | |
| 180W | 320W | 13,800 | |
Advantages of energy efficient lighting systems
Efficient lighting systems can be used for new and retrofit installations of existing lights. Also, they can be used with or without a solar module based on economic and geographic preference.
Actual leading lighting technologies are the CFL, MEDL and the LED lamps. All have a high Lumen/Watt ratio and provide a minimum of 60-65% saving on electrical costs compared to conventional lamps.
Efficient lamps lifespan is more than four times that of conventional lights.
Optional automatic dimmer system combined with motion controls, for increased power saving. Lamp intensity can increase/decrease during dusk/dawn.
Spread of illumination on the ground is adjustable to meet specific requirements.
Environmentally-friendly: Helps reduce CO2 emissions and contain less or no hazardous chemicals.
Advantages when combined with solar systems:
With the addition of a solar module further savings of up to 100% can be realized. The solar module charges the battery storage system. Five hours of "reasonably bright" daylight produces 25 hrs (average of 2.5 nights) of full spectrum illumination.
Installation of solar lighting systems in those geographic areas with high amounts of sun and bright daylight require no tie-in to the local power grid system. It can be installed in remote areas or when grid network is unreliable or simply not available.
No buried or overhead cables. No costs for trenching, cabling and rearrangement of surface. Minimized planning efforts.
If connected to an existing grid or other power sources (diesel generators, wind turbines..) the controls regulate the draw of electricity either from the grid or from the solar module based on the level of charge in the battery.
Increased security of the premises as it becomes a stand-alone system.
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