Efficient Lighting and Solar Powered Solutions

Potential savings : enormous and everywhere

Hong Kong by night

Lighting technologies are in constant evolution and we are working to transform how we light our world. We can make a considerable dent in carbon emissions by using lighting a lot more energy efficient.
Twenty percent of the world's electricity is used for lighting. Lighting accounts for nearly 10% of global CO2 emissions, more than cars worldwide.
Efficient lamps and smart controls are now available to be scaled globally in our everyday's environment so let's use them indoor, in the streets, in parking garages or for decorative purposes.

Comparative Analysis of Lamps

This table aims to provide an overview of the lamp technologies and characteristics that are available on today's market. The data comes from datasheets of the leading manufacturers and only represents a selection of a wider range.

The main purpose is to highlight the advantages and drawbacks of each technology in terms of energy efficiency and related lighting efficacy.

Metal Lamp Sodium Lamp Mercury Lamp CFL MEDL LED
Comparative analysis of today's most common lamp technologies
Lifetime (h) 6,000 9,000 6,000 20,000 60,000 50,000
Initial luminous flux (Lm) 17,000 (250W) 25,000 (250W) 10,000 (250W) 9,000 (120W) 11,000 (165W) 6,500 (100W)
Heat radiated (C) 200-300 200-300 200-300 80 110 40
Start up time (s) 300-600 300-600 300-600 2 1 Instant.
Able to re-start instantaneously ? No No No Yes Yes Yes
Color rendering (Ra) 68 25 40 82 85 80
Color temperature (K) 4,800 2,000 5,700 4,000 6,500 5,000
Glare Intense Intense Intense Moderate Low Low
Luminous flux decay Rapid Rapid Rapid Slow Slow Very Slow
Heavy metal content (mg) 20-30 20-30 20-30 4 6 None

Overview of the highest efficient lamps on the market

Indoor LED

Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lamps

Street Light LED LED are more than four times more efficient than incandescent bulbs and they are more efficient than compact fluorescents (CFLs), the next most efficient light source available today.

Combined with smart controls, they can cut CO2 emissions by 50 to 70%. LEDs offer the most efficient and environmentally friendly lighting source (no mercury or lead).

They offer far more durability and much longer life times. LED fixtures can last 10-25 years, which can significantly reduce maintenance costs and impact on the environment.

Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL)

Compact Fluorescent Lamp

These lamps have a high luminous efficacy, guarantee an immediate, flicker-free start and weigh less. Due to the low consumption of power and the long life of these lamps, both energy and maintenance costs are saved. The ballasts for their operation can be built-in the lamp or incorporated into the luminaire.

Because of the diversity of glass bulbs these lamps are mainly used to replace tungsten lamps in restaurants, salesrooms, homes and rooms with decorative lighting. Lamps that are both compact and powerful are used in special fittings for the direct and/or indirect illumination of offices.


Magnetic Electrodeless Discharge Lamps (MEDL) aka Induction Lamps

MEDL Lamps

In fluorescents, each time the lamp is started the electrodes degrade a little, eventually causing the lamp to fail, since a MEDL lamp has no electrodes, it can last at least 60,000 hours.

MEDL save up to 60% electricity with the same light rendering compared to traditional discharge lamps. They allow instant starting and restarting with no warm-up time and come in various colour temperatures.

With power ranging from 80 to 400W and high efficiency of more than 75 lm/W, induction lamps are an ideal choice for a lot of commercial or industrial applications including external lighting.

Fiber Optics (aka Optical Fibers or Optical Arteries)

Fiber optics and comb

Optical fiber illumination is of particular interest to the lighting designer. Requiring minimum upkeep, the medium allows the designer true flexibility; it permits originality and brings a fresh, individual approach to lighting design.

Often used for decorative applications, a main lamp source feeds the fibers which transmit light. Colored wheels are sometimes used to achieve special effects.

In some buildings, optical fibers route sunlight from the roof to other parts of the building. In this case there is no artificial light involved, the purpose is to redistribute natural daylight to the darker rooms which have no openings to the outside.

Street Lighting, Car Parks

LED for Street Lighting

LED Solar Street Lighting

LED outdoor luminaires have many advantages over conventional high pressure sodium (HPS), metal halide, and fluorescent lamps. The inherent directionality of LED emitters make them an ideal choice for roadway lighting. LED luminaires direct more light on surfaces where it is most needed.

Meanwhile, the marriage of smart controls and LEDs makes dimming easy, this allows for unprecedented control of the light patterns on the ground and the near total elimination of wasted light. The quality of the light produced and their long lifespan is another advantage.

LED outdoor lighting also reduces costs, enhances public safety, minimizes light pollution and makes public spaces friendlier at night.

The following table shows the power savings achieved by LED lamps in comparison with standard HPS lamps:

LEDs Lamps
consumption
Standard HPS Lamps
consumption
Lumen Efficiency Obtained
Comparison of LEDs against Standard Street Lamps
48W 75W 3,300
60W 125W 4,400
80W 150W 6,600
100W 175W 7,600
125W 200W 9,400
140W 250W 10,600
180W 320W 13,800

Advantages of energy efficient lighting systems

Icon Euro Efficient lighting systems can be used for new and retrofit installations of existing lights. Also, they can be used with or without a solar module based on economic and geographic preference.

Icon LightActual leading lighting technologies are the CFL, MEDL and the LED lamps. All have a high Lumen/Watt ratio and provide a minimum of 60-65% saving on electrical costs compared to conventional lamps.

Icon LifespanEfficient lamps lifespan is more than four times that of conventional lights.

Icon MicroChipOptional automatic dimmer system combined with motion controls, for increased power saving. Lamp intensity can increase/decrease during dusk/dawn.

Icon EyeSpread of illumination on the ground is adjustable to meet specific requirements.

Icon Factory PollutionEnvironmentally-friendly: Helps reduce CO2 emissions and contain less or no hazardous chemicals.

Advantages when combined with solar systems:

Icon Solar PowerWith the addition of a solar module further savings of up to 100% can be realized. The solar module charges the battery storage system. Five hours of "reasonably bright" daylight produces 25 hrs (average of 2.5 nights) of full spectrum illumination.

Icon PlugInstallation of solar lighting systems in those geographic areas with high amounts of sun and bright daylight require no tie-in to the local power grid system. It can be installed in remote areas or when grid network is unreliable or simply not available.

Icon ExcavatorNo buried or overhead cables. No costs for trenching, cabling and rearrangement of surface. Minimized planning efforts.

Icon BatteryIf connected to an existing grid or other power sources (diesel generators, wind turbines..) the controls regulate the draw of electricity either from the grid or from the solar module based on the level of charge in the battery.

Icon ControlIncreased security of the premises as it becomes a stand-alone system.

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