DIODE 28 American Fluorescent HALLEY Lucesco

Although the technology has great potential and significant advances have been made in the past few years, solid-state lighting (SSL) for residential applications remains very much a work in progress. Solid-state lighting includes both light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs).

One of the main challenges in the commercialization of SSL is that fixture manufacturers are not fully educated about how to take full advantage of its unique characteristics in their products.

Toward that end, the first Lighting for Tomorrow solid-state lighting prototype competition was recently completed, with the announcement of four winning designs last December.

Lighting for Tomorrow is a national lighting fixture design competition jointly managed by CEE, the American Lighting Association (ALA) and the Department of Energy (represented by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory).

The solid-state competition solicited lighting fixtures that use white LEDs as their sole light source. It encouraged fixture manufacturers to begin working with the technology and provided valuable technical feedback to all entrants.

Building awareness
“The industry is still learning how to use this technology,” said CEE Senior Program Manager Rebecca Foster. “Right now, Lighting for Tomorrow is concentrating on building awareness and understanding in the market about what solid-state lighting can do, and where it might go in the future.”

Manufacturers and designers were invited to submit SSL prototypes in several niche lighting applications, including under-cabinet, task and outdoor lighting. These niche applications were chosen because 1) they take advantage of the directional nature of LEDs, 2) the light source is relatively close to the surface being illuminated and 3) the potential for significant energy savings exists.

The competition encouraged and recognized innovation, lighting quality and energy efficiency in the use of SSL technology.

The winning entries were produced by American Fluorescent, Lucere Lighting, Lucesco and Progress Lighting. In addition, io Lighting, Albeo Lighting, American Lighting LLC and Osram Sylvania received honorable mentions.

Winners were displayed at DOE’s annual Solid-State Lighting Workshop Jan. 31-Feb. 2 in Phoenix. These solid-state fixtures will also be displayed at other lighting industry events throughout the year, including LightFair International in New York City May 8-10.

LED design charette
In addition to the SSL competition, Lighting for Tomorrow organizers hosted a two-hour LED design charette at the ALA Annual Conference in Las Vegas last September. Manufacturers, manufacturer representatives and lighting showroom representatives attended.

The focus was on education and information exchange. Among the discussion topics were technical concepts, status of LED standards and test procedures, current applications for SSL and where it might be used in the future as the technology improves.

CEE is working with ALA and PNNL to plan a similar workshop for the 2007 ALA conference. These activities should help prepare and encourage manufacturers to produce lighting products that meet consumer expectations and deliver energy savings to efficiency programs. With the rapid advances in SSL technology, the widespread adoption of these lighting sources may not be far off.

Niche applications
Today, SSL can be competitive in certain applications. While the higher first cost and lower light output mean that white LEDs are not appropriate for most traditional uses, their long life can be a big plus in applications where there are extended running hours and/or difficult access for replacements.

LEDs are also durable and resistant to damage from vibration, making them good candidates for outdoor applications and those that involve motion. CEE’s Residential Lighting Committee is monitoring and researching the solid-state lighting market, keeping members informed about the latest developments and potential program opportunities.

For details, contact Rebecca Foster at 617-589-3949, ext. 207.

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