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Lightfair International 2008: Field Report

Jul 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Joe Knisley, Senior Editorial Consultant

A green revolution takes hold

Three concepts dominated this year's Lightfair International show, held at the Las Vegas Convention Center May 26-30. The environment (energy cost trimming, utility demand reduction needs, and minimizing hazardous substances in products), quality of life (design/aesthetics, including daylighting, versatile lighting control, human health, and security), and legislation (efficiency standards and disposal) were recurring themes at the 2008 event.

As an example, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 created higher lamp efficiency standards for the 40W to 100W incandescent and halogen general service lamps. Starting Jan. 1, 2012, 100W lamps will have to become 30% more efficient. By 2013-14, 75W lamps and 40W and 60W lamps must follow the same efficiency route, respectively.

CFL and LED developments

A number of reduced-profile compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) seen at Lightfair can respond to this challenge. Contrary to the reports of their demise, incandescent technology will still be a choice. For example, Philips' Halogena lamps, made in 40W, 50W, and 70W sizes, can be used as a direct replacement for existing 60W, 75W, and 100W incandescent lamps, respectively — providing about 30% energy savings at nearly a 10% output reduction. General Electric's line of HIR (infrared reflecting) lamps can replace higher wattage standard PAR 38 lamps. In one case a 48W lamp delivers more lumens than a 75W halogen. In addition, Advanced Lighting Technology's recent acquisition of the lighting technology division of Schott AG, Auer Lighting, allows new Nano Film Capsule technology to be applied to a hybrid incandescent lamp that claims to have twice the efficiency of a standard incandescent.

Not to be left behind by the CFL push, the benefits of durability and maintainability inherent in light-emitting diode (LED) light sources were seen in a great majority of booths displaying both lamps and fixtures. Because these tiny chips have uses beyond specialized applications, such as “architainment,” a host of interior downlights, accent luminaires, and cove lighting strips offering improved lumen efficiency, more stable color, and warm color temperatures were on display.

Since an LED generates less than half the heat of an incandescent but twice that of a fluorescent lamp, Nexxus and Kramer/Beta/Rudd are using heat pipes (developed by NASA) rather than the larger and heavier finned aluminum heat sinks to withdraw heat from the LED die in recessed fixtures.

Because everyone is looking for meaningful LED performance criteria, the DOE has selected 13 solid-state lighting (SSL) research and developments projects to receive up to $20.6 million in funding to assist in developing general lighting applications. Among the firms selected are: Cree, General Electric, Osram Sylvania Development, and Philips Lumiled Lighting, all of which showed breakthrough products at the show.

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