If it’s good enough for Her Majesty, it might even be good enough for us. Tracy Edwards gets blown away by the LED explosion.
Jaw-droppingly attractive, yet surprisingly low maintenance and always up for a party, LEDs are the match made in heaven for a whole host of applications ranging from grand city beautification projects to humble shop signs.
The demand for energy efficient lighting solutions is an ever-increasing one, and LEDs allow for precise positioning with very little unwelcome light pollution, as well as producing more light per watt than other solutions.
And yet, the LED onslaught that’s been in the pipeline for the past few years has hardly materialised to the levels we’ve been led to expect. According to John Rothery, Philips Lighting’s specification and new business initiation manager, this is all set to change. “There’s going to be an LED revolution,” he explains. “We’ve been saying this for about five years now, but marketing and commercial barriers have now been overcome and it’s close to tipping point.”
According to Philips, we are set to see a positive explosion in downlighters using LEDs by the end of this year. “We’ve already got to the point where the performance is good enough, but they are still too expensive,” says Rothery. “By the end of 2007, we will have reached the point where they are cost neutral. There’s also a demand for more interesting solutions now, such as colour changing. But not too garish – perhaps between a warm white and a cool white at different times of day.” To this end, Philips has introduced a subtle white, amber and blue palette, which is set to become the next major trend. Converting the cool white produced by LEDs into a warmer tone within the conventional white, red and green palette is straightforward enough, but can mean losing up to 20% energy efficiency. Positioning an amber LED next to a cool white one is a far more efficient way of warming the light’s tone.
Another exciting potential growth area is embedded LEDs, but it seems we still have a while to go before this becomes a standard route. “Within the next five years, we’re likely to be getting away from luminaries as we see them today,” says Rothery. “It might be that we’re supplying technology to ceiling manufacturers. But people aren’t investing so heavily. The core technology hasn’t quite reached that point.”
Elsewhere, solid state lighting has truly been making its mark. Up to 70% of channel letters use LEDs. Rewards include lower cost of ownership and an energy saving of 80% on neon. Safety is also improved, as signs are low voltage.
Large-scale outdoor installations are benefiting as well. Philips’ LEDs have been reaching the parts that other lighting can’t reach in projects such as the Chelsea Bridge. Conveniently small yet incredibly robust, many current applications are targeted at otherwise inaccessible installations. Maintenance is rarely a consideration, as LEDs have a lifetime of at least ten years. However, access can be an issue if problems need correcting during the project itself.
Indoor installations are also big news. Added intelligence systems are beginning to storm the market, with Philips’ AmbiScene Healthcare providing a truly vibrant example. At Hamburg’s Marienkrankenhaus Hospital, patients undergoing stressful MRI scans can select their favourite LED colour schemes, creating a comforting ambience.
The good news for contractors is that progression does not end here. A major challenge lies in the fact that the majority of recent installations have been highly specialised. Rothery says: “Even if you’ve done an installation of this type, the next one could be entirely different – unique, even. It’s not cost-effective for installers to go through the learning curve every time.” For this reason, Philips is working towards more standardised systems. “You can adapt the hardware in each project, or you can build lots of options into the hardware and adapt it for each project via the software, which is easier,” Rothery explains.
The LED market offers a real opportunity for contractors to add value. But even as standardisation increases, working more closely with lighting designers than conventional installations tend to require is a neccessity if you truly want to shine.
Bridging the Gap
Layered lighting techniques ensure London’s Chelsea Bridge stands out from the crowd as one of the City’s most decorative crossings.
A tailored Philips solution using LEDline2 in combination with Decoflood enhances the bridge’s instantly recognisable architectural detailing (see picture, top).
The main challenge with the design put forward by Atkins Odlin was to provide distinction between the upper and lower sections of the bridge, reducing the dominant illumination of the arches. This was achieved by giving emphasis to the handrail using a bespoke LEDline module. In all, Proctors Electrical installed some 238 modules, 1.2 metres in length. Sealed for life, the IP65 module can be fixed to uneven surfaces by a single universal bracket, ensuring flexibility in mounting and aiming.
Cool white modules contrast with warmer tones projected onto suspension cables, arches and twin towers. Decoflood luminaires were positioned centrally within each arch, offering dramatic contrast to the balustrade.
LED by the horns
1. Energy Efficiecy
Installing solid state lighting benefits the environment. LEDs consume far less energy than standard light sources. They also require less energy to manufacture, reducing their carbon footprint even further.
2. Economy
Although initial prices are still high, LED lighting can offer significant cost savings over time, not only due to reduced energy consumption, but also owing to negligible maintenance needs.
3. Longevity
The typical life of an LED can run into tens of thousands of hours. Even compact fluorescent lamps tend only to last half as long.
In addition, LEDs fade slowly over time, offering ample opportunity to plan replacements.
4. Strength
LEDs are encased in high-strength optical grade resin, making them ideal for demanding environments or those where regular access is likely to prove difficult.
5. Safety
The low heat and voltages of LEDs make for a far less hazardous source of lighting. There is no glass to break, no white-hot filament and no noxious fumes.
6. Versatility
The safe nature, reliability and minute size of LEDs means they can be built into the fabric of almost any item, from roof tops to table cloths, offering a lighting tool of incredible diversity.
Palace of Lights
Philips LEDs have made history at Buckingham Palace in time for the Queen’s 80th birthday celebrations. For the first time, the familiar façade has a permanent lighting installation, creating a spectacular visual impact for night-time tourist.
Traditional lighting methods require regular maintenance and need replacing after five years. But this compact new technology provides a fit and forget solution for the next 25 years.
The Palace is set between the royal parks, so light pollution was a key consideration. LEDline2 modules, with warm white Luxeon LEDs, were fitted to the upper and lower floors, offering precise directional controlled washes of light. Additional Master Colour CDM-T 70 W and 150 W lamps were placed close to the building’s exterior, bringing out the natural colour of the stonework.
While a typical system would use about 20 - 40 kW, the whole Philips installation, carried out by the Royal Household building services team, uses about 2.7 kW, which is about as much as your average kettle. In fact, it is the energy equivalent of using a single white floodlight on the whole building, and a project of this size would require at least 20. The efficiency lies in the fact that the LEDs are positioned very close to the building, for example on window sills, so very little light is wasted.
Source
Electrical and Mechanical Contractor
