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Commentary: The Dream Bulb That LEDs Will Enable
... As a result of a midnight premier of Star Trek - Into Darkness last night (this morning, technically), the forward-looking technology thoughts are flowing judiciously. Apparently I walked into the conclusion of the discussion on when and where the movie was happening, only to catch the part where I...
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Acuity Brands introduces innovative Blanca white LED luminairesMay 24, 2013...Atlanta, Georgia USA - Acuity Brands, Inc. introduces BLANCA™ 700 Series spot, flood, linear surface and linear cove white LED luminaires from Winona®. BLANCA white LED luminaires provide a smooth, uniform distribution of light to wash or graze applications such as commercial building facades, architectural details, landmarks, hospitality and architainment.
“BLANCA LED luminaires are designed to illuminate architectural features with a beautiful light quality to enhance aesthetics and details of the target feature,” said Patrick Brown, Winona Senior Product Value Stream Manager. “With four specific white LED color temperatures, we can provide color consistency across the BLANCA 700 series.”
BLANCA white LED luminaires are IP66 rated to weather the elements. They provide premium performance in both lumen output and energy efficiency. BLANCA LED luminaires are available in a variety of color temperatures (2700K, 3000K, 3500K, 4000K) and multiple distributions, making it easy to select an appropriate optic distribution for any application.
To learn more about BLANCA LED luminaires, visit www.winonalighting.com or www.acuitybrands.com.
About Acuity Brands
Acuity Brands, Inc. is a North American market leader and one of the world's leading providers of lighting solutions for both indoor and outdoor applications. With fiscal year 2012 net sales of over $1.9 billion, Acuity Brands employs approximately 6,000 associates and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia with operations throughout North America, and in Europe and Asia. The company's lighting solutions are sold under various brands, including Lithonia Lighting®, Holophane®, Peerless®, Gotham®, Mark Architectural Lighting™, Winona® , Healthcare Lighting®, Hydrel®, American Electric Lighting®, Carandini®, Antique Street Lamps™, Tersen®, Sunoptics®, Sensor Switch®, Lighting Control & Design™, Synergy® Lighting Controls, Pathway Connectivity™, Dark to Light®, ROAM®, RELOC® Wiring Solutions, Acculamp® and eldoLED®.
# # #
Contact
Rachel Kaylor
rachel@sweeneypr.com, 910.772.1688
E-mail: rachel@sweeneypr.com
Web Site: www.acuitybrands.com Hilton Austin Gets LED Retrofit Lamps From Toshiba
SSLDesign News StaffMay 23, 2013...
Austin, Texas USA, which is renowned for live music, boasts a lively entertainment scene which draws crowds of thousands each weekend and sells out hotel rooms. The 31 story Hilton on 4th street adjacent to the Austin Convention Center is a prime choice for tourists looking for a hotel brand they can trust right in the heart of Austin’s downtown.
Hilton Austin's management decided to upgrade their lighting throughout the hotel. They turned to Toshiba to supply the retrofit lamps that would replace traditional lamp sources in the lobby and coffee shop. Some 1,000 LED-based PAR38s, MR16s and A19s were installed.
The Hilton’s Director of Property Operations, John Culp, paired up with Bell & McCoy’s Jim Martin mange the project. According to Hilton, the quality of light, superior performance and aesthetic appeal were all achieved at the completion of this two phase retrofit project.
Toshiba says that the LED-lamps provide superior light quality with a variety of color temperatures and distributions and use up to 85% less energy than incandescent and halogen lamps. The company says that they also emit up to 70% less UV rays than traditional sources and are backed by Toshiba's five-year limited warranty
The Hilton team chose to use Toshiba's LED-baed retrofit lamps after learning of the significant energy savings and reduced maintenance costs that would result from the change. Toshiba’s PAR38 LED lamps have a rated life of 40,000 hours, three times longer than traditional light bulbs.Because the lights are used 24hrs/day. Hilton expects a return on their investment within just 18 months (based on $.095/kWh of electricity). Leapfrog Lighting’s LED PAR30 Lamps Now Energy Star Certified
SSLDesign News StaffMay 23, 2013...Leapfrog Lighting of Ottawa, Canada, announced that its LED PAR30 lamps have achieved
Energy Star certification through Energy Star approved independent lab
verification. The company says that this expected milestone clears the way for
lamps use in commercial, retail and industrial applications requiring Energy
Star certification to become eligible rebates in many regions of the United
States and Canada. According to Leapgrog, commercial customers also require the
consistent color and high quality light distribution of its line of LED
lamps.
The Energy Star specification certifies that the bulbs uses at least 75%
less energy as compared to incandescent bulbs, and that they also last 15 times
longer. Energy Star bulbs are at least as efficient as fluorescent lighting,
turn on instantly without warm-up and produce less heat—ideal for
air-conditioned environments.
The company's PAR30 lamps come in 2700K, 3000K, and 5000K color temperature
versions. All three are dimmable. The 3000K and 2700K versions produce 950
lumens for an efficacy of 75 lm/W. The 5000K version produces 1000 lumens for
an efficacy of 80lm/W.
“We pursued certification in order to improve access of our
specification-grade lamps by businesses interested in rebates offered by
utility companies,” said Stephen Naor, CEO of Leapfrog Lighting.
“Energy Star certification also instantly stands for quality and
integrity—both values of Leapfrog Lighting.” The certification
body for the Energy Star certification was Curtis-Straus LLC.
Certification requires independent testing by a lab approved by Energy Star,
administered by the US Department of Energy. The Energy Star specification
requires that Leapfrog Lighting's PAR 30 pass performance tests including light
output, electrical power consumption and lifetime reliability. The lamps are
subjected to elevated temperatures for 3,000 hours (early accreditation) and
6,000 hours (final accreditation), at an extreme temperature of 65 degrees
Celsius to emulate durability conditions. Passing this test means a bulb can
last at least 25,000 hours. The testing takes 18 weeks for early accreditation
and 36 weeks for final accreditation.
“We had no doubt that our industrial-quality bulbs would pass, but
the long wait is the most difficult part of the process,” said Mr.
Naor. "Energy Star certification is important, since the economics of LED
lamps derive from durability and lifetime expectation." With a
lifetime at least 15 times longer than incandescent bulbs, and lower use of
expensive energy, LED lamps are becoming mainstream with industry, particularly
architectural and retail applications where quality of light is
important.
The Energy Star certification was part of George W. Bush’s Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007 (a.k.a. the “Energy Bill) and sets
standards for light bulbs. Under this law, screw-based light bulbs must meet
the efficiency requirements.
Leapfrog Lighting’s lamps provide “improved glare control,
light distribution and color consistency,” said Canadian Federal
Minister Gary Goodyear, at a recent press event announcing an investment in
Leapfrog Lighting’s ongoing research and development. The Minister of
State for Science and Technology praised “measurable improvement on
lighting quality required by facility managers, institutions, architects and
retail businesses.”
The current Leapfrog Lighting product line includes MR16, PAR30, PAR38 and
PAR20 lamps. The company says that the PAR30 innovative lens design creates a
pleasing, glare-free light suitable for use in all indoor and unexposed outdoor
down-lighting applications. The lamps have a life expectancy of 40,000 hours
and deliver what the company describes as high CRI and ultra-consistent color
temperature control that is critical in multi-lamp applications in hotels,
restaurants, schools, office buildings, museums, galleries, retail operations
and other public spaces. Marshalls Installs Marl LED Floodlights
SSLDesign News StaffMay 21, 2013...Marshalls plc, a UK landscaping transformation company, has installed Marl
International Bay Range LED floodlighting to stockyards at five of its
manufacturing sites. The Bay Range LED floodlights replace high pressure sodium
and metal halide floodlights. Marl says that the LED floodlights reduce the
energy consumption per floodlight by up to 75%.
Pete Stevens, Group Energy and Carbon Manager at Marshalls plc, who was
responsible for managing this project, said, “Marl LED floodlights not
only offer a clear environmental benefit but contribute to the group bottom
line too. Replacing high level floodlights is an expensive exercise, but
despite the relatively high installation costs on this part of the project, the
payback in projects using the Marl lights is just 18 months. This figure
includes the reduction in maintenance costs due to the much longer life of the
Marl floodlights.”
Marshalls has an exceptionally strong sustainability culture. The Marl
floodlighting is one element of a lighting project being rolled out across the
Marshalls Group that has reduced the company's energy consumption. Marl and
Marshalls worked together to determine the type and design of yard lighting to
meet the operational needs of Marshalls.
Pete Stevens added, “The Marl floodlights are a major step forward
in helping us to reduce carbon emissions, and reduce on-going maintenance
replacement of bulbs. It was great to work in partnership with Marl to bring
about a successful project.”
Pete noted that the light provided by Marl 60W and 94W Bay Range 748 and 774
Series floodlights was at least as good as that provided by the existing high
pressure sodium lamps which draw at least 400W. As a result, he authorized the
replacement of over 500 lighting fixtures. These included high lights over the
loading bays themselves, low level lighting around the buildings and high level
lights on the roadways at the site.
Pete concluded, “The project as a whole shows just how much carbon
is generated around the business by lighting, and proves that energy efficient
lighting isn’t just about increased sustainability but also provides an
attractive financial return. We are looking at using LED lighting in other
areas, including our offices.”
The Marl 774 Series floodlights installed at Marshalls manufacturing sites
are 94W triple bay lights producing clear, cool white light output. Marl says
that triple lighting module provides great versatility. All three modules can
be pointed downwards to provide a powerful concentrated beam, or the outer
modules can be angled to disperse light over a wide area by using the
adjustment settings. According to Marl the triple lighting module is ideal for
the illumination of large areas including car parks, industrial estates,
quarries and railway stabling yards.
The company asserts that the 748 Series delivers considerable maintenance
cost savings, with its long rated life of 60,000 hours, equivalent to over 13
years at 12 hours per day. In this time, a halogen floodlight would need to be
replaced 30 times, based on a standard life of 2,000 hours. Marl is offering an
up to five-year guarantee on the light. EPA Publishes Draft 4 of Energy Star Lamps V1.0 Specification
SSLDesign News StaffMay 21, 2013...The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released fourth draft of the Energy Star Lamps V1.0 specification. Lamps Version 1.0 is set to take effect 12 months after the release of the Final Program Requirements. The EPA says that this time will allow manufacturers with qualified products under the existing ENERGY STAR Compact Fluorescent Lamps V4.3 and Integral LED Lamps Version 1.4 specifications sufficient time to transition to the new specification. The EPA encourages manufacturers to begin testing and certifying products to this specification as soon as it is final. Most things including the efficacy requirements remained the same between draft 3 and draft 4.
Among the changes in draft four of the specification, the IES LM-79-08 testing criteria, has eased some of the testing requirements on beam angle chromaticity. Specifically, the IES LM-79-08 has decreased the resolution of scanning angle chromaticity from 1 degree for angles less than 10 degrees total to 2 degrees for angles less than 15 degrees and 5 degrees for angles above 15 degrees. This revision was made after comments that the 1 degree resolution placed an undue time burden on the companies testing their products.
EPA adjusted the allowed uniformity variance of the luminous intensity values for omnidirectional lamps after confirming that the intensity distribution data of some incandescent lamps is not consistent with the existing 20% limit on average candela values for omnidirectional lamp performance in previous drafts and the Integral LED Lamps specification. This update is likely to increase the availability of omnidirectional ENERGY STAR certified lamps that meet consumers’ expectation for omnidirectional performance.
In Draft 3, EPA introduced limited intensity distribution requirements for decorative lamp shapes to ensure that the efficient replacements more accurately deliver the light distribution performance consumers expect from these product types. Stakeholder comments and confirmation of design limitations on the location of the electrical components in energy efficient lamps with candelabra bases, the Agency adjusted the zone of interest for the 5% light output in Draft 4.
In part to accommodate CFLs, the EPA maintained the requirement for correlated color temperature of the lamps to the 7-step ellipses/quadrangles found in the existing specifications, but now allows for 1 out of ten tested to be outliers in terms of the color temperature.The EPA indicated that it will continue to monitor the situation and determine at a later date when tightening of the requirement might be appropriate.
The specification now allows a 5 degree Celsius variation in operating temperature for ambient life and elevated temperature life testing. The specification now calculates the lumen maintenance value as the average lumen maintenance of all surfing units provided that the difference between the averages in each orientation are less than 3 percent.
The requirement for testing dimmers from different manufacturers was reduced from three to two due to the limited number of residential dimmer manufacturers on the market.
The new specification limits the frequency range to 120Hz and above, and it has no requirement for above 800 Hz, because the EPA says that research shows that people don't notice 100% of flicker at this point. Lamps in the 120 to 800Hz range must have a flicker index of 0.001 times frequency.
After stakeholder comments, The EPA considered changing the efficacy requirements for lamps with CRI of 90 and above, but decided against it because a number of products already qualify with the same efficacy requirements with 90+ CRI versions.
In the future the EPA plans to address lamps that include Wireless controls such as Zigbee, Bluetooth, and WiFi.These lamps continually use a small amounts of power so they can respond to remote control. Deco Lighting Debuts Digital LED Lighting Platform with Commercial Troffers
SSLDesign News StaffMay 21, 2013...Deco Lighting of Commerce, California USA has launched Deco Digital a new
portfolio of digital LED lighting products for commercial, industrial, retail
and hospitality applications. Deco’s initial offering includes a line of
recessed LED fixtures, LED wallpacks, floods, area fixtures, and LED retrofit
kits. The new line of products is currently ready for shipment.
Deco Digital lighting products reportedly feature energy-saving dimming
options, multiple lumen packages, and numerous color and beam angle options.
Many of the products are available in designs with a variety of customizable
finishes and colors. In addition the company says that many are listed on the
Design Lights Consortium (DLC) Qualified Products List which can allow for
substantial utility rebates.
"Drawing from our deep expertise in fixture development and a longtime
focus on energy-efficient design and sustainability, Deco is delivering better
lighting solutions and better value," said Ben Peterson, vice president,
LED Lighting at Deco Lighting. "Deco Digital lighting products provide high
quality light, superior CRI and are backed by the support you expect from a
leading lighting fixture manufacturer"
Deco Digital boasts that its new digital lighting products meet the most
exacting standards and provide a high degree of customization. The fixtures
provide a Color Rendering Index (CRI) that the company says is well above 85,
and is said to have exceptional fixture to fixture consistency.
Deco claims that their fixtures are built with the industry's best LED and
driver components, and the Deco Digital lighting products operate at high
efficiency levels. They also are said to have high levels of color saturation,
yielding a CRI well above 85. The products also have an estimated lifetime of
approximately 50,000 hours of operation.
Deco Lighting offers a 10 year warranty that includes a labor allowance.
“Our goal is to make sure every product we make at our facility is built
to last a long time, we relate this LED Lighting revolution to good times in
automotive manufacturing in the USA where automobiles were made with deep focus
on quality, reliability, and design” said Ben Peterson, Vice President,
LED Lighting at Deco Lighting.
Deco Digital lighting fixtures are reportedly designed, manufactured and
tested in Los Angeles. Deco says its team of engineers and designers will work
with customers to customize inspired solutions and special retrofits that best
fit the customer’s need.
The company plans on releasing several new products in June 2013. According
to the company, the CLOUD 2x4 and 2x2 recessed LED fixture will provide
brightness equal to that of the 2x4 recess LED troffers going up (indirect) and
50% going down (direct). Deco is also a leading ControlScope partner and the
company integrates wireless ZigBee controls for its fixtures allowing total
control for the end user and integration with the building management system. Robe Specified for 'Moses-The Ten Commandments' World Premiere at Theatre St. GallenMay 17, 2013...Moving lights from Robe’s latest ROBIN MMX and DL Series ranges were utilised by Lighting Designer Michael Grundner for the world premiere of “Moses – The Ten Commandments” a new musical extravaganza by Michael Kunze and Dieter Falk being staged at the Theatre St. Gallen in Switzerland.
Category: Theatre

Products involved
• ROBIN® MMX Spot
• ROBIN® DLX Spot
• ROBIN® DLF Wash
• ROBIN® DLS Profile
The creative brief for Grundner’s lighting design was to mimic the style and genre of the show – ‘contemporary rock and pop with gospel elements’ – for which the Theatre decided to purchase the new system of Robe moving lights.
The package comprised eight MMX Spots, two DLS Profile, two DLX Spots and 16 DLF Wash fixtures, all of which were specified by the Theatre’s Head of Lighting, Andreas Enzler and his Deputy Andreas Volk … on the recommendation of Grundner among others, and were delivered via Robe’s Swiss distributor, Audio Tech.
They decided on Robe because they sought a versatile, energy saving moving light rig containing high light output fixtures with excellent optics and fast movement. The rig also had to be cost efficient to run – and Robe’s DL and MMX ranges fitted the bill perfectly with their ‘smaller, lighter, brighter’ design concept.
The DL range is fast becoming a popular choice for theatre productions offering a number of important and relevant features like full tungsten emulation, completely shadow free LED lightsources and silent running.
Michael Grundner has been using and specifying Robe products in his work for some time, which includes a raft of musicals, corporate event designs and concerts worldwide for José Carreras – for whom he has been the LD since 2011.
The new fixtures are distributed between the Theatre’s advanced, front and rear house lighting bars.
The DLS’s framing shutters are a big plus, with individual control of each shutter blade position and angle, together with rotation of the complete framing module. As well as providing either a sharp or soft frame for the projected image, the system can produce new effects through pre-programmed shutter blade shape and movement sequences. As with the Robe entire DL luminaire range, the associated LED source is ultra smooth and shadow free.
The Award winning DLF is a perfect companion to the DLX, and is based on the same RGBW LED module, with a fabulously smooth output via the front fresnel lens. Mechanical features include a newly designed linear motorized zoom of 5.5° - 60° and a diffusion filter that extends the zoom up to 75°! An internal barn door module can be used for creating different shapes, while advanced software features include RGBW or CMY colour mixing, a set of calibrated whites, CTO, tungsten lamp emulation (amber shift) and more.
The DLX Spot uses a unique new RGBW LED light source resulting in colour outputs brighter than most 1200 Watt discharge units … with an average eco-friendly power consumption of only 250 Watts. A myriad of effects can be produced using a combination of the static and rotating gobo wheels with custom replaceable positions, plus variable frost, three-faceted prism, superfast iris and more... including full range theatrical grade dimming and variable strobe.
The new technology of Robe’s MMX Spot gives it a light output similar to most existing 1200W luminaires plus neat features like hot-spot control. Its key feature -the 'Dual Graphics Wheel' – presents two fully controllable contra-rotating plates that can be positioned anywhere in the light path to produce amazing visual effects.
In the Moses production, the fixtures are used to create a plethora of different effects and looks in a performance replete with colour and drama reproducing numerous locations and environments involved in the biblical epic charting the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.
Lighting was programmed by Andreas Volk and Vera Ostfalk and is being operated by Vera Ostfalk, Andreas Volk and Andreas Enzler using an ETC Eos console.
A high profile list of production credits also include Video Designer Sven Ortel, Set Designer Francis O’Connor and Costume Designer Joan O’Cleary, and the Director is Martin Duncan.
The show is currently scheduled to run until summer 2014, with the possibility of a further extension.
Philips LED Luminaire Licensing Program Reaches 300 Licensees
SSLDesign News StaffMay 16, 2013...The Netherlands-based company, Royal Philips reported having signed up its
300th licensee for its comprehensive portfolio of patented LED system
technologies and solutions. The company has seen its number of licensees grow
by 50% since May 2012. Since may of last year, the company's LED luminaire
licensing and retrofit program gained 100 new licensing agreements with
companies worldwide. Philips says that signing up its 300th licensee is a
significant milestone for the company.
Through the program, which launched in 2008, licensees can access to a wide
range of basic LED control and system-level technologies available for use in
their branded LED-based luminaires and retrofit bulbs for general illumination,
architectural, entertainment, and theatrical markets.
Arian Duijvestijn, Senior Vice President of Philips Intellectual Property
& Standards said, "\We are delighted that more and more businesses, from
start-ups to larger companies sign up to the LED luminaire and retrofit bulb
licensing program and recognize that working with us helps to speed up product
development, lower costs and advance the industry. We warmly welcome our 300th
licensee and are confident the program will continue to attract a wide variety
of companies in the coming months with the ultimate goal of driving growth in
LED lighting - the energy efficient lighting solution for the future."
Philips licensees noteably include Cooper, Trilux, Acuity Brands, Cree,
Osram, Martin, Neo-Neon, Lemnis Lighting, Zumtobel, and Paulmann. A list of
licensees and more information about the LED luminaire licensing program can be
found at www.ip.philips.com/licensing/ssl. You could own this space...
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