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Light Bright continued

What About LEDs?

LEDs are being touted far and wide as the answer to every lighting question. [For more on this topic, see the Letters section of the magazine on page 8.] While they may someday actually be the main light source for commercial facilities, they aren’t there yet.

Their level of efficiency, while improving steadily, is approximately equal to halogen incandescent at this point. The current effectiveness of LEDs as a light source is based on the precision of their light distribution which is facilitated by their small size.

From a maintenance point of view, their quality and durability vary widely. There is substantial disagreement between experts and producers regarding life expectations and color quality. Some products allow for individual LEDs or modules to be replaced without replacing the entire fixture, but close inspection of product literature is often required to determine this. Since the technology is advancing at such an incredible rate, there is no guarantee the same products will be available at all when the time comes to change lamps.

From a disposal point of view, LEDs are circuit boards and should follow the same disposal path as other technologies of this kind. The low volume of LEDs reaching end of life so far has not triggered much discussion of this issue. However, once the current crop of products begins to fail, the issue will surface as a serious concern.

Optimizing Lighting Systems

As commercial buildings are being built and remodeled, facilities managers need to be involved in the design process in a positive way. Involvement of the people responsible for operating these increasingly complex systems is critical to ensure that lighting issues are addressed with approaches that will increase energy effectiveness, limit the number of lamps and lamp types required, and reduce disposal volume.

Effective involvement requires education in the complexities of the systems and equipment. There is also the need to understand the reasons for using different types of light sources and fixtures.

The facility manager who insists on the use of only 4' T8 lamps is not contributing to the process in a useful way. The creation of visual environments that people enjoy populating is a culturally positive value that requires a range of tools. The best results come from cooperation and innovation.

Facility managers should encourage manufacturers to produce fixtures with energy efficient small lamps, interchangeable optics, and durable construction to reduce waste and storage volume. They should also take a realistic look at the pros and cons of the numerous fluorescent lamp options that promise nirvana.

Insisting that new technologies prove their reliability and effectiveness is smart. But equally important is the effort to encourage the market to produce new products that transform wasteful practices.

Frazier is principal at Candela Architectural Lighting Consultants based in Seattle, WA. She has more than 22 years of experience as an independent lighting designer and instructor. For more information on Candela’s services, visit the Web at www.candela.com.

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