Philips Introduces Industry-changing Solutionsging Lighting Transformations, Solutions

Royal Philips Electronics extended further its leadership position in the lighting industry by outlining its holistic, energy-efficient and high-quality approach to lighting in response to dramatic shifts and market transformation that the industry is facing, largely fueled by the advent of solid state lighting (SSL).

Rudy Provoost, CEO of Philips Lighting said Philips today is at the epicenter of the solid state lighting revolution by enabling people to experience light in a whole new way by providing total systems to control light, manage energy consumption, provide functional and decorative environments and to enhance safety.

The European-based company, which had its beginnings in 1891 when Dutch mechanical engineer Gerard Philips started the production of carbon-filament lamps in a former buckskin factory in Eindhoven in the Netherlands, is shifting away from a “bulb” and “fixture” heritage to an integrated lighting solutions company.

“We are managing the move from components and bulbs to solutions and applications,” says Provoost.

At Lightfair International 2009, the world’s biggest trade show for the lighting industry held in New York City recently, Philips introduced a wide range of new technologies, products and services addressing both current and new uses of light. Ranging from components, electronics and fixtures to complete solid-state lighting systems with advanced controls, these latest introductions showcase the company’s vastly expanded portfolio, the breadth of which is unique to the lighting industry.

“As the lighting industry evolves, Provoost said, we seek to create the right balance between delivering energy efficient solutions, enhancing economic prosperity, and protecting environmental health and social equity.”

LIGHTING LANDSCAPE

Philips sees three major mega trends that will affect the lighting industry in the years to come and shape the company’s future in particular and the industry in general.

According to Mr. Provoost, the first important industry shift is the shift from incandescent lamp to energy-efficient light sources.

He said the current convergence of crisis-economic and financial slowdown, climate change and continued volatility of food and energy prices are creating a greater demand for energy saving lighting. As a result, the market for innovative, efficient and sustainable lighting solutions will continue to grow.

Secondly, is the move from traditional vacuum-based technologies to solid state lighting technology.

Provoost believes solid-state or LED (light emitting diodes) lighting is the most significant development in lighting since the invention of electric light almost a century ago. Offering unprecedented freedom in terms of colors, dynamics, miniaturization, architectural integration and energy efficiency, solid-state lighting is opening up exciting new possibilities.

Thirdly is the transition is from the bulb and components as the point of value creation in the lighting industry to applications solutions.

According to Philips, lighting expertise based on end-user insight is integrated into the application, system or solution. Increasingly, these applications and solutions will include controls, and so a key differentiator in the future will be the innovative strength to create systems and solutions that are truly customer-centric.

SSL IS THE WAY TO GO

Mr. Provoost believes that LEDs will shape the future of lighting, adding that switching from older incandescent and mercury vapour lamps to LED or solid state lighting products can reduce energy consumption by 10 percent. “With additional improvements such as sensors and lighting controls, the total savings could go up to 30 per cent annually,” he said.

He explained that in high energy consumption economies such as the United States, the adoption of new lighting technologies could help save US$18 billion every year and could eliminate over 158 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

“LEDs are transforming the nature of lighting – how and where, artificial light is used to enhance the human experience,” Provoost said.

He added that despite the market for global LED lighting still is relatively small today, accounting for US$4 billion in revenue, it is expected to grow to US$30 billion in the next 15 years.

In Asia-Pacific, Provoost said cost is still the current top prohibitive factor for LED technology adoption. However, to he said that if they can are able to bring the return on investment to below two years, then perhaps the market pick up will be much more faster.

“Since cost is admittedly still the current top prohibitive factor for LED technology adoption, we are working on ways like talking to governments to make it more affordable to consumers, for example, through subsidy methods,” Provoost said.

To boost adoption of LED technology among Asia-Pacific countries, he said Philips is working closely with different governments in the region on awareness programs and helping them come out with proper legislation.

According to Provoost, LEDs demand in the region primarily will come from the business and professional markets first. “The main growth drivers will come from the business-to-business market, followed by the consumer segment,” he said.

To date Philips’ LED solutions for the business market are already available in the region while its consumer LED products are expected to be available in six to 18 months.

LEDs, Provoost said, are shaping the future of lighting, and Philips is in a good position to capitalise on that.

Over the past years, he said Philips have strengthened its LED technology portfolio through a number of acquisitions such as Color Kinetics, Lumileds and the Genlyte Group.”

To do this, Mr. Provoost said, they need to leverage advanced technologies such as SSL to enhance people’s wellbeing and improve their experience of light, wherever they might be. “At home, in the office, on the road, in the car, shopping, wherever — the power and reach of SSL gives us the ability to do both.”

However, he added that in order to be successful in providing these solutions, Philips needs to work closely together with its channel partners and lighting professionals – such as architects, lighting designers and installers, etc.

NEW PRODUCTS, SOLUTIONS

Mr. Provoost explained that Philips is bringing together the expanded portfolio of businesses within the company’s Lighting sector, to offer complete and integrated solutions to vertical market segments, ranging from outdoor applications to hospitality, entertainment, and other indoor environments.

At Lightfair’s vast trade floor show at the Javits Convention Center, Philips showcased its powerful range of lighting solutions. Highlights include:

- Energy Services: A new comprehensive lighting audit and upgrade program in conjunction with strategic partners. This program guarantees economic payback, reduced carbon footprint and increased light quality for today’s overwhelmingly inefficient buildings.

- Professional Solid-State Lighting: Highly-efficient LED luminaires for wide-ranging interior and exterior uses – leveraging the company’s expanded in-house technology, expertise and intellectual property across all system layers.

- Residential Solid-State Lighting: An advance preview of a forthcoming 600-lumen A-shape LED bulb that will effectively replace inefficient 40-watt incandescent alternatives.

- Components: The industry’s first power LED that offers specific lumens per watt efficacy, helping manufacturers develop energy-saving luminaires. The new high-performing modules have also been launched for downlight luminaires.

- Professional Lamps: Advanced, higher-efficiency conventional lamps for outdoor, commercial, retail, and industrial use, including fluorescent and ceramic metal halide technology, which easily replace existing sources to deliver industry low wattage and significant cost savings.

- Electronics: Optimized ballasts and LED drivers that provide enhanced energy efficiency and promote sustainability in integrated lighting systems, used in a range of outdoor, retail, sign, commercial and emergency applications.

In his speech, Mr. Provoost also called upon the industry to work together on the adoption of standards for energy efficiency, along with open and collaborative innovation: “We call upon the lighting industry’s stakeholders to seize the tremendous opportunity to embrace the changes being brought about by a combination of government legislation and economic stimulus to build a sustainable future.”

Provoost said the global lighting industry is in a state of great transition. “Economic and environmental concerns are driving all of us to make the move from incandescent lamps to cleaner, more energy-efficient solutions as quickly as we can.”

The Philips executive believes the solid state lighting revolution is happening at the right time. “What’s particularly exciting is that LEDs and OLEDs offer the possibility to create new lighting designs and experiences that weren’t achievable in the past. With these new concepts Philips is adding a whole new dimension to lighting and the way it can enhance people’s lives.”

GOING GREEN

Around the world, people are increasingly concerned about the effects of climate change and rising energy costs. In many countries a substantial body of “green” legislation is imminent, if not already in place – much of which has a direct impact on the future of lighting. Understanding these imperatives, Philips is addressing these challenges as a tremendous opportunity to help shape the future of lighting on a global scale.

“Lighting is no longer a mere utility,” Provoost said. “It has been shown to affect the way we live, work and feel.”

He pointed out that it’s a considerable drain on our energy resources, accounting for 22% of electricity use in America.

“In today’s economic climate, it’s imperative that we assemble the right technologies and services for our customers to create experiences, inspire new applications, and mitigate strain on energy resources.”

Philips said lighting accounts for 19% of global energy consumption, but by implementing innovative lighting solutions, this can realistically reduce the energy consumption of today’s installed base by at least 40% (and even up to 70% in offices), while also improving the quality of the light.

“We can play a significant role in encouraging and enabling the switch to energy-efficient lighting and help combat climate change,” Provoost said.

Choosing Compact Florescent Light Bulbs

By changing your light bulbs you’ll save money, reduce pollution, improve lighting and feel good about your environmental decisions.

Some home improvements aren’t as noticeable as others but they can still be an important step in creating just the right environment for your life. Changing the lighting in your home can not only affect the mood and environment, it can also save you money and improve your green rating. In fact, changing the lighting in your home can be as simple as changing your light bulbs.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs are becoming more available and more reasonably priced, and will save energy in your home and will eventually cut your energy bills. On average CFL bulbs use about 75% less energy than incandescent lights, which means less pollution is generated and your realized savings can be somewhere between $36 and $59 throughout the life of the bulb. CFLs are also estimated to have a lifespan that is somewhere between 8 and 10 times longer than traditional bulbs.

Compact fluorescents also light your home in a more radiant way that is a bit confusing at first. The wattage of a CFL is much lower than that of an incandescent so you can use a much smaller wattage bulb to get the same amount of light or you can boost the light level in your home by using a higher CFL bulb.

There are some downsides to compact fluorescent bulbs; they contain about 5 milligrams of mercury. In theory CFLs are a more environmentally friendly solution to home lighting as they use less energy and create less pollution, but if not disposed of properly the mercury can cause some environmental problems. Keep in mind that if the bulbs are used appropriately there is no danger to using them at all, it’s just in the disposal that there can be a problem. To find out what your local hazardous material refuse rules are, contact your local waste management office or check online at www.earth911.org to find regulations related to your zip code.

Some companies, such as IKEA, are involved in a take back program and you can return your old bulbs to their stores and they’ll properly handle your waste. Other retailers are joining this program so if you aren’t lucky enough to have an IKEA nearby you might have another store that will accept your trashed bulbs. Lucky for Nanjing people, IKEA, where you could find many kinds of energy saving lights, came last year.

LED – The Best Light Bulb for Your Money

Are you still using incandescent light bulbs? As we all know that home lighting accounts for about 20% of the average home’s electricity bill. So switching to compact flourescent or LED bulbs will cut down your electricity bill.

Here are the pros and cons for LED:

LEDs
LED technology allows for a large amount of light to come from a small source of energy without giving off much heat.

Costs: At up to $100 per bulb (although many cost between $20 and $30), converting an entire home to an all-LED lighting system could wind up costing thousands of dollars upfront.

But, like computers and iPhones, LED bulbs will likely get cheaper over time, likely making them a more convincing lighting option.

“The cost of bright LEDs has dropped 95% in the last 10 years and 30% in the last three,” says William Greenhoe, president of PiSAT, a company that makes solar powered LED lanterns and flashlights.

Pros: Each LED light bulb, which uses direct and powerful light emitting diode technology, can last up to 50,000 hours.  That’s five and a half hours a day every day for 25 years.

Also, LED bulbs don’t get as hot as incandescent bulbs, which could make them more safe and efficient for commercial use, especially if they’re left on 24 hours a day, seven days a week

Cons: Converting your home lighting system to all LEDs may not be a good idea if you live in a very cold climate, says Cunningham, citing reports that Canadian consumers switching to LED bulbs eventually had greater demands on their home heating systems due to low heat output from LED bulbs.

And though some companies guarantee their bulbs for life, many LED bulbs are only guaranteed for a year or a few years.

“LEDS are just coming onto the market, so there’s not a lot of regulation right now or information on whether or not they’re going to fulfill their 50,000 hour promises,” says Cunningham.

A Modular LED Light System – Branch Light

Branch Light it’s a modular interior LED light system. It features a lightweight black ceramic body, with no wirings, no threads and no holes, just a plain faceted surface inspired on the Vertex. Both interconnections, LEDs and wall plus roof supports, are made, using the power of neodymium magnets.

Création du designer portugais Bruno Fosi, le concept de lustre à LEDs modulable “Branch Light” mélange art nouveau, inspirations origamiques et technologies modernes pour un résultat plutôt réussit. Découverte en images dans la suite !

Who Can Save the Incandescent Lightbulb?

A new breakthrough may change the attitude that the incandescent lightbulb has had its day.

As we are know that compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) have unquestionably gained popularity for their energy efficiency when compared to the traditional incandescent bulb. Millions of people around the world have been encouraged by politicians, governments, energy utilities, and even lightbulb companies themselves to phase out traditional incandescent bulbs in favor of CFLs (or even LEDs) to save electricity in the home.

But now researchers at the University of Rochester in New York say they’ve found a way to make an incandescent lightbulb more efficient.

A group led by Chunlei Guo, associate professor of optics at the University of Rochester, has been testing the effects of ultra-fast lasers on the properties of metals and decided to try a tungsten filament (the tiny wire in the typical lightbulb).

The group blasted the tungsten filament with an ultra-fast short-pulse laser for a femtosecond. A femtosecond is to a second “what a second is to about 32 million years,” according to the researchers.

The blast changed the properties of the surface metal on the filament so that it formed nanostructures and microstructures that enabled it to shine significantly more brightly while still using the same amount of electricity.

“We fired the laser beam right through the glass of the bulb and altered a small area on the filament. When we lit the bulb, we could actually see this one patch was clearly brighter than the rest of the filament, but there was no change in the bulb’s energy usage,” Guo said in a statement.

The change in the filament has enabled the incandescent light bulb to shine as bright as an average 100-watt bulb, but consume less electricity than the average 60-watt bulb.

Full details of the project, which was sponsored by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research, will be published in the next issue of “Physical Review Letters.”

So laser can save the incandescent lightbulb? We are expecting the project…

Why the White LED Shows White

The ‘white’ of white LEDs comes from the narrow-band blue naturally emitted by GaN LEDs, plus a broad spectrum yellow generated by a phosphor coating on the die which absorbs a proportion of the blue and converts it to yellow.

‘GaN’ die are actually InGaN heterostructures, which can produce operational wavelengths from green to ultra-violet by varying the relative amounts of indium and gallium during production.

Although this blue die + yellow phosphor approach yields light which appears white, it has little green and almost no red content leading to inferior colour rendering compared with incandescent bulbs and even ‘tri-phosphor’ florescent tubes. ‘Warm white’ LEDs, which include a red-producing phosphor, are an attempt to improve this situation as well as make LEDs illumination more acceptable in living spaces.

LEDtronics has the largest variety of White LEDs and LED lamps on the market from White SMT LEDs, 3mm, 5mm White LEDs, to Direct Incandescent Replacement White Based LED lamps in standard electrical bases and voltages from 6 Volts to 270 Volts. Base styles such as T1-3/4 (5mm) Midget-Flanged White based LED lamps, Telephone-Slide based White LED Lamps, T3-3/4 (9mm) Miniature based White LED lamps, 15mm DC Bayonet based White LED lamps, 15mm SC Bayonet based White LED lamps, A19, R20, PAR20, R30, S11, S14L, G30, Candelabra Screw based, Panel-Mount and MR16-style based White LED lamps. And durable White LED Torches and Flashlights.

White LED

LED technology is driving the future of lighting with the developments made in the efficacy of white LEDs in the past few years,

As white light is the main driver for general illumination, there is a particularly strong focus on improving the efficiency of white LEDs, which currently outperform tungsten halogen lamps with efficacies from 45-55lm.

Manufacturing methods have allowed for significant progress to be made in increasing the efficiency of LEDs. Previously, the only way to produce white LED light was by the additive colour mixing of the three basic colours using so-called “multi-LED”, ie, three semiconductor chips (red, green and blue LEDs) had to be combined.

Today it is possible to produce white LED light with a single chip.

In luminescence conversion, only a blue LED is used, whose light stimulates a luminescent substance that emits yellow light. With interaction, the system produces the colour white.

White light is generated on the basis of a principle similar to that used in luminescent substance lighting. Depending on the composition of the luminescent substance, various white tones can be realised.

White LED versions of traditional luminaires are already available from several manufacturers, particularly in the MR11 spotlight  style.

LED headlights for cars are in the pipeline is producing a range of multi-die packages that are close to producing enough light for road illumination. LED bicycle headlights are already available.

Let’s Switch to LED Lighting

Studies suggest that a complete conversion to the lights could decrease carbon dioxide emissions from electric power use for lighting by up to 50 percent in just over 20 years; in the United States, lighting accounts for about 6 percent of all energy use. A recent report by McKinsey & Company cited conversion to LED lighting as potentially the most cost effective of a number of simple approaches to tackling global warming using existing technology.

LED lighting was once relegated to basketball scoreboards, cellphone consoles, traffic lights and colored Christmas lights. But as a result of rapid developments in the technology, it is now poised to become common on streets and in buildings, as well as in homes and offices. Some American cities, including Ann Arbor, Mich., and Raleigh, N.C., are using the lights to illuminate streets and parking garages, and dozens more are exploring the technology. And the lighting now adorns the conference rooms and bars of some Renaissance hotels, a corridor in the Pentagon and a new green building at Stanford.

LEDs are more than twice as efficient as compact fluorescent bulbs, currently the standard for greener lighting. Unlike compact fluorescents, LEDs turn on quickly and are compatible with dimmer switches. And while fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, which requires special disposal, LED bulbs contain no toxic elements, and last so long that disposal is not much of an issue.

Another issue is that current LEDs generally provide only “directional light” rather than a 360-degree glow, meaning they are better suited to downward facing streetlights and ceiling lights than to many lamp-type settings.

And in the rush to make cheaper LED lights, poorly made products could erase the technology’s natural advantage, experts warn. LEDs are tiny sandwiches of two different materials that release light as electrons jump from one to the other. The lights must be carefully designed so heat does not damage them, reducing their lifespan to months from decades. And technological advances that receive rave reviews in a university laboratory may not perform as well when mass produced for the real world.

The lights are also rapidly moving indoors, where they could have an enormous effect on climate change. About 20 percent of carbon dioxide emissions associated with buildings in the United States and the United Kingdom are related to indoor lighting; in some houses the number is as high as 40 percent.

This month, LED lights were for the first time the centerpiece at two of the world’s major trade shows for lighting, Lightfare International in New York and EuroLuce in Milan. A growing number of builders are starting to fit them into public buildings, offices and homes.

Hello world!

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!