France based company Oledcomm to commence installation of Li-Fi on the Paris Metro. PLUS: Does LED lighting make your milk taste like cardboard? AND London to transform the Thames into spectacular river of light. Lux Today June 21 2016.
Lighting at the Kongsgardmoen School in Kongberg, Norway, uses tunable-white lighting throughout the school day
image: The Midnight Sun, Anda Berczky, 2005
Here’s a quick check list for your tunable-white specifications.* First, do you actually need a tunable white system? What colour temperature range do you need for your project? Does your preferred product maintain a consistently high level of colour rendition throughout its range? Do you have a control strategy for the changes in colour temperature and output? Does the product interface with the control strategy for what you want to achieve?
Tunable-white lighting is one of the biggest trends in commercial lighting. LED developers have taken a serious grip on the photo-biological research being produced by university departments and other groups. We know more about the way that humans function than ever before and you might say that it’s fortunate for the LED community that the science appears to support a practical technology that is perfectly suited to LED exploitation.
Tunable whites use colour mixing
Standard LED colour-mixing uses red, green and blue channels that are adjusted to deliver the entire range of the colour spectrum. Tunable-whites work in the similar way, using of a number of controllable channels to adjust the colour temperature of the luminaire’s white light output. The channels in a tunable-white system all produce white light, but with varying colour temperatures, from a warm tone to a cool tone.
Inevitably, there are levels of sophistication involved in tunable-white systems and it’s vital that the specifier understands not only what is required from the lighting, but also what any particular system is capable of delivering.
Simple systems use two lines of LEDs
Take a warm white LED and sit it next to a cool white LED and cross-dim between the two. Job done? Well, not quite. It’s true that the cheapest tunable whites work in exactly this way. The most basic tunable linear systems use LED strips mounted side-by-side. One channel will be close to 2700K in colour temperature, with the other up around a cool 6000K. The LED strips are mounted inside an aluminium extrusion fitted with an opal diffuser, which does the colour mixing as the light passes through it. It’s very simple engineering but satisfies a basic market with low performance expectations.
Multi-chip versions do the mixing at chip level
More products are using ‘multi-chips’ where a number of tiny LED chips are combined into the same module. This means that the colour mixing occurs as the light leaves the module. Their very small size means that tunable-white products can be made much smaller, so we’re starting to see downlights using the technology as well as linear systems. These multi-chips tend to have a higher performance specification than the individual LED strips, but nothing should be left to chance.
Colour rendering can be compromised
A lot of fuss is made, quite rightly, over the way that white light presents surface colours. We’ve come to expect a good quality of colour rendering, regardless of light source. Tunable whites are not exempt from this issue but it’s not always clear from manufacturers’ data how well a system is performing.
Cheaper products may advertise good colour performance at the extremes of the tunable range, where light is being delivered from either the warm or the cool channel, but there’s no certainty that the mixed light performs equally well. Generally speaking, the greater the number of channels, and systems vary from two-channel to five-channel, the better colours will look under them.
Not all tunable-white systems cover the same colour range
If there is one aspect of tunable-whites that the specifier needs to take great care over, it’s the colour temperature range that’s on offer. While some systems offer a wide natural ‘circadian rhythm’ range that shifts from candlelight to daylight, there are other systems with a much smaller range, from 2500K to 4000K, which should only be considered as a decorative option.
There are three ways to control the tones
The simplest systems use manual control to alter the white outputs. Expect to see a wall-mounted control panel or a hand-held remote control that enables you to adjust the colour of the light and the amount of light output. There is nothing scientific about this. It’s left entirely to personal preference, which may – or may not – be a good thing.
Some tunable controls are designed to replicate the effect of dimming on a filament source, where two things happen at the same time. As the light output is dimmed, the lamp warms up in the same way as a traditional tungsten filament lamp. This is still a manual control method, but has the benefit of mimicking a filament light source. The tunable range tends to be very small, again mimicking the conventional tungsten lamp.
More sophisticated control strategies are designed to manipulate the circadian rhythm of room occupants. This means that the lighting settings are programmed into the control architecture. Shifts in colour temperature and light level can be pre-set or can be instigated by a manual over-ride. This is the method that’s being used in recent school installations in Scandinavia.
Three discrete channels could be a solution
It’s been pointed out that not all ‘tunable-white’ mixing requires a full colour range. Complex tunable-white schemes mean that you should be able to call up any colour temperature within the mixing range. But some clients will call for specific colour temperatures, often those that are commercially available, such as 3000K, 4000K, 6500K. If that’s the case, then it may be simpler – and cheaper – to consider having three discrete lighting channels operating separately within a bespoke housing.
By tuning the spectral output of the light specifically at the yellow fever mosquito, special traps can be made to attract and kill the insect, and prevent the spread of the Zika virus in the Americas
The lighting industry is gearing up to launch a key weapon in the war on the deadly Zika virus – special LED lights.
Fred Maxik, the chief technology officer of Lighting Science, is exploring the possibility of constructing a special trap for the mosquito which carries the life-threatening infection.
Fred Maxik, the chief technology officer of Lighting Science, says the key is to create specific light that’s useful for our own purposes.
Transmitted via a bite from the yellow fever mosquito, Zika is extremely serious for pregnant women, as there’s evidence it causes birth defects such as abnormally small heads. Experts now warn that they expect the Zika virus to spread to all countries in the Americas, including the Caribbean, except Chile and Canada.
Lighting Science – which uses special tuned lighting for applications such as water purification, turtle protection and space use – is developing a tuned light trap for the yellow fever mosquito. The company is already working with the US Department of Agriculture on its programme of light-based insect traps. With a little modification, it thinks it can develop one specially to help in the war on the Zika virus.
This is because different mosquitos are attracted to different wavelengths of light. By ‘tuning’ the light specifically at the yellow fever mosquito – or Aedes aegypti, to give it its scientific name – the light traps can be targeted.
‘There’s no one size fits all,’ Maxik told Fortune magazine this week. By testing the traps in the field, the company can work out exactly which spectral signature attracts and which repels the creatures. Special lights can then be developed to deter the mosquitoes from approaching buildings such as ante-natal clinics and hospitals in high-risk zones. ‘We’re trying to create light that’s useful for our own purposes.’
An LED lighting problem that’s baffled scientists for decades has been solved. AND: Why flicker is back – and is worse then ever. PLUS: Lux launches a new event for the fall. Lux Today newscast for Tuesday 24 May 2016 is presented by Courtney Ferguson.
Since old fashioned incandescent and halogen bulbs are being banned by governments around the world, most home owners have had to consider low energy alternatives.
The favourite choice now is LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs, which are currently leading the field in terms of energy savings, product life and ease of use.
But how many of us understand the ways in which LED bulbs are different to incandescent models, and how to ensure that when we upgrade our lighting we actually make the right choices?
Let’s start with some basic facts about LED bulbs.
Basically, they offer a number of significant advantages to the obsolete incandescent types:
Major power saving: LEDs use approximately five times less energy as incandescent bulbs. As an example, you can replace an old 40W reading light bulb with an 8W LED. And since LEDs offer a more focused light, the energy savings could be up to 90%, and you can therefore have a lower-wattage bulb.
‘Cleaner’ Product: LEDs are non-toxic, and in particular contain no mercury.
Less Heat: Much less heat is produced by LED bulbs, in comparison with incandescent lights. That is especially important in Southern climates where air-conditioning is used.
Longer Life: LED bulbs do not need to be replaced very often – they can last up to twenty years in regular use.
Better Investment: They do cost more to buy, but when you consider their longer life and energy savings, they are a great investment.
So, when the time comes to replace old light bulbs, LEDs are the obvious choice, but how do we go about making the right selection for our home? There are so many styles, sizes, shapes and special formats on the market now, how do you know which is the right one?
Here are some tips to help you make the right decision…..
Consider how much brightness you need
Back in the bad old days, we all got used to measuring a light bulb’s brightness simply by its wattage. A 60 Watt bulb gave us an average light output for most domestic situations. However, wattage actually measures the amount of electrical energy a light bulb uses – a lot of which is given out as heat. Clearly, an LED will use fewer watts to generate the same amount of light.
To make sure that you get an LED with sufficient light output, you will need to get used to measuring brightness in lumens. An old fashioned 60-watt incandescent bulb generates about 800 lumens, so to get an equivalent, you need to look for an LED rated at 800 lumens of light output. A lot of LED packaging will tell you what wattage of incandescent bulb the lamp would be equivalent to.
What about quality of light?
Depending on where you are planning to use the LED bulbs, the quality of light may well be an important factor. Light quality is generally measured by CRI or Colour Rendering Index. This number indicates how accurately the bulb illuminates colours on a scale from 1 to 100. If you plan to use the lamp frequently – say in a living room – or it is going to be used in a prominent location like an entrance hall, CRI is a very important metric to consider. However, if it’s going to go into an airing cupboard or toilet, CRI isn’t as crucial. CRI ratings in excess of 85 and above are indications of very good colour rendering.
Are “warm” or “cool” light colours important?
There is a wide variety of LED bulbs available now, offering a range of light “colour temperatures” in Degrees Kelvin, or simply “K”. How do you know what colour temperature works for you? Colour temperatures with high K ratings, 6,000 or more, are classified as ‘cool’ colours, while those with lower K ratings, 3,500 or less, are classified as ‘warm.’ You will find most retailers referring to their products as cool white and warm white LED Bulbs.
Warm white bears a close resemblance to the light produced by halogens and incandescent bulbs. It is soft, easy on the eyes and promotes a comfortable and domestic aesthetic. As a rule of thumb, warm white bulbs should be used in ‘habitat’ spaces, such as living rooms, hallways and bedrooms, and as general illumination. In contrast, cool white is a very bright, sharp white light; less suitable for domestic spaces where the brightness of the light can be too harsh and even create a clinical effect.
What shape or type of LED bulb do you need?
LEDs now come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and will be suitable for replacing just about any kind of incandescent light bulb. You will now find LED globe light bulbs, chandelier light bulbs, and reflector light bulbs – along with lots of newly manufactured shades, lamps and fixings that have them built-in.
The traditional “light bulb” shapes are designed to give an all-round source of light, for instance in a table lamp or ceiling fitting, and are known as “omni-directional”. Reflector types are designed to give light off in one direction, so they’re best for overhead lighting, spotlights, and display lighting.
How about replacing incandescent bulbs in dimming systems?
Unfortunately, many old incandescent dimmers aren’t fully compatible with LED lighting, so you need to be careful when considering dimming. Many of the newer types of LED light bulb do have dimming capabilities – a great option if you want to save even more energy and control the room’s ambient environment. But you may need to invest in an LED-specific dimmer. If you’re looking for a dimmable LED, carefully check the specification on the bulb’s packaging and make sure you control it with a compatible dimmer.
Some don’t like it hot!
LED based light bulbs work best when they are kept cool. If you use an LED outdoors in winter or inside a refrigerator, it will actually last longer. However, excessive heat can cause problems, particularly as LEDs exposed to extreme heat may degrade more quickly over time. So, if you plan to use them in an area that can get hot (like in overhead recessed spotlights) it would be better to invest in high-temperature specification types which use an advanced cooling system – like the types produced by Megaman.
And finally, how can you actually get the ball rolling to take advantage of LED technology in your home?
Right at the beginning it takes a little research effort – initially you need to go round your home and make a note of all the bulbs you are currently using – including wattage (60W, 100W etc.), type of fixture (screw, bayonet etc.), bulb type (reflector, standard, golf ball, etc.) size and colour (warm, cool, etc.). Also approximately how much usage each bulb gets.
Next you need to figure out the type of LED bulb which can be used to replace each incandescent type in terms of lumens, shape, size and fixture. Check out dimming requirements carefully, then make a comprehensive list and check prices on the Internet or through lighting retail outlets.
All that’s needed then is to make the investment, change the bulbs, and start making real savings on your electricity bill!
The humble Cat 5 cable – now capable of carrying power to your lights as well as data
Lux reports: LED lighting is helping buildings around the world slash their electricity bills because the amount of energy needed to run LEDs is so much lower than that consumed by traditional forms of lighting.
But lower energy consumption isn’t just about saving money and being kind to the environment. It’s starting to demonstrate other benefits too.
The electrical load of LED sources is now so low that you don’t even need mains cables to power them – you can use standard network cables, so it’s easier and cheaper to connect and control your lights.
This technology is called ‘power over Ethernet’ (PoE) and, as the name suggests, it’s a way of providing power for electrical equipment through Ethernet cables – the same ones that already form the backbone of the IT network in your office.
Ethernet uses ‘cat 5’ (or more recently cat 5e or cat6) cables – the kind you plug into your router, with the plastic clip on the end that clicks into place.
Cat 5 cables are really designed to carry data, not power. But as long as the load is below a certain wattage (up to about 60W at the moment) they can power and communicate with devices at the same time. Which turns out to be really useful.
So what are the advantages for lighting? Well, everyone knows that wiring up a new lighting system can be an expensive headache, and to install a control system, you’ll need yet another network of wires up in the ceiling, along with the power cables.
If you want control but can’t face all that wiring, you’ve got three options: send the data wirelessly (using specially equipped drivers), send the data over your power cables (using power-line communication, offered by the likes of Lumenpulse and Echelon), or send the power over your data cables – in other words, PoE.
The great thing about using cat 5 cables for this kind of thing is that they’re cheap to buy and even cheaper to install – no need for an electrician, just click the cables into place and you’re away. Philips, one of the suppliers of power over Ethernet systems for lighting, reckons installation is up to 25 per cent cheaper than conventional wiring.
But that’s just the beginning – the real savings are in the longer term.
The next big advantage is the level of intelligence that an Ethernet-based control system can bring. Every light becomes a point on a network, with its own IP address. That makes it easy to control and monitor them (including remotely over the web), and if your light fittings incorporate presence sensors, temperature sensors, light sensors and so on, you can track that data too.
PoE brings lighting into the ‘internet of things’, allowing you to connect your lighting to other devices and systems in the building, such as heating, ventilation, IT services and security. The facilities manager has a single system that shows exactly how the building is being used.
Up and running
Philips already has a PoE lighting control system up and running at a new Amsterdam office building occupied by accountancy firm Deloitte.
UK-company Prolojik also has a power over Ethernet system, Light Matrix, that it sells with luminaire makers Future Designs and Phi Lighting. The system is installed in a meeting room at the offices of PricewaterhouseCoopers in central London, to power and control 20 direct/indirect luminaires.
Other companies working on PoE for lighting include Iowa-based Innovative Lighting and California’s Nuleds.
To use Prolojik’s power over Ethernet system, you need a black box called an Ethernet switch, which converts AC mains power to the DC that goes through the cat 5 cables (achieving 10 per cent efficiency savings over a standard setup where mains power goes all the way to the driver, Prolojik says). Once the switch is installed, the electrician’s work is done. It can power up to 3kW of lighting: it has ports for 48 cables, each of which can be used to power and control 60W of lighting – enough for maybe one or two luminaires each. Any luminaires rated up to 60W can be used with the system, although it does require Prolojik’s Dali drivers.
Mark Vincent, commercial director of Prolojik, says the ease of installation is a big draw for clients. ‘When we’ve been presenting this, I’ve been apologising to electricians and contractors, because we’re taking their business away,’ he says. But the real benefits are in fully addressable control of lights, and the long-term energy-efficiency benefits.
As with Prolojik’s system, the Philips system works with third-party luminaires, and talks to any existing control systems that may already be installed in a building. Philips’ PoE system is based on a network of small Ethernet switches, so it can be scaled from powering a handful of luminaires to 1,000 of them.
Jeff Cassis, senior VP of global lighting solutions at Philips Lighting, says: ‘You can extract whatever data you want, whenever you want. Not only can you monitor energy consumption per light source, you have this really granular ability to look at what’s happening on my floor or building, aggregate that and understand how people are using the spaces. If you have multiple sites or buildings, you can look at how different buildings are managed. You could see how to use certain areas better, cool areas down that aren’t being used and make extra savings due to occupancy.’
Megaman has supplied its Siena 20.5W to The Danielle Brown Sports Centre at Leicester University for a £75,000 gym refurbishment. The Sports Centre, named after Danielle Brown MBE who studied law at the university and holds ten Paralympic world records, features a 20m pool, sauna and steam room, as well as cardiovascular gym and a double size sports hall.
Megaman’s Siena high performance, integrated LED recessed downlights have been installed in the gym to replace the 36W CFL and 50W downlights previously providing the illumination. Compact in size and with no external driver, the Siena range is easy to install and maintain and delivers a high efficiency lumen output which, in turn, produces more light when compared to conventional plug-in, tube downlights. The Siena range of fixtures offers 50,000 hours life and instant start-up. Siena is also IP44 rated, making the fitting suitable for humid and damp conditions.
The lighting revamp has resulted in savings of 2862.77 pa in CO2 and a payback of £665.76 annually with final payback in 2.3 years. Everyone, users and staff alike, agree that the gym has been transformed into a much brighter place to exercise. The refurbishment has been finished off with all existing machines being upgraded to the latest specification, which includes screens on machines so you are able to watch live TV whilst completing a workout.
John Doyle, Managing Director of Doyle & Tratt Products Ltd, British manufacturer of the Varilight brand of dimmer switches, explains further why contractors no longer need to accept second-best, particularly in relation to the dimming of LED lamps.
With an ever-increasing array of new control technologies available and many style and colour options for clients to choose from, electrical contractors rely heavily on good product availability from wholesalers across a very wide range of wiring accessories. You cannot always rely on the products you need being available ex-stock. Therefore, if a wholesaler is not offering same-day or next-day availability on a full range they are likely to miss out on orders and risk losing your support.
Further, if the product most suited to an intended application is not readily available there is also a danger that you will purchase a generic item off-the-shelf instead, especially at the final fix phase when time is of the essence. Inevitably, this often leads to problems down the line when products fail to perform satisfactorily or fail prematurely, requiring a re-visit to the site to troubleshoot or replace the originally installed item. This is costly in terms of your time and also your reputation. With your own credibility at stake, you want to install the best solution first time around and not settle for second best.
Don’t settle
Take the increasingly common example of a client asking their electrician to install energy-efficient LED lighting. Through (sometimes bitter) experience, most electrical contractors will have settled on a preferred brand of lamp, and, if the customer is looking for dimmable lighting, a preferred brand of dimmer as well. Unsurprisingly, all LED lighting is not created equal, even if it is described as “dimmable”, and so it is important to select the best dimmer switches for the job in hand. There are many dimmer switch technologies now available but very few deliver consistent results so it’s important for the electrician to have quick and easy access to the best dimmer for the application to avoid significant delay and client dissatisfaction.
“Unsurprisingly, all LED lighting is not created equal, even if it is described as ‘dimmable’, and so it is important to select the best dimmer switches for the job in hand.”
Many leading manufacturers have established supply chains that enable next-day delivery of items not generally available on wholesalers’ shelves. Therefore, you should always ask specifically for and insist on receiving the product you know is best suited to the job.
This is particularly important when new technologies arrive because it is difficult for wholesalers to indentify whether a new product should become a stock item. For example, when Varilight’s V-Pro series LED dimmers were first launched it took a while for wholesalers to begin stocking them. The V-Pro dimmer is now our best-selling product and widely available ex-stock. Meanwhile, our new V-Com series dimmers for larger LED loads are new to the market and not yet widely stocked. However, as with all Varilight products they are available on a next-day basis through our well established supply chain.
Ready to go
For contractors, the knowledge that a product is available next-day from your preferred wholesaler enables you to confidently recommend the products you know will be the best ones for your client’s application. Ready stock availability streamlines your business with reduced downtime and site re-visits while enabling you to deliver the optimum solution for the client.
Additionally, in situations where two manufacturers’ products are being used in an application, as in the above case with LED lamps and dimmer compatibility, knowledge is especially important. Many lamp manufacturers have tested their lamps with a range of dimmer switches and list them on their websites. Additionally, dimmer manufacturers may be able to recommend lamps that they know from experience give excellent results every time.
Quite clearly, it is no longer sufficient for manufacturers to have great products; investment is required to develop robust and well-structured supply chains to ensure those products are readily available for contractors to procure on a next-day basis.
You, as contractors, have a vital role to play in this process. It is only by insisting that your preferred wholesaler stocks or can quickly obtain products you know and trust, that they will have them available when you need them. In this way, you are able to respond at short notice and you can increase your credibility with your clients.
Visit www.novelenergylighting.com today to explore our range of Varilight dimmers and LED lighting. Call us 0208-540-8287 which questions, or email us: sales@novelenergylighting.com
State-of-the-art LED lighting brings new life to The Lowry’s high-profile auditoriums. The major upgrade shows Dextra Lighting’s edge over competitors by offering the theatre venue both quality and modern functionality, without compromising on affordability.
About the Project
The Lowry is the fruit of decades of continuous efforts to regenerate the local docklands. The magnificent architectural landmark is more than just an arts centre, it is a bustling tourist destination, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors every year to the Greater Manchester region. Since opening in April 2000, the flagship building has been raising the cultural profile of the North West and boosting the regional economy. The centre now offers a number of facilities including two high-profile theatre halls – the Lyric, with a capacity of 1,730 and the Quays theatre, offering up to 430 seats.
The complex is situated in the heart of Salford’s thriving MediaCityUK; a creative hub for the digital and media industries. In 2007, the BBC relocated five of its major departments from London and its existing Manchester offices to the redeveloped Salford Quays, using The Lowry’s theatres and studio spaces for a number of productions and events.
Launched as a National Millennium project, The Lowry has been financed through British and European public sector programmes and patrons from the private sector. As a cultural attraction of national and regional importance, the project’s procurement and design process have always been to the highest standards, with periodic renovations aimed at improving the financial and environmental sustainability of the building. With this in mind, Dextra Lighting were approached by AA Projects’ experienced team of low carbon consultants, to provide a modern lighting solution balancing quality with cost-effectiveness, using its vast range of precision-engineered LED luminaires to enhance the theatre’s facilities.
The brief
The lighting upgrade targeted both the main auditoriums and backstage areas. The theatre’s existing lighting needed to be replaced with cutting-edge LED alternatives, offering today’s standards of energy-efficiency and flexible controls, whilst creating a suggestive atmosphere for theatre-goers. For the back-of-house areas, energy-saving, low-maintenance lighting was required abiding by all health and safety regulations. Dimmable front-of-house lighting was required to allow The Lowry’s technicians to easily and accurately dim the lights from the audio-visual control rooms. Overall, the LED upgrade’s aim was to save The Lowry more money on the installation through reducing electrical consumption, installation and maintenance costs.”Pro-light Mini – The Lowry saved money on installation with this product, as prewired leads and simple retractive spring clips helped minimise fitting times”
The products
Theatre Main Lighting – Protec LED
The highly popular Protec LED downlight was supplied in a range of lumen outputs to act as primary lighting for both the theatre halls. Using the latest Lumileds LEDs and efficient anodised aluminium reflectors, the luminaire offers impressive energy savings with short payback periods over fluorescent equivalents. The combination of high-quality LED sources and advanced optics allow the Protec LED to offer LORs in excess of 90% in lumen outputs of up to 3000lm to allow The Lowry to comfortably meet its energy targets whilst giving designers the flexibility to tailor the installations to suit the hall’s architectural design.
The Protec LED’s appealing contemporary construction is ideal for high-end specifications and can be customised with a wide selection of options including,
interchangeable reflectors and colour attachments, and custom bezels (for retrofit applications), to suit a host of interiors and adapt to future changes in decor.
From a range of dimming options, the luminaire was supplied with High-Frequency dimming drivers and was commissioned to give AV technicians full access from the halls’ control rooms.
The Protec LED is also designed to offer flexible and cost-effective installation, with a four-point, self-clamping bracket making the job quicker and easier for appointed electrical installers, AMEON Ltd, whilst being suitable for plaster, mineral fibre and metal tile in thicknesses between 3mm and 30mm.
Accent Lighting, Front of House & Box Office – Pro-Light Mini
The Pro-Light Mini high-quality LED spotlight was chosen to replace the existing accent lighting for the theatre hall, to safely guide patrons to their seats and add to the inviting atmosphere. The spotlights also helped welcome theatre-goers to the theatre with a controlled and elegant lighting effect. The luminaire is a highly-efficient replacement for fluorescent equivalents, offering the durability, reliability and energy-efficiency of the latest Tridonic COB modules combined with advanced aluminium faceted reflectors, to cut The Lowry’s electricity bills and maintenance costs (e.g., avoiding frequent lamp changes) whilst offering premium performance.
Like the Protec LED, versatility and quality define this range. Offering a number of body styles (Fixed, Gimbal, Wallwash and Scoop), coloured bezels, three beam angles and a range of replaceable twist-lock reflectors, the luminaire can be fashioned to suit the aesthetic and practical needs of a host applications whilst offering flexibility to adjust to changes to the interior. The
luminaire is also available in colour temperatures of 3000k or 4000k in a colour rendering index of 80+.
For the theatre halls and box-office, the Pro-Light Mini was provided in a round Fixed body, providing an unobtrusive yet elegant look. The luminaire was angled at 40°, with an efficient specular reflector to direct the lighting in key areas. Centralised High-Frequency dimming controls and integrated 3 hour maintained emergency functions were also provided as per The Lowry’s specific safety and technical requirements.
The Lowry saved money on installation with this product, as prewired leads and simple retractive spring clips helped minimise fitting times. Dextra Lighting also supplied made-to-measure infill rings for both the Pro-Light Mini and Protec LED to assist with installation into the ceiling’s existing cut-outs.
Dressing Rooms & BOH – AMED LED & Hydra LED
Although BOH areas are often neglected in lighting designs, huge savings can be made by simply upgrading to high-efficiency, low-maintenance LED luminaires, helping improve returns on investment further. The Amenity Decorative LED bulkhead not only lowered energy consumption by approximately 60% compared to the existing lighting without compromising on performance; it also added an appealing decorative touch to the performer’s dressing rooms. Available in a number of options including lumen outputs of up to 3000lm, a range of integral sensor and dimming controls to maximise energy savings, and self-test or auto-test 3-hour maintained emergency functions, the luminaire comfortably fulfilled The Lowry’s practical and safety requirements whilst tying in with its sustainability goals.
The IP65-rated Hydra LED offered an efficient, hassle-free, low-maintenance solution for the remaining back-of-house, such as store rooms and back stage
circulation areas. Available in of lumen outputs ranging from 2200lm to as high as 12,600lm across 4 body sizes, with LORs of over 90%, the luminaire combines flexibility and efficiency in a practical and affordable package. A number of dimming options (High-Frequency, Switch, DALI, DSI and Corridor Mode) and emergency functions are also available with this range to suit a host of applications. The durable luminaire also offers protection to dirt and dust ingress, water and light impact, as well as resistance to temperatures between -20℃ and +25℃. The Hydra LED is also designed to offer tooled access in compliance to current regulations .
Upon special request, all LED products were provided in a warmer C83 colour temperature to suit The Lowry’s desired aesthetic and were offered with Dextra Group’s comprehensive 5-year warranty for additional peace of mind.
Visit www.novelenergylighting.com today to explore LED options for your project retrofit. We can supply Dextra, Philips, Thorn, and other major lighting brands, and support with site surveys and lighting designs. We can assist with project funding using energy efficiency financing. Call us: 0208-540-8287, or email us: sales@novelenergylighting.com today to start the discussion!
When Greers of Antrim wanted lighting that would not only show the cars off to the best effect but also provide massive energy savings, they decided on various Megaman lamps for the refurbishment. Greers, a family business and the only independent authorised Volvo Dealership in Northern Ireland, needed more space and decided to merge two buildings together to make one big showroom. Megaman’s technical team worked out the best way to achieve perfect illumination on the cars, achieving the maximum financial and energy savings, whilst reducing future maintenance. T & E Howie carried out the installation.
Megaman’s Carlo was specified for the main showroom over the cars utilising a 39W Tecoh RDx LED module in the fitting. Carlo is a range of recessed adjustable scoop LED downlights that offer excellent lighting performance and can be used to replace metal halide fittings. Adjustable up to 45° tilting angle and 355° rotation angle, the Carlo is an
ultra-flexible energy saving solution for use in retail applications where the merchandise has to catch the eye.
Megaman’s 15W AR111’s were chosen for the wooden ceiling in the ‘customer welcome area’ to provide a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. The 2800K colour temperature of the AR111’s produces a comfortable warm, white light and the narrow beam angle make it perfect for installation in display and furniture applications. UV resistant and corrosion-proof Dino LED battens have been used in the service and inspection bays to provide a high performance illumination. The IP66 rating ensures protection against water and dust ingress and a tough polycarbonate body with a prismatic diffuser.
The Siena integrated LED downlighters have been incorporated in toilets and small store rooms. Compact in size and with no external driver, these downlighters are easy to install and maintain whilst delivering high efficiency and lumen output. Ultra slim 50W Berto panels have also been installed in the offices to provide an integrated lighting solution that facilitates easy installation and maintenance. It delivers a high luminous efficacy up to 109lm/W – matching the lighting levels of 3 x 18W T8 and 3 x 24W HE T5 fluorescent modular fittings.
The lighting refurbishment has resulted in a saving of £2569 pa when compared to traditional lamps and, perhaps more importantly, reduced energy consumption by 18,291kw a year and 9950kgs of CO2. Paul Howie, from the installers T & E Howie, commented “We are delighted to have been nominated to do the work for Greers and are very pleased with the finished work on the project. I hope that it helps Greers to continue their success in selling cars whilst keeping lighting bills to a minimum”
