Energy-Efficient Tips for Street and Area Lighting

Whether you own a small restaurant or operate a large manufacturing facility, you can save energy and lower your electricity bills by using the latest energy-efficient products for your lighting needs.

Fiber Optic Lighting

• Fiber optic systems are also known as "light pumps" or "remote source" lighting systems, as they create light at a remote site and transport the light through fiber optic cables. They produce no heat at the point of light and eliminate the need to change light bulbs in high ceilings or outdoor signs, thereby reducing maintenance costs.
• Applications include outdoor signs, refrigeration cases, theatre stage lighting, and hazardous locations.
• Some sample Web sites for products are shown below.
  • The Lighting Center fiber optic lighting manufacturer list
  • Fiberstars Inc. product and installation information
  • Super Vision International, Inc. product information
  • Advanced Lighting Systems, Inc. information
    

Induction (Electrodeless) lighting

• With induction lighting, there are no filaments or electrodes. These systems consist of high frequency ballast/generator, a lamp (or discharge vessel), and a power coupler. The systems range in wattage from 23 Watts to 165 Watts, with efficacies of 48 to 73 lumens per Watt.
• Along with their high lighting efficacies, they have high power factors (above 0.94), good color rendering indexes (82-85), resistance to vibration, quick ignition and re-ignition times (under 1 second), and a rated life with U.S. test procedures of 100,000 hours, as compared with 24,000 hours for many fluorescent and high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps.
• Some sample Web sites for products are shown below.
  • Information on the Philips QL lamp system (click on eCatalogue and QL Induction Lighting)
  • GE Genura (TM) lamp information
  • Osram-Sylvania ICETRON^TM information
  • Lighting Research Center case study application in New York City  (Web site requires Adobe Acrobat to view)
    

LED lighting

• Light Emitting Diode (LED) systems are being used in traffic lights and information signs in the United States. Many exit signs in buildings have LED lighting systems that provide the illumination of the "EXIT" letters. They are much more energy efficient and have longer lives than incandescent lamps.
• Other applications include walk/don't walk fixtures, display lighting, and facade lighting. Designers are now starting to use white LED lighting for indoor and general illumination activities.
• Some sample Web sites for products are shown below.
  • Precision Solar Control LED traffic lighting
  • LED Light company indoor lamps and fixtures
  • Department of Energy web site on solid state lighting
    

Microwave Sulfur systems

• These systems are also called "light pipe" systems, as the source of the light is a remote microwave generator (which excites the sulfur powder in the bulb's hollow sphere), and the light is produced along the length of the pipe. Some of the pipe lengths that are currently in operation are over 240 feet (73.5 meters) long.
• Applications include warehouses, industrial facilities, museums, clean rooms, refrigerated areas, and some outdoor applications.
• Some sample Web sites for products are shown below.
  • Pacific Gas & Electric article on sulfur lamp technology  (Web site requires Adobe Acrobat to view)
  • Innovative Lighting Company information on sulfur lamps
    

Disclaimer: The following Web sites are provided for information purposes only. EEI does not endorse the manufacturers or distributors shown, nor does it make any guarantee about product performance. EEI is not responsible for any of the content, pricing, or claims on the following Web sites.

© 2008 Edison Electric Institute