Total Lighting - March 2016

the
future’s
bright
look to benefit from energy performance contracts
(EPCs) that require no up front investment, and can
be created off balance sheet, with all equipment,
installation, and maintenance costs factored in from
the outset.
Introducing … LiFi
On a wider level, lighting technology is already
becoming a key element of smart homes and
intelligent buildings, and the development of what is
being termed Li-Fi is particularly exciting. Allowing
data to be sent at high speeds using visible light
communication (VLC), rather than radio waves, a
2015 pilot study found that it can deliver Internet
access 100 times faster than traditional Wi-Fi –
offering speeds of up to 1Gb/s. All that is required is
a light source, such as a standard LED luminaire, an
Internet connection, and a photo detector.
Interestingly, Li-Fi allows for greater security
on local networks as light cannot pass through
walls, which also means there is less interference
between devices.
LED lighting is on the radar of everybody, from
multi-national corporations to homeowners, as
a key method of saving energy and money over
the long term.
One of the most exciting aspects of this
technology is that its full potential is far from being
realised, and the rapid rate of innovation will only
continue in the years to come. ■
Li-Fi allows for
greater security on
local networks as
light cannot pass
through walls, which
also means there
is less interference
between devices’
20 • MARCH 2016 • www.total-lighting.com