Untitled - Journal of Lighting Engineering

LEDs - Leading the Digital Revolution
Any conversation about LEDs, between
practitioners or simple users, is becoming
these days a replacement for other lighting
topics. The quantum dynamics that create
light in the LED semiconductor represent as
much of a technology step change as the
move from candles to incandescent lamps in
the 19th century. With fast, bold steps the
digital/ solid state technology is taking over
the conventional lighting and LEDs are
leading this revolution.
In less than 10 years (this is my third
editorial on this particular technology since
2004), LEDs have not only jumped from lowlight
applications (under-cabinet and traffic
lights) to high flux ones (tunnels and highmasts)
but challenging with growing,
continuous success the “Wholly Grail” of
applications: ambient lighting. Although still
not as energy and effective as their T8/T5
fluorescent counterparts, LED luminaires are
found more and more in office and
institutional general lighting applications.
And on the HID battle-front, few
manufacturers have now high-bay LED
luminaires that can match illuminance levels
coming from conventional 400 W MH or HPS
and also save a min 30% in energy costs.
Ingineria Iluminatului 2012; 14, 2: 67-70
Information
LIGHTING IN THE NEW WORLD
Cristian ŞUVĂGĂU
BC Hydro, Vancouver
Where Is the SSL Revolution Headed?
Efficient lighting in our homes, offices and
city streets is a key part of a “clean”
revolution – a swift and massive scaling up
of clean technologies to create a safe
climate, boost economic growth, and secure
a prosperous future for all.
While the potential of a revolutionary
technology is many times under or overestimated
(function of each ones analytical
understanding of the present and visionary
concept of the future) its development is
always a battle with the past. If LED
lighting is so economical, why does the
market not deliver it automatically? The
explanation can be found in a number of
barriers that limit deployment of costeffective
lighting technologies. End-users
and market actors are often unaware of the
savings potentials and lighting-quality
advantages and without information are
inclined to use the technologies that they
have always used.
Moreover, the success of a technical
revolution is when the market is offered a
different paradigm. For example, the recent
introduction of electroluminescent TV
displays (plasma, LCD) has allowed not
only a better watching experience but (using
the solid-state status) has integrated on-line
content (internet, Facebook, Youtube)