Narboni, a French urban lighting specialist whose company Concepto has designed more than 90 lighting projects in France and beyond, described Tehran’s current public lighting as ‘very basic’ and the lighting in its bazaars as ‘an amazing mess’.

Participants in Narboni’s workshop, including representatives from the Tehran Municipality, spent four days coming up with a lighting ‘masterplan’ for parts of Tehran’s historic centre.

The plan focused on the city’s Marvi and Oudlajan bazaars, which are currently being renovated, and the surrounding areas. Designers studied the local architecture, existing lighting, the kinds of activities that take place and how people move around by day and night, before coming up with designs.

 The four-day workshop – which took place during the second Iran Lighting Design Conference in Tehran in November – really only produced a ‘sketch’ of a lighting plan for the area, says Narboni, rather than a full masterplan. But he hopes that the government’s ambition to bring more tourists to the city, and the current renovation of the bazaars, will create an opportunity for ideas from the workshop to be taken forward.

 ‘In the public spaces in Tehran it’s really functional lighting, high-pressure sodium, 12 metres high, very simple and without any attention to anything. There’s no pedestrian lighting. And in the bazaar, it’s an amazing mess of projectors and fixtures, some of them 40 or 50 years old, cables and wires everywhere. Nothing is ever cleaned or taken away, they just add and add. Lots of the fixtures are 10 or 20 years old. It really needs a big job, because it’s not just the lighting that needs to be changed – it has to be cleaned and completely rethought.’

 For the first time since the 1970s, the number of outsiders who visited Iran last year was greater than the number of Iranians who travelled abroad. If tourism is to continue to grow, Narboni says Tehran needs to be made more hospitable at night.

‘It’s a big challenge for many huge cities that are not really appealing and friendly at night, he says. ‘At the moment people just stay in their hotels at night, because there’s nothing to see. The city needs to create things that can be seen at night. There are huge heritage buildings and palaces to be seen, so they need to make it possible to see these things at night. The bazaar closes at night, but if we could light some part of it, it could stay open later.

‘It would totally change the city. It would totally change the way of being in the streets and in the public realm.’

Narboni is optimistic that the plan will help the municipality to install better lighting. ‘They need help and expertise,’ he says, ‘but I hope they will go on doing things, to follow up our ideas and come up with a masterplan that’s more professional. Hopefully this is just a beginning.’

 

 

LUX reports: Compared to other conventional lighting solutions, T5 is still seen by some as too efficient for the facilities team to justify upgrading to an LED lighting system. But combined with controls, even the leap from T5 fluorescent lighting to LED can yield significant savings.

Woolworths is a case in point; the retailer’s branch in the South Eastern Brisbane suburb of Coorparoo managed to save 77 per cent energy in its car park area with LEDs and occupation sensors, and earned a Peak Load Reduction Reward for its efforts.

One of the reasons the management was looking for a new solution was the amount of hours the light was on in the car park. The T5 fittings, which had an average life span of two years, were on all day and night, with no control system in place.

The entry to the car part was lit with twin 28W T5 fittings which had been retrofitted in 2012.

When most of the T5s predictably started to fail at the same time, James Dwyer of Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL), which has a national building management contract for Shopping Centres Australia’s 77 retail assets, investigated lighting upgrade options. Dwyer was looking for a solution that would last longer than the T5s and save Woolworths the costs of frequent lamp replacements and maintenance.

The JLL team had recently completed a fire stair and car park lighting upgrade at CP1, a commercial office tower in Brisbane, where LEDs were installed. The positive feedback from the building manager there helped convince Shopping Centres Australia, the owners of Woolworths, that LED was the way forward.

Lighting manufacturer Enlighten helped Dwyer complete an unbudgeted capital expense application and detailed return on investment projection, which ‘impressed the owners and ensured that my application was approved,’ Dwyer said.

Dwyer opted for Enlighten’s Chameleon light fitting, which is built for long-lit areas such as fire stairs, car parks and back of house areas.

Most of the new LED fittings will only be on when needed, thanks to an in-built motion sensor which instantly switches the light from the standby 8W light output to the full 35W output for a set period of time which can vary between 15 seconds and five minutes. When the set time ends, the light output returns to standby mode.

A 90W 2 module Cetus LED low bay light from Enlighten was installed in the car park entry. This fitting actually represented a net increase in energy consumption compared to the existing T5 fixture (68W including ballast), but it was necessary to improve the light levels in this area.

All lights were replaced on a one for one basis, with each parking bays having a standard 12 chip bulk head installed. The fittings lighting the driveways are permanently on, and the ones approaching a turn have side-emitting optical lenses to ensure good visibility.

Coorparoo’s Woolworths is located in an area with electricity supply constraints, which means it qualified for a Peak Load Reduction Reward. Energy-saving scheme Energex rewards businesses within the area that contribute to reducing demand on the network during peak periods by replacing lighting with more energy efficient lighting. The reward payment given to Woolworths is estimated to be $500 for this upgrade.

The new LED lighting will save an estimated 77per cent energy in the car park area, which equates to 30,504 kWh per year. The project capital cost was $21,250 after the incentive payment, with a project payback calculation from energy and maintenance savings of 2.7 years.

According to Dwyer, the project has been well received. ‘The Chamaeleon fitting is perfectly suited to our undercover car park operation and I have received an immense amount of positive feedback from the tenants,’ he said.

Dwyer is planning to retrofit another shopping centre’s undercover carpark lighting with in early 2015.

Novel Energy Lighting specialises in LED Tubes, and LED IP65 fittings for business lighting retrofits. Speak to us today to understand the energy savings and explore financing which can be repaid through the energy cost savings.

The building’s long history, and its 18 meter high ceiling, presented the facility team with a challenge of respecting its heritage while ensuring that the fixtures were as easy to maintain as possible.

This has been achieved mainly with linear LED luminaires, recessed from existing ceiling pockets, which focus the light down the central spine of the building’s three-storey glazed atrium.

Lighting designers kept in close contact with Heritage Victoria throughout the project and ensured that the lighting installation was fully reversible and didn’t do any damage to the building surface.

As well as recessed ceiling fixtures, linear LED luminaires have been placed high up to uplight the ceiling and emphasise the columns and the geometric shape of the atrium.

Lower down, mannequins sitting on swings and posing on podiums are lit with narrow-beam metal halide spotlights. The spotlights are placed in pairs on the columns around the atrium with linear LED uplights positioned in-between the spotlights to highlight the top part of the columns above.

The arcade arches around the building are lit with linear LED fixtures concealed within the structure. All light sources are warm white with a colour temperature of 3000k.

Using mainly LED light sources means the store has achieved an electrical load of 12W/m2 for the downward light and 10W/m2 for the architectural lighting to the arches, trees and ceiling structure.

 Novel Energy Lighting supplies LED lamps, fittings, and controls for many retail applications. Contact us for volume quotes or for lighting designs: www.novelenergylighting.com, or Tel: 02085408287

Optics in the classic bulb-shaped lamps in the new OSRAM LED portfolio have been designed to largely exclude irregularities such as dark shadow lines in the far field light and to achieve homogeneous light distribution, achieved by the particular form of the plastic optic, developed specifically for the new lamp generation.

The optic design was challenging due to the high technical and aesthetic demands, and was developed with the aid of in-house programmed software. Optics in the new OSRAM LED classic portfolio radiate at angles of up to 300° and are based on a uniform optical concept across all lamp types.

This achieves a uniform design appearance, and also shorter development periods and lower costs because the optics of various lamp types are compatible with identical mechanical components. This modular construction principle has been consistently applied by OSRAM to all components in its new LED lamp portfolio.

Visit novelenergylighting.com for all your LED needs. We sell a range of Osram LED and others.

The Apollo first opened as the Gaumont Palace cinema in 1932, with a huge seating capacity of over 3,000, and lavish front-of-house facilities including a large first floor restaurant.

FADED LUSTRE

The Apollo wanted to use fittings that matched the originals that were installed years ago – but not all of them could be saved or converted to use new light sources. Some were fitted with modern light sources, while others were recreated completely, based on photos.

The new lighting was designed by James Morse Lighting Design, with products supplied by Great British Lighting, Philips Color Kinetics, LightGraphix, Concord, Crescent, Radiant, Applelec and controls specialist Pharos

Visit novelenergylighting.com for products, services, and finances for retrofitting your buildings

Shuttla

For Philips and Siemens the answer has veered toward ‘a,’ most recently with Philips’ announcement this week that it will seek ‘alternative ownership’ for its lighting group, a move that echoes Siemens’ 2013 spin-off of its Osram lighting company.

At GE however they’re taking a new crack at ‘b’ with a quiet corporate restructuring in which CEO Jeff Immelt has fused GE Lighting with a division charged with ‘growth and innovation’ and whose boss, Beth Comstock, also runs the Silicon Valley-based GE Ventures, a firm that invests in startups in software, energy, healthcare and manufacturing.

‘On Monday, Sept. 16 GE announced internally that they will align the Lighting business with GE’s growth and innovation team, led by Beth Comstock,’ GE told Lux in an email. ‘The transition is not effective immediately. It will happen over the next few months.’ The company has yet to publicly announce the change. The move had surfaced in an article in Fortune Magazine, which said Comstock takes the lighting reins on Oct. 1.

 ‘NOT FOR SALE’

It was Comstock who two weeks ago told Lux that GE Lighting is not for sale, denying rumours that if true would put U.S.-based GE in the same category as Holland’s Philips and Germany’s Siemens as traditional large industrial companies moving away from direct involvement in the lighting industry.

As part of the shift, Maryrose Sylvester continues as president and CEO of GE Lighting, but she will report to Comstock. Sylvester had been reporting to Chip Blankenship, who has been president and CEO of GE’s appliance and lighting business unit. Earlier this month GE sold its appliance division – dishwashers, toasters, washing machines and the like – to Sweden’s AB Electrolux for $3.3 billion.

Appliances and lighting had accounted for $8.3 billion in sales at the $146 billion company last year. Lighting was about $3 billion of that GE told Lux this week – until now, GE has not separated out lighting numbers from appliances. Appliances was the latest division to go at GE as the company focuses on high margin industrial goods and services.

Comstock, a rising star at GE who also serves as corporate marketing officer and senior vice president, reports directly to Immelt.

BEEN THERE DONE THAT 

She has solid experience at the type of digital industry convergence that challenges today’s lighting business, which is shifting from conventional incandescent and fluorescent bulbs, to lights based on LEDs – light emitting diodes, or semiconductors – a transition that is opening up the field to new digital only manufacturers and to Internet and consumer technology companies like Google and Apple.

Her background includes several years overseeing digital strategy for media giant NBC Universal as president of integrated media, when broadcasting giants like NBC, CBS and ABC were beginning to cope with the incursion of technology powerhouses like Google and YouTube into their industry (NBC was part of the GE empire at the time; GE sold its remaining 49 percent share to cable TV company Comcast for $16.7 billion in early 2013).

That familiarity could help Comstock navigate GE Lighting around a global market where lighting could underpin everything from smart cities to the connected home, and which will rely on innovations and partnerships with technology and networking firms among others.

All the while, she will have to figure out a way to make money. LED bulbs cost much more to make than conventional bulbs, but startup companies are pushing down end user prices faster than some of the cost-burdened giants can afford. LEDs in principle also last much longer, eradicating any replacement bulb business model.

Thus, GE will have to hone a profitable business out of selling lighting services, controls and connectivity.

NETWORKING

Not only will it have to foster relationships with Internet and networking companies, but it will have to fend off challenges from relatively new lighting companies like Opple, Cree, TCP and Acuity, born in the modern lighting era and not encumbered by a legacy lighting business (GE and Philips have both been a making bulbs for over 120 years).

No wonder, with challenges like this, Philips decided on an ‘alternative ownership’ escape route. Even after an impressive run of innovations that has included the Hue line of bulbs that can change brightness and colours via wireless remote control, Philips is setting into slow motion a plan to find buyers for its lighting division, which it says could take a year or two. (Some industry observers are even whispering about a hookup between Philips and GE. Neither company would comment on that speculation).

Comstock told Fortune that there’s tremendous opportunity to partner with startups that develop LED technology for commercial and government buildings.

She certainly talks the talk.

‘Beth Comstock is passionate about change and innovation,’ reads her bio on GE’s corporate website, not yet updated to relfect her new lighting role. ‘She leads GE’s growth efforts via marketing, sales, licensing and communications and oversees GE Ventures. Her current priorities include partnering with and investing in start-ups, developing new markets in analytics, energy and affordable health through GE’s industrial internet, ecomagination and healthymagination initiatives, and making connections that spur a culture of inventiveness and grow brand value.’

It also notes that she serves on the boards of Nike and of Quirky, ‘an online hub that makes invention accessible.’ Quirky helped GE develop its Link connected bulb.

Looks good on paper. Let the innovations begin. There aren’t many other choices.

Shuttla

www.novelenergylighting.com

Lux Magazine reports: Let’s say you’re in charge of energy use at the company and you want to take big steps to slash the bill. Who you gonna call? A building insulator? A smart meter salesman? The most common answer is….

 ‘An LED vendor.’

 That’s according to a poll of over 100 UK energy professionals in the public and private sector by Energy Live News (ELN), which asked them to name which measures they took over the last year, and which ones they are planning.

 ‘LEDs were the most popular choice for energy professionals to save energy over the last year – and they look set to remain favourites for the next 12 months,’ the website reported.

 83 percent of respondents said they tapped LED lighting over the last year, and 80 percent said they’ll bring in LEDs over the next 12 months.

 The number-two measure both for last year and the upcoming one didn’t even involve outright product purchases, as managers reported that ‘changing culture and behaviour’ was also high on their list (in other words, remember to turn off the efficient new LEDs).

 The poll did not specifically ask about new boilers, solar panel installations or building managemet systems, although those did receive write-in votes.

 ‘Insulation, variable speed drives, AMT or smart meters and energy management systems tied third, each being installed over the last year by around two fifths of energy professionals,’ ELN wrote.

 As popular as LEDs were among respondents, they elicited some reality checks from ELN readers in the website’s comments section.

 ‘When it comes to lighting LED is not quite the panacea for all ills it’s set up to be,’ wrote one.

 ‘Manufacturers are making grandiose claims about the longevity of these fittings without the evidence to back them up – the technology is so new there just haven’t been the number of hours in a year to claim they’ll last 100,000 hours or whatever they claim.’

 To that, another reader shot back, ‘Have you not heard of accelerated testing?’ One fan of LEDs commented that it might still be too early to splash out for them.

 ‘Buying LED today may not be the best option,’ he said. ‘It might be better to wait a few years when efficacies will be even higher, as in many applications they have the potential to last 20-30 years and in that situation you may be better off with an optimised package that will go the distance.
’

 In a cautionary tale, he added, ‘A lot of LED packages are poorly selected/sold and they will be replaced a lot earlier than hoped for.
’

 Poorly sold? Hmmmm. Sounds like the poll needs a subcateory: Changing the culture and behaviour of vendors.

—

Photo: To avoid this sort of utility bill shock, energy managers are turning to LEDs more than anything. Image is from Shutterstock

Lux Magazine reports: The government is considering ways to slash demand for energy by encouraging homes and businesses to install low-energy lighting and controls.

A consultation on ways to reduce demand for electricity was launched yesterday together with the Energy Bill, and runs until the end of January.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) believes that a quarter of the potential energy savings to be made in homes by 2030 could come from getting rid of incandescent lamps, while lighting and controls could account for more than a third of savings in commercial properties and nearly half in the public sector (including streetlighting).

In the residential sector, the major barrier to adopting these technologies is a lack of awareness, the government believes, while in commercial buildings the main problems are the payback period on lighting upgrades and the fact that the person using a building and paying the bills is not always the one with the power to make changes.

The government is considering various financial incentives for energy-efficiency measures as well as voluntary and information-based approaches.

Engineering body Cibse has welcomed the consultation, saying it comes “better late than never”. Cibse said that simple improvements to building performance could make a huge difference to the amount of energy needed in the future.

Any new measures to promote efficiency will come on top of the Green Deal, set to be launched fully in the new year, which will provide finance packages allowing  households and businesses to pay for energy-efficiency upgrades from savings on their bills.

Energy minister Ed Davey said the Energy Bill and associated measures are designed to drive low-carbon economic growth and “keep the lights on”.

Last year 39TWh of energy (that’s 39 billion kWh) was used to light commercial and public sector buildings, while around 15TWh was used in homes.

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