Lighting Technology

Leighton James is product & marketing director, TRILUX Lighting UK

LEDs represent approximately 90 per cent of the commercial/ professional market

Take LEDS to the next level

With the influx of LEDs to the commercial market, Leighton James examines how energy managers can squeeze more savings out of their low-energy lighting

The development of LED lighting has been rapid - they have gone from a small indicator life to now being one of the main ways people light their homes, offices, schools, and hospitals. The small light emitting diodes have played a significant role in helping companies reduce their energy consumption in the workplace, be it the traditional office, retail, industry, and even education establishments. Buildings have been seeing energy reduction, in some cases up to 90 per cent.

But with the recent influx in LED lighting manufacturers have we reached a plateau in terms of energy efficiency? LED technology, in terms of energy efficiency, is default now as LEDs represent approximately 90 per cent plus of the commercial/ professional market.

Today, it is about how we use, control, and network luminaires to maximise energy savings and create more comfortable sustainable environments. Of course, LED has been the gateway for advanced lighting control and we can do much more with light in a more sustainable way.

A recent Electrical Review article1 predicts that LED technology will likely become increasingly dominant in the lighting market and be used almost universally by 2024.

Modern LED luminaires are already contributing to environmental and climate protection thanks to their high-energy efficiency compared to conventional solutions. But what is the next step?

In 2017, TRILUX launched the European project, Repro-light. It aimed to support the European lighting industry in moving towards a more sustainable and competitive future. The project received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. It investigated sustainability and circular economy, the modularisation of luminaires, and a smart production scheme. The researchers conducted a life cycle assessment that quantifies the environmental impact over a luminaire’s entire life cycle (from production, to use, through to endof-life).

Saving energy even through using materials efficiently and conscientiously is vital. Our research showed that the electricity used during operation of the luminaire has by far the most critical impact on the environment. It makes up 99 per cent of the energy consumed in the entire life cycle of a luminaire. Therefore, making luminaires as energyefficient as possible is of the highest importance, but to further improve efficiency, light management systems have to be considered.”

Energy use can be reduced even further with some modifications to luminaire performance, components, and use. Energy consumption was reduced by 11 per cent by increasing luminaire efficacy from 157 lm/W to 179 lm/W, but an additional 30 per cent reduction was achieved using a light management system including daylight & presence control.

However, there is always room for performance improvements. By incorporating a complete controls system even at the most basic level, customers are finding more savings, which gives new life to the plateau we are experiencing with just LEDs alone.”

Highest BREEAM rating

V.Offices, a newly completed office development in Krakow, Poland, recently received the highest ever BREEAM rating for offices in the world. For a BREEAM score as high as 98.87 per cent, V. Offices had to optimise all aspects of the building. In terms of lighting, this meant using the most energy-efficient luminaires and making sure that they were only turned on when necessary. Therefore, lighting control in the common areas is based on DALI modules linked to movement detectors. The outdoor lighting relies on dusk sensors reducing light pollution to a minimum.

Light management has many facets, from simple control via sensor or app to Human Centric Lighting (HCL) and complex cloud applications such as predictive maintenance. In addition, “non-lighting” IoT applications can be implemented as infrastructure, expanding the possibilities of energy reduction beyond lighting.

It is now clear that we are long past the stage where designers are working towards energy goals alone. The combination of LEDs and controls together holds enormous potential for creating greater, more holistic workplaces.

A recent project for German logistics company Kühne+Nagel, where it replaced all conventional lighting systems with energyefficient LED technology plus light management, resulted in a significant reduction in operating costs in both its locations. Electricity costs decreased by approximately 30 percent. At the same time, the quality of light has been increased, with sometimes surprising effects. At the Obergeorgswerder site, deaf employees feel much safer in their work environment thanks to the higher lumen packages. And when it comes to future viability, with heat mapping, Kühne+Nagel has already implemented a locationbased service for the lighting, and the systems can be upgraded with additional IoT components at any time via plug and play.

With a powerful light management system, the lighting becomes an intelligent partner that can be perfectly adapted to the user’s needs. Sustainable solutions offer far more than just customised light.

Human Centric Lighting is a complex interplay between the human day-night rhythm and dynamic lighting parameters. Research has shown that lighting that follows the body’s natural rhythm can greatly affect employees’ health and wellbeing. The principles are just as applicable to office, industry, and retail.

In addition, trends such as digitalisation, globalisation, and networking have profoundly changed how we work in structural terms. Since the pandemic, large employers are focussing more on their employees’ health and wellbeing and are using new strategies to provide the workplace of the future. 

Reference

Lighting Technology

John Allden is managing director of Tamlite Lighting

Lighting the way to building safety

As the construction industry emerges from a period where building safety has been questioned John Allden explains how emergency lighting can play a role in restoring confidence

Emergency lighting should provide adequate lighting levels and directional illumination in the event of a mains failure

Over the last few years, the safety of buildings, and the people occupying them, has rarely been out of the headlines. While there had been a long-held feeling throughout the construction industry that something needed to be done to guarantee greater consistency in the design and construction quality of buildings, the Grenfell Tower tragedy in June 2017 brought things into a terrible focus.

In the aftermath, Dame Judith Hackitt’s independent review of building regulations - ‘Building a Safer Future’ - concluded that major reform was needed. Many of her recommendations regarding the delivery of a more robust regulatory system were reflected in the Government’s Building Safety Bill, giving residents more power to hold builders and developers to account, and toughening sanctions against those who threaten their safety.

However, more recent fires at New Providence Wharf in London and Regina Road in Croydon, are further examples where building safety has once again been called into question. Such is the level of concern, London’s fire commissioner has called for urgent change after it was revealed that the number of buildings that have abandoned their ‘stay put’ strategy has passed 1,000, because the building has been deemed too unsafe to stay in if a fire breaks out.

It once again highlights the work that needs to be done, and the importance of everybody in the supply chain working together to make way for a safer future. One of the biggest concerns is the need for greater accountability at every stage of the construction process, establishing a chain of custody and holding those in charge throughout the various stages of the building’s existence accountable for any mistakes.

The appointment of a Chief Inspector of Buildings to lead and set up the new Building Safety Regulator (BSR) will ensure the new rules are enforced, and action taken against anybody deemed to have broken them. While accountability throughout the lifecycle of a building plays a key role in restoring confidence in the design, construction and maintenance of high-rise buildings, further initiatives will focus on the products being used, ensuring they are fit for purpose.

Collectively, this provides precisely the kind of transparent reassurance that has been sought for many years. Critically, for building occupiers, it will provide long-term reassurance about the quality targets for, and development history of, a given building. The message is clear: not only do construction firms and their partners need to do everything they can to make new builds as safe as possible – they need to be seen to be doing so.

Given the essential role emergency lighting plays in providing vital time for the safe passage of occupants out of a building in the event of an emergency situation such as a fire, it would be easy to assume that it is a de facto priority in the development and maintenance of all buildings.

Victim of spec-breaking

Regrettably, lighting has often been an area that has fallen victim to specbreaking, and it is arguable that the issue has become more acute in the LED era with a fresh wave of lowprice – but not always high-quality – luminaires hitting the market. More than ever, making the case for the long-term benefits of higher-end solutions is going to be critical – we can no longer aim for minimum compliance to get the job done.

The case for high quality solutions which enhance building safety can be highlighted when it comes to the installation, ongoing testing, and maintenance of emergency lighting. To industry outsiders, it would be easy to assume that emergency lighting is a priority in the development and maintenance of all buildings. Now required to be installed and tested in line with British Standard BS 5266:1 2016, emergency lighting should provide adequate lighting levels and directional indication in the event of a mains failure, allowing occupants to move around and/or exit the building without accident or injury. The risk with value-engineered solutions is emphasised in terms of warranties. While the emergency luminaire may have a five-year warranty, the ‘life saving’ battery is far less.

Unfortunately, our experience indicates that, all too frequently, emergency lighting is still an issue that is being tackled in the later stages of a project; and sometimes by those with inadequate knowledge of the technical and legal requirements. This must change. There must be no compromises.

To achieve this, collaboration is essential. Everybody across the building services sector needs to work together to maintain building safety and offering the highest levels of accountability. As a manufacturer we have an important part to play in educating the market and will be working hard to communicate a clear case for quality solutions that deliver excellence, consistency, and peace of mind.

There is no doubt that it will take some years for the public in general to feel confident about the safety of buildings. But along with building and construction managers, lighting engineers, and contractors, collectively we can all play a key role in constructing a culture of responsibility, providing the way forward to a brighter, safer future. 

Lighting Technology

Complete package of LEDs launched for road and parking

LEDVANCE has extended its range of LED luminaires, advanced LED lamps, intelligent Smart Home and Smart Building solutions, introducing a complete package for road and parking lighting.

Available with two beam angles, three light colours and seven LED configurations, the Streetlight Flex range from LEDVANCE offers a matching solution across a wide variety of applications. These include parking areas and motorised traffic areas (M class), conflict areas (C class) and pedestrian and low speed areas (P class), according to the European road lighting standards (DIN) EN 13201. Delivering 1650 lm to 24450 lm, the LED lamps are available in colour temperatures of 27000K, 3000K and 4000K with efficiency ratings up to 155 lm/W.

The Streetlight Flex family provides energy-saving solutions across a wide variety of applications where uniform light distribution is crucial, whether for streets, car parks or outdoor urban areas. Options include small, medium and large luminaires, all with a choice of two uniform light distribution patterns.

Models RW25ST are designed for normal roads with single side placement, 1m overhang and up to 10 degrees incline of the luminaire head. These units provide ideal illumination for rectangular parking areas in front of the pole, while the RW35ST version enables two-sided installation with offset luminaires, and cares for dual carriageway roads up to 17m wide using 10m poles. 

LEDs to meet Ecodesign regulations

SIGNIFY has introduced the first Philips LED A-class bulbs that meet the more stringent EU Ecodesign and Energy labelling regulations that came into effect on September 1, 2021. The Philips LED bulbs with a longer lifespan provide consumers with a smart investment for both planet and purse. The LED bulbs are available in 40W and 60W equivalents.

For an A-class rating under the new regulations, lighting products have to reach an energy efficiency of 210lm/W. Signify has developed and designed four regular A-shape light bulbs that meet these criteria, meaning they consume 60 per cent less power to achieve the same light output and quality as standard Philips LED bulbs.

The new bulbs are claimed to be the brand’s most energyefficient lamps in this shape yet. Consumers can benefit from a 3.5 times longer life span than Philips LED’s regular A-shape equivalents as the new bulbs are able to shine light for approximately 50.000 hours. This translates into an average lifetime of 50 years, which provides consumers with a smart investment in the long run, for both the planet as their purse.

“With this technological breakthrough, we created our most energy-efficient lamp in this shape,” said Michael Rombouts, business unit leader LED Lamps and luminaires at Signify. 

Lighting upgrade for Scottish trade association HQ

When Scotland’s largest trade association, SELECT, required an upgrade for the lighting in its headquarters, its former president and experienced electrical contractor John Noble invited THORN LIGHTING to provide an energy efficient solution.

Working on a brief to modernise the spaces while taking into consideration daylight levels, Thorn supplied a variety of luminaires in the entrance foyer, main office, car park and subsidiary offices.

Founded in 1900 as The Electrical Contractors’ Association of Scotland, SELECT became the first trade association in the world to serve the electrical industry.

The main challenge for the lighting design at The Walled Garden in Penicuik, outside Edinburgh, was to provide a new dimmable solution in a continuous row system without introducing any additional wiring. The chosen solution was Thorn’s IQ Wave suspended continuous luminaires with integral through wiring, dimming gear and mini sensors.

IQ Wave is an intelligent lighting system with integral controls that responds to presence/absence detection and the amount of daylight in the space.

IQ Wave suspended LED luminaires have provided the optimum solution in the main office by offering a seamless lighting solution with clean, flowing lines. Incorporating Thorn’s patented MV Tech Optic the luminaire allows for excellent uniform light distribution and glare control UGR<19 and is available in 3000K/4000K colour temperature, CRI>80, with a lifetime of 50,000 hours.

Up to 40 per cent energy saving is achieved with the MWS Microwave Sensor for presence detection and with the HFSX Dual Sensor up to 70% energy saving is achieved, while the integrated sensors allow flexible lighting control.

Thorn’s ability to achieve an optimum lighting solution in the main office also allowed for a full package offering for the other spaces at SELECT HQ.

To create a consistent look throughout the building, IQ Wave recessed LED luminaires were installed in the back-office spaces, focusing on intelligent controls, optics, design and installation.

Lightweight Chalice 200 LED2000 downlights now illuminate the main entrance foyer at SELECT HQ. With an IP44 rating as standard, this delivers an efficacy of >100 Llm/W and a low maintenance lifetime of 50,000 hours.

Thorn’s R2L2 road lanterns also now illuminate the car park at The Walled Garden. The R2L2 offers excellent lighting performance up to 153 lm/W. 