This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
SHUTTERSTOCK / ROBIN LUND


[ Focus: LED lighting ]


uptake of LED products both within new energy efficient lighting installations and also upgrades of existing lighting installations. In many cases, an LED light source that consumes 3W of energy has a much higher duty tariff than its high- power counterpart that produces the same light output but consumes 50W. This does not help with the promotion of the more energy-efficient LED light products and LED lighting solutions, which could be part of the answer to our potential energy problems in 2015.


Should there be energy-efficiency targets for LED lamps and consumption caps? As previously mentioned, at present in the marketplace, it is possible to purchase a 5W LED lamp that provides more light output than a 10W LED lamp. However, the consumer often assumes (uncorrected by some manufacturers) that the 10W lamp should automatically provide more light, since it consumes more energy. There is an education issue for consumers – they need to understand the facts about LED lighting rather than follow assumptions based on older lighting technology. Also, manufacturers should be required to aim for more efficient targets when producing LED products. Currently, there are no minimum standards in terms of light output for LED products on general sale. There is also no cap on energy consumption for LED products, which means manufacturers are not obliged to produce more efficient products. In fact, from a marketing perspective, it could be argued that current consumer misperceptions – that higher consumption automatically equate to more light output – could encourage firms to seek more sales by labelling a lamp with a higher


Manufacturers should be


required to aim for more efficient targets when producing LED products


consumption rating. And this does sometimes happen – a scenario that’s also reflected in other consumer electronics markets. A simple consumption cap on all new LED lamps would force manufacturers to invest in technology to produce lamps that provide higher lighting output for less energy.


Are lighting controls out of control? While we are able dramatically to reduce installed lighting circuit loads by using energy-efficient LED lighting products, it appears that most lighting control and dimming solutions have not been able to keep up with fast-changing LED technology. In many cases, very expensive lighting control systems cannot register the low circuit loads generated by LED lighting products, compared to their halogen counterparts. The remedy advocated is to add a synthetic (dummy) load to the circuit in order to boost the power to the lighting control/dimmer switch. This is counterproductive, as the dummy load can cost in excess of £100 per circuit, and there are many instances where a high-power product, such as a halogen lamp, is added to the circuit (out of sight) just to increase the lighting circuit loads and operate the lighting control or dimming system. While LED lighting product manufacturers have to play their part in ensuring that their products are energy efficient, lighting control and dimming system manufacturers must start producing and marketing equipment with tolerance for the lower lighting circuit loads.


n For further information on LED lighting technology, contact Kelly Dangoor at Orlight on 01707 663 883 or Giuliano Digilio, ECA head of Technical Services, on 0207 313 4825. See www.eca.co.uk or www.orlight.com


September 2012 ECA Today 55


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72