Cree Adds 68 Percent Brighter CXA LED Array

Cree, Inc. of Durham, North Carolina USA, has introduced two new XLamp® LED Arrays for high-lumen applications. The new CXA3590 LED Array provides up to 16,225 lumens at 85°C, 68 percent more lumens compared to the company's brightest array previously. Cree has also introduced the CXA3070 LED Array, which provides more than 11,000 lumens at 85°C and shares the same footprint and package design as the existing CXA3050 LED. Cree says that both the CXA3590 and CXA3070 arrays are optimized to simplify design and enable low system cost. Also, both of Cree's new high light-output LED arrays reportedly offer up to 134 lumens-per-watt at 85°C and 70-95 CRI options.

Characterized and binned at 85°C, the new LEDs are available in ANSI White and EasyWhite® color temperatures (2700K – 5000K). Cree claims that the new LEDs provide the industry’s best color consistency for designs that use only one LED. Cree also says that the CXA3590 LED Array is the ideal light source to replace 250-watt metal halide (MH) fixtures. According to Cree, the CXA3590 uses 40 percent less power and is designed to last twice as long as 250-watt metal halide fixtures.

“We are excited that Cree is extending the CXA family because it enables us to address more applications with a single, easy-to-use platform,” said David Lin, general manager, YAH JUANG Lighting Technology. “The CXA3590 LEDs allow us to address high-lumen applications with a single LED, a feat which would have taken hundreds of other LEDs to accomplish.”
“Cree CXA LED Arrays set the industry standard for integrated arrays, providing excellent efficacy, reliability and light output,” said David Gershaw, president, RemPhos Technologies LLC. “The high-performance CXA3070 LED Array enables us to offer metal halide replacements that exceed the efficiency and life of the technology they replace.”

Cree® XLamp CXA3590 and CXA3070 LED samples are available now and production quantities are available with standard lead times.

Philips Lumileds Introduces Luxeon TX

Philips Lumileds has introduced the new Luxeon TX emitters for a variety of directional and omnidirectional led lighting applications. The Luxeon TX LEDs come with a choice of 3- or 5-step MacAdam color definition. According to the company, the LEDs either have 10 to 20 percent brighter lumen output or have more CRI options than the Luxeon T. The LEDs have versions with new 85 minimum CRI options in 2700, 3000, 3500, 4000, and 5000K color temperatures.

“These emitters are truly transformative in that they enable customers to achieve performance metrics -- such as a true 50W equivalent MR16 lamp at 2700K that meets ERP/DIM2 requirements -- which LEDs simply could not meet previously,” said Kathleen Hartnett, Product Line Director at Philips Lumileds.

“We use the term ‘extreme efficacy’ because of the remarkable performance customers can expect from these emitters,” said Hartnett. “For instance, outdoor fixture manufacturers who need 4000K at 70 CRI are taking advantage of the Luxeon TX 360 lm output at 1.0A and 85˚C to decrease overall system cost, but have the ability to drive the same part @350mA to deliver 155 lm/W LED efficacy and enable streetlights with a system efficacy of more than 120lm/W.”

The Luxeon TX platform is available in a range of correlated color temperatures and CRIs for downlights, high bay and low bay lighting, indoor area lighting, outdoor lighting and replacement lamps. In addition the company has added a minimum 85 CRI option.

“Designers have typically had to choose between the lower efficacy associated with a 90 CRI LED or the poorer color rendering associated with an 80 CRI LED. Now Luxeon TX 85 CRI emitters bridge that gap by providing high CRI with increased efficacy in a full CCT range from 2700K to 5000K, ” Hartnet said.

For applications that require a minimum 90 CRI, Luxeon TX delivers up to 100 lm/W warm white light (3000K CCT, 90 CRI and 700 mA at 85˚C).

Toshiba to Start Sales of GaN-on-Silicon White LED Packages

Toshiba has started sales of gallium nitride on silicon white LED packages that are being marketed as a cost-competitive alternative to current LED packages. Production of LED chips is typically done on 2- to 4-inch wafers with an expensive sapphire substrate. Toshiba and Bridgelux, Inc. have developed a process for manufacturing gallium nitride LEDs on 200mm silicon wafers, which Toshiba has brought to production at Kaga Toshiba Electronics Corporation, a discrete products manufacturing facility in northern Japan.

The newly available Leteras LEDs comes in a 1-Watt, 6450 package. Other Leteras LEDs in 3535, 3030, and 3014 packages are under development. The newly available Leteras LED packages (part number TL1F1-NW0,L) come in color temperatures of 3000, 4000, and two in 5000K. They measure 6.4mm by 5.0 mm. At 350mA and 2.9 volts they have a luminous flux of 85, 95, 100, and 112 lumens respectively . The packages have a 120 degree viewing angle. The LEDs have a color rending index minimum Ra of 80 except for the higher lumen output version at 5000K that has a minimum Ra of 70. Toshiba says that the white LED packages are for general purpose lighting, TV backlighting and other areas of application.

Cree to Provide LEDs for QuantumLED Commercial Lamp Bulbs

CRS Electronics Inc. ("CRS" or the "Company"), a developer and manufacturer of LED lighting products, today announced they have selected Cree, a market-leading innovator of lighting-class LEDs, to provide the LEDs for their new QuantumLED commercial lamp (bulb) brand. QuantumLED lamps will feature Cree's latest XP-G2 LED technology.

"We do all of our product development in-house and consistently look to Cree for the latest in LED technology," said Scott Riesebosch, Chief Technology Officer at CRS Electronics. "As a customer that uses the XP package, we're excited to be able to extend our product portfolio with the newest XP-G2 LED."

Cree's XLamp® XP-G2 LED has been employed throughout the QuantumLED directional lamp product portfolio. The initial product offering includes PAR lamps, as well as MR16 lamps in three distinct lumen packages. A family of R and BR reflectorized lamps will also be offered. Directional lamps will be available in multiple beam angles, and all will offer the highest lumen output, efficacies, and color temperature ranges on the market. In addition, QuantumLED will feature an extremely hard-to-find 2200 Kelvin color temperature option throughout its entire product line.
"CRS Electronics' QuantumLED lamps showcase the advantages of Cree's XP-G2 LEDs," said Paul Thieken, Cree Director of Marketing, LED Components. "The XP-G2 LED allows CRS to seamlessly leverage the higher-performance Cree LEDs without making any additional investment."

Empire State Building to Put on its First Halloween Light Show

NTENNA REVEAL: As a special surprise and gift to New York City and the world, Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. has installed for the first time lights to the Empire State Building's antenna—the highest structure on the building.  These custom LED lights can be seen for miles in every direction. On Halloween night, the antenna LEDs will be unveiled for the first-time ever, and will become part of the Empire State Building's light shows and iconic tower lightings, further enhancing and redefining the New York City skyline. 

On Thursday, October 31, 2013, at 8:30 p.m. EST, ESRT and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment will give New York City a Halloween-themed LED light show choreographed by internationally-acclaimed lighting designer Marc Brickman to a Halloween-inspired soundtrack on Clear Channel's powerhouse radio stations Z100 (100.3 FM) and KTU (103.5 FM).

The Empire State Building Halloween Light Show promotional poster. The Empire State Realty  Trusty (ESRT) will release photos and video footage of the Halloween Light Fair after the  show. (Photo Courtesy of Empire State Realty Trust)

The addition of the new antenna LED lights will offer more than 200 feet of new lighting capabilities to extend and amplify the entire tower from choreographed light shows to daily lightings with the same effects and 16 million colors as the other tiers of the tower.

THE SIGHTS: Best Light Show Public Viewing Locations:

• Brooklyn Bridge
• Bryant Park
• The Highline
• Hoboken/Jersey City Waterfront
• Hudson River Esplanade
• Long Island City
• Madison Square Park
• Tribeca Park
• Union Square
• Williamsburg Waterfront

THE SOUNDS: Fans in New York and around the Tri-State area can tune into Z100 (100.3 FM) or KTU (103.5 FM) to hear the synchronized soundtrack in real-time during the light show.

The Halloween-inspired hits for the light show:

• "This Is Halloween"
• "Ghostbusters"
• "Monster Mash"
• "Halloween"
• "Somebody's Watching Me"

Those unable to view the live show can watch the official video of the entire light show on the Empire State Building's YouTube page via the following link: www.youtube.com/esbnyc.

French OLED Lighting Company Makes American Debut

On October 29th, French OLED lighting company BLACKBODY opened its New York City showroom in SoHo, making remarkable new OLED technology accessible to American architects and the interior design communities. 

OLED Lighting showroom in New York (photo courtesy: OSA Direct/BLACKBODY)

OLEDs, Organic Light-Emitting Diodes, offer unparalleled lighting solutions. The lightweight, ultra-flat, glare-free, shadow-free and heat-free technology can be used to create inspiring designer indoor or outdoor light fixtures. Unlike conventional light bulbs, OLED light sources emit 100% useful light. OLED allows larger surfaces of light to be created, shaped and manipulated. As well as increasing opportunities for design, OLED technology is clean with 0% polluting components. OLEDs are used by automotive and medical equipment manufacturers, and OLED displays are currently being introduced to the market for cell phones and televisions.

"With no shadows, glare, or heat, OLED fixtures provide soft, flattering and welcoming light. The romantic lighting, when incorporated into dramatic designs, creates a breathtaking display hardly accessible to other electronic lighting options," said Alessandro Dolcetta, Co-Founder of BLACKBODY.

The new showroom will be dedicated to creativity and will exemplify the myriad of designer lighting options made possible by the BLACKBODY's OLED technology. Visitors can experience the possibilities of this new technology to provide a unique ambiance for executive lobbies, offices, hotels, and private homes.

The showroom presents several products designed by major European designers. Thierry Gaugain, the Blackbody art director, has made significant contributions to the current collection as well as to the design of this first showroom.
"OLED technology brings lighting design to a new level," said Bruno Dussert-Vidalet, Co-Founder of BLACKBODY. "With the opening of our New York City showroom, we are glad to be introducing this new light to American designers and architects and are excited to see how they will integrate this technology in their work." 

Cree Extends XLamp CXA Family with LED Array

Cree, Inc. introduces two new XLamp LED Arrays to enable high-lumen applications ranging from wallpacks to canopy lighting with one CXA LED family. The new CXA3590 LED Array delivers up to 16,225 lumens at 85°C, 68-percent more lumens compared to Cree’s previous brightest array. The CXA3590 LED Array is the ideal light source to replace 250-watt metal-halide fixtures — using 40-percent less power and designed to last twice as long. 

XLamp CXA3590 LED Array“We are excited that Cree is extending the CXA family because it enables us to address more applications with a single, easy-to-use platform,” said David Lin, general manager, YAH JUANG Lighting Technology. “The CXA3590 LEDs allow us to address high-lumen applications with a single LED, a feat which would have taken hundreds of other LEDs to accomplish.”

Cree, Inc. XLamp LED Arrays. (LEDinside/Cree)

“Cree CXA LED Arrays set the industry standard for integrated arrays, providing excellent efficacy, reliability and light output,” said David Gershaw, president, RemPhos Technologies LLC. “The high-performance CXA3070 LED Array enables us to offer metal-halide replacements that exceed the efficiency and life of the technology they replace.”Cree also introduces the CXA3070 LED Array, which delivers more than 11,000 lumens at 85°C and shares the same footprint and package design as the existing CXA3050 LED. Both the CXA3590 and CXA3070 arrays are optimized to simplify design and enable low system cost. The new, high light-output LED arrays deliver up to 134 lumens per watt at 85°C and 70- to 95-CRI options — expanding the industry’s broadest family of LED arrays that push the boundaries of lighting-class performance by combining high quality of light with high light output and efficacy.

Characterized and binned at 85°C, the new LEDs are available in ANSI white and EasyWhite® color temperatures (2700 – 5000 K), providing the industry’s best color consistency for designs that use only one LED. Cree® XLamp CXA3590 and CXA3070 LED samples are available now and production quantities are available with standard lead times. Please visit www.cree.com/cxa to learn more about the new CXA LEDs.

City to Fit All Streetlights With Energy-Saving LED Bulbs

The amber glow of the New York City LED streetlight is going away. In an energy-saving effort, the city plans to replace all of its 250,000 streetlights with brighter, whiter, energy-saving, light-emitting diode fixtures in one of the nation’s largest retrofitting projects, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and the transportation commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan, said in a news conference on Thursday.

The phasing out is part of the administration’s long-term plan to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2017. Mayor Bloomberg described the switch as a “large and necessary feat” that will save taxpayers money and move the city closer to its sustainability goals. The project is also part of the Transportation Department’s plan for more environment-friendly operations, Ms. Sadik-Khan said.

The news conference was on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, where lights have already been replaced, expecting to save more than $70,000 and nearly 248,000 kilowatt-hours a year in energy. Unlike standard lights, which last six years, LED bulbs can burn for 20 years before they need to be replaced, the administration said, and the project is expected to save $14 million a year in energy and maintenance costs.

The project, which began as a pilot program in 2009, will be completed in three phases. The full removal will start in Brooklyn with 80,000 “cobra-headed” streetlights, with their sodium high-pressured bulbs, then move on to Queens and, eventually, the rest of the city.

The city has already replaced some 3,625 lights along Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive in Manhattan; Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, between Grand Army Plaza and Ralph Avenue; and along pedestrian paths in Central Park, where, Ms. Sadik-Khan said, passers-by noticed the change.

“People tend to like them,” she said. “It’s clear. It’s bright. It really does a good job in providing fresher light.” The project is estimated to cost $76.5 million.

The project is the first to receive financing through the Accelerated Conservation and Efficiency initiative or “ACE,” the administration said, a $100 million competitive program that the Department of Citywide Administrative Services created to expedite such sustainability projects.

Lights along the city bridges will be financed by the Transportation Department, Ms. Sadik-Khan said.

Scavenger Element Patent Released to Eliminate LED Liquid Contamination

LEDs provide consumers with many benefits and advantages, but there are still some drawbacks that need to be worked out. Inventors David Horn and Chris Vogdes have released a patent (no. 8558436) for one problem in particular that they hope to counter, which is the contamination that can occur in the thermally-conducive liquid in some LEDs.

Since LED bulbs act as semiconductors, they can produce a lot of heat. To try and reduce the heat, thermally-conducive liquid will be added inside the bulbs to draw the heat away from the LED towards the bulb shell and then disperse it into the air. Unfortunately, during the process the liquid can become contaminated with organics and other materials.

To reduce the amount of contamination within the LED, a scavenger element is attached to the base of the bulb exposing it to the liquid in order to capture any contaminations inside.  “The scavenger element is attached in a location that allows the thermally-conductive fluid to circulate through the scavenger material via passive convective flow,” an Electronics Newsweekly article cited one of the inventors remarking.

Digital Lumens Introduces Smart Lighting Energy Tracking System

As we expand our product portfolio with new hardware and software offerings, I thought I’d tell you more about one in particular — LightRules Power. This new addition to the LightRules family allows our customers to monitor real-time energy usage and cost for other systems and circuits within their facilities.

So, why is this important?

This new capability leverages the network that was installed with the Intelligent Lighting System, and is often the first smart-building system in industrial facilities. This network, which was paid for by lighting energy savings, now provides facility managers with significantly more value and provides a single integrated view of energy use and cost by system — enabling them to make better decisions about resource optimization and utilization.

Real-time energy monitoring is a powerful tool to allow our customers to better understand their energy usage and cost – often well before they receive their energy bill. There are countless examples of rogue energy usage within facilities that goes unchecked for weeks, months, and even years – or even worse, never gets discovered.

LightRules Power monitors real-time energy usage, power, and peak demand, which can help our customers reduce both the usage (kWh) and demand-based (kW) components of their energy bills.

By utilizing LightRules Power, our customers can monitor circuit or system-level energy consumption – and better understand where in their facility they are consuming the most energy. Further, we can help our customers identify any troubling trends in their energy usage – and even help facility managers identify equipment or systems that may be failing or degrading over time.

The value of LightRules Power gets further magnified when used to monitor energy consumption across multiple facilities. Imagine the benefits of being able to compare and contrast energy usage profiles between two or more facilities.

LightRules Power is the latest example of listening to feedback from our customers and partners to enable even greater energy savings across our rapidly expanding worldwide customer base.

Cree Reports Financial Results for 1Q14

Cree, Inc., a market leader in LED lighting, today announced revenue of US$ 391.0 million for its first quarter of fiscal 2014, ended September 29, 2013. This represents a 24% increase compared to revenue of US$ 315.8 million reported for the first quarter of fiscal 2013, and a 4% increase compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013. GAAP net income for the first quarter was $30.5 million, or US$ 0.25 per diluted share, an increase of 89% year-over-year compared to GAAP net income of US$ 16.1 million, or US$ 0.14 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2013. On a non-GAAP basis, net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 was US$ 47.3 million, or US$ 0.39 per diluted share, an increase of 49% year-over-year compared to non-GAAP net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2013 of US$ 31.8 million, or US$ 0.27 per diluted share.

"Fiscal 2014 is off to a good start, as we delivered solid Q1 revenue and earnings growth in line with our targets," stated Chuck Swoboda, Cree chairman and CEO. "The strong performance was primarily due to increased sales of our lighting products, higher gross margins and improved operating leverage across the business. Based on our backlog, current sales activity and project forecasts, we are targeting growth in all product segments in Q2, led by growth in LED fixtures and the Cree® LED Bulb. Even with our success, LED lighting remains a largely untapped opportunity and we remain focused on investing in new products, new channels and building the Cree brand to grow our company and lead the market."

• Gross margin increased 110 basis points from Q4 of fiscal 2013 to 38.6% on a GAAP basis and increased 100 basis points to 39.2% on a non-GAAP basis.
• Cash and investments increased by $64.9 million from Q4 of fiscal 2013 to $1.1 billion.
• Accounts receivable (net) increased by $16.7 million from Q4 of fiscal 2013 to $209.3 million, with days sales outstanding of 48.
• Inventory increased $20.3 million from Q4 of fiscal 2013 to $217.3 million, with days of inventory of 81 days.

Recent Business Highlights:

Introduced Cree TW (TrueWhite®) Series LED Bulb, which emits natural LED light with a Color Rendering Index (CRI) of 93, making Cree the first company to meet the California Energy Commission (CEC) LED bulb specification;

Earned ENERGY STAR® qualification for the game-changing soft-white Cree LED Bulbs;

Introduced the XLamp® CXA 1520 LED array, the industry’s first High-Density (HD) LED Array. This breakthrough technology delivers double the lumen density to enable the next generation of LED spot lights;

Launched the XLamp XQ-E LEDs, a new generation of lighting-class LEDs that deliver big performance in a tiny package;

Announced that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) headquarters in Washington, D.C., has been outfitted with energy-saving CR Series LED Troffers by Cree.

Business Outlook:

For its second quarter of fiscal 2014 ending December 29, 2013, Cree targets revenue in a range of $400 million to $420 million with GAAP gross margin targeted to be 37.8%+/- and non-GAAP gross margin targeted to be 38.5%+/-. Our GAAP gross margin targets include stock-based compensation expense of approximately $2.8 million, while our non-GAAP targets do not. Operating expenses are targeted to increase by approximately $5.5 million on both a GAAP basis and non-GAAP basis to promote the Cree LED Bulb and take advantage of ENERGY STAR® qualification and associated utility rebates to drive increased sales momentum. The tax rate is targeted at 23.0%+/- for the second quarter of fiscal 2014. GAAP net income is targeted at $26 million to $32 million, or $0.21 to $0.26 per diluted share. Non-GAAP net income is targeted in a range of $44 million to $50 million, or $0.36 to $0.41 per diluted share. The GAAP and non-GAAP net income per diluted share targets are based on an estimated 123 million diluted weighted average shares. Targeted non-GAAP earnings exclude expenses related to the amortization of acquired intangibles and stock-based compensation expense of $0.15 per diluted share.

Philips winning market share in lighting

AMSTERDAM - (AP) -- The chief executive of Royal Philips NV says his company -- already the world's biggest light maker -- is winning market share in next-generation LED lighting technology.

While presenting third quarter earnings on a conference call Monday, Frans van Houten did not give a specific figure on the company's global market share. But the report showed LED lighting sales grew by 33 percent from a year ago in the three months through September. They accounted for 30 percent of the 2.08 billion euros ($2.85 billion) in lighting sales Philips had in the quarter.

"We must be doing something right" he said.

Van Houten said Philips is now offering consumer LEDs in the U.S. for $5 at Home Depot and in partnerships with several major utility companies.

"We see a strong uptake of that particular lamp,"he said. The "early adopters of LEDs were our professional customers but now we see rapid consumer adoption occurring."

He expects that trend to continue not only because the costs of individual lights are coming down, but also as technology enthusiasts explore the possibility of controlling LEDs via home wireless networks.

Philips reported third quarter net profit of 281 million euros ($384 million), compared with 105 million euros in the same period a year ago, due mostly to cost-cutting. The company has shed 4,900 jobs over the past year, more than 4 percent of its 114,300 total.

Sales fell 3.4 percent to 5.62 billion euros, but mainly because of the impact of the strong euro. Philips said sales would have risen around 3 percent without the currency effect.

The figures were better than analysts had expected, particularly for China and India, and shares rose 6.3 percent to 25.96 euros in Amsterdam trading.

All of the company's divisions showed stronger operating profits, but the biggest improvement was at the company's lighting arm, where the strong LED sales and lower restructuring charges led to a 140 million euro profit, from a 14 million loss in the same period a year ago.

At its consumer products arm, which sells shavers, toothbrushes, baby bottles and coffee machines, operating profit was 102 million euros from 63 million, helped by lower restructuring costs.

At Philips' health care arm, which sells high-end imaging equipment, operating profit was 283 million euros, up from 255 million euros.

Due to the recent standoffs over the U.S. budget and debt ceiling, customers have been "very, very reluctant to make strong capital commitments," Van Houten said.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

LEDtronics Provides LED Lighting to Poverty-Stricken Students

Today LEDtronics®, Inc., announced that their “Pehli Kiran” initiative provided LED solar lanterns to top students from impoverished villages in Pakistan. Top students received a solar lantern or a solar cell phone charger to help them continue their studies and encourage them to stay in school.

CEO of LEDtronics, Pervaiz Lodhie

The “Pehli Kiran,” or “first ray of light,” is a philanthropic initiative created in 2003 by Pervaiz Lodhie, LED lighting pioneer and CEO of LEDtronics to create opportunities for socio-economic development worldwide.

The key element is the distribution and maintenance of solar LED lighting systems through the guidance and management of LEDtronics’ affiliated company, Shaan Technologies, located in Karachi, Pakistan. A simple, LED lantern, at approximately $2.33 each, is charged by solar power to provide a cost-effective source of energy for impoverished villagers.

Student receiving solar lantern during Pehli Kiran Award Event

So far, the Pehli Kiran has helped over 1450 impoverished families:
•    Save a total of about $10,000.00 immediately from switching to solar-charged light;
•    Increase yearly income by an expected $454,000.00 with a total expected increase of over $2.2 million (based on a five-year or more life expectancy of the LEDs); and
•    Improve safety, health, community involvement, hunger, and more

“The Pehli Kiran initiative gives poverty-stricken families freedom from darkness, illiteracy, poverty, hunger and disease,” states Lodhie. “On September 3rd, we extended this program to schools in deprived areas of Pakistan to encourage students to continue their studies and show appreciation for their hard work.”

Position holder students at Govt. Higher Secondary School who received solar LED lanterns or cell phone chargers included: Parmand, Lalchand and Usva Shah, Haresh, Bharat and Sana, Nanoomal, Bhavesh and Narmeen Mahak, Zahid Saleem, Jai Parkash, Madan Lal, and Ramsha. Riaz Ali and Rano Mal received solar-powered LED lights as a reward for securing top positions in their respective classes of Govt. Higher Secondary School Umerkot and Govt. Girls High School Umerkot.

LEDtronics LED solar lantern

“Energy is a very important and an alarming issue in Pakistan, and by locally producing photovoltaic solar panels, we are providing cost-effective energy which, in combination with using solar-powered LED lighting products, will bring increased literacy, educational and income-generating opportunities that were lacking due to energy shortages and inefficient planning,” states Shoib Ahmed, Shaan Technologies Engineer.
The “Pehli Kiran” is an ongoing initiative that continues to evolve through the United Nations Development Programme, The Aitemaad Pakistan Trust, and other, non-governmental organizations.

Hartlepool considers LED upgrade

Hartlepool Borough Council is proposing to replace all of Hartlepool’s 13,644 street lights with LED luminaires in a 12-month scheme.

The council says the scheme, which it is estimated will cost £5 million, will save the authority between £400,000 and £550,000 a year on its energy bill.

Alistair Smith, the council’s assistant director of neighbourhoods, told the Hartlepool Mail: “There is a great deal of uncertainty over the future cost of electricity with costs expected to rise at an above inflation rate for the foreseeable future.

“LED lighting has been identified as the solution to rising energy costs by substantially reducing energy consumption whilst also reducing maintenance costs by utilising new technology that comes with a guarantee of over 20 years.”

The council says it expects it will still be left with an annual saving of £180,000 a year in its street light maintenance budget after paying back the loan to buy the new lighting equipment.

The proposal will be discussed at Hartlepool’s meeting of the neighbourhood services committee next week.

Litek retrofits lighting in Venice, customizes LEDs for legacy look

Venice, Italy is one of those historical cities where change is not necessarily welcome, especially if it changes the iconic look and the feel of the place, and the Commission for the Architectural and Landscape Heritage was intent on ensuring that new lighting match the old. But the city, like many, needed to reduce energy consumption attributable to nighttime lighting and turned to Litek to shepherd a retrofit project that took four years of testing. Now Litek has retrofitted 7000 existing fixtures with LEDs, delivering 81.4% energy savings.

Lighting in Venice is especially important to the aesthetics and ambience where pedestrians stroll in the piazzas and along canals and admire the unique architectural structures. For example, famed Piazza San Marco was the heart of the project. "In the evenings or at night, one's perception of the notable architectural structures in the piazza, including the Basilica de San Marco, the Torre dell'Orologio, and the Palazzo Ducale, is keenly affected by the lighting," said Mark van den Berg, director of marketing at Philips Lumileds. "For this reason, it became necessary to maintain the exact light quality that was delivered by the mercury discharge lamps of the past, when they were replaced by energy-efficient LED lamps."

After the extensive testing, Litek used Lumileds Luxeon K LED arrays with custom designed optics to replace the mercury-discharge lamps with solid-state lighting (SSL) modules. That retrofit encompassed 6000 post-top luminaires. The selected LEDs deliver 3000K-CCT, 80-CRI light that matches the prior lighting while eliminating maintenance issues and saving energy. Litek projects that the lighting will last 50,000 hours, equating to almost 12 years based on 11 hours of use each night.

The project also included additional lighting along the Grand Canal, across the Accademia Bridge, and in the Rialto shopping area. In that area halogen lights in a warm CCT had been broadly used. Litek developed and installed retrofit modules for 1000 fixtures in those areas that use Luxeon M LEDs, again at 3000K CCT.

The local utility has documented a reduction of 75 kW of power annually. As the nearby photos document, the Piazza San Marcos retains its classic look de

Sumitomo Electric Develops Thermal Resistant LED FPC

Sumitomo Electric has successfully developed Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) for LED applications that can tolerate high temperature of 150 degrees Celsius, according to a report by Nikkei.

The new FPC is developed and manufactured by Sumitomo Electric subsidiary Sumitomo Electric Printed Circuit and sold by Sumitomo Electric. The company is currently offering samples to clients.

Most FPC on the market is only suitable for applications below 100 degrees Celsius, according to Sumitomo Electric. In high temperatures above 150 degrees Celsius, the average FPC quickly deteriorates, causing the insulator film adhesion to be severely damaged in a very short period. The new FPC improves thermal resistance of materials used in the bonding agent coating. By using thermal resistant polyimide in bonding agents, FPC deterioration under high temperatures can be prevented.

Sumitomo Electric tested the new product under three thermal resistant conditions: 

1. Exposing the product to 150 degrees Celsius air.
2. Placing the product under high temperature and humidity (85 degrees Celsius, -85% RH).
3. Submerging the product in 150 degrees Celsius oil.

The experiments proved, after the first 3,000 hours, the new products met requirements for bonding coat adhesion strength under the Japan Petrochemical Industry Association (JPCA) regulation of 3.4 N/cm. Besides LED lighting, the FPC can also be applied in automotive power transmission circuits, where high thermal resistance is required. 

LED Integrated Technology Takes to the Sky

Inspired by the unmistakable style of the most legendary sports cars, the Carbon Appearance package utilizes a new palette of accent colors to make the 2014 Cirrus no less than stunning on the tarmac. Interior details such as jet black vents, carbon fiber instrument panel lobes and two-tone leather bolster seats complete this exhilarating new look.

The all-new and state-of-the-art Cirrus Integrated LED Technology(TM) increases functional performance while enhancing aesthetic appeal. (PRNewsFoto/Cirrus Aircraft)

Platinum Appearance
A true sense of traditional, elegant and luxurious style is captured in the new 2014 Platinum Appearance premium upgrade. Fluid lines and a distinguished collection of earthy exterior colors highlight this desirable option for 2014. Nickel vents and solid color leather bolster seats provide the perfect finishing touches that complement this rich new addition to Cirrus style.

"There will no mistaking when a new 2014 Cirrus Aircraft is on the ramp as only Cirrus offers this innovative new mix of performance, safety and style," added Simmons. "We take our design cues from so many places outside of aviation and then work carefully with our engineers and artists to bring them into the airplane in just the right way. You can see the results of that thinking in these new colors, exterior schemes and most importantly the new LED lighting system for 2014."

A true sense of traditional, elegant and luxurious style is captured in the new 2014 Cirrus Aircraft Platinum Appearance premium upgrade. (PRNewsFoto/Cirrus Aircraft)

High-Performance Lighter Weight Brakes and Tubeless Tires
The 2014 Cirrus aircraft line-up features an innovative new high-performance Beringer brake system that reduces weight and enhances performance and safety. Called Beringer Aero design, these brakes provide the same stopping power but with less mass and is achieved with a smaller rotor that performs at a cooler overall operating temperature. They also allow the use of tubeless tires to provide a higher level of reliability when compared to traditional tube tires, reducing the risk of leaks and failures.

Inspired by the unmistakable style of legendary sports cars, the 2014 Cirrus Aircraft Carbon Appearance package utilizes a new palette of colors for an exhilarating new look. (PRNewsFoto/Cirrus Aircraft)

Unrivaled Performance and Capability in Generation 5
Generation 5 is the name given to the airframe change required to achieve the 200-pound increase in useful load first introduced in 2013. The entire aircraft design was analyzed from spinner-to-tail and many parts and systems reengineered and redesigned to accommodate the increased airframe load, aerodynamic improvements, improved flight performance and the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System™ (CAPS). Substantial testing, including a new series of parachute test drops, was conducted for validation. With an increased canopy size, a new rocket extraction system that propels the parachute upon activation, an advanced technology electrical rocket igniter and lighter and stronger construction materials, the proven CAPS system continues to save lives – 77 to date. Other airframe upgrades included strengthening the carbon fiber, single-part wing spar, the landing gear and a new flap system, allowing extension to the first position at 150 knots.

In 2014 attention is turned to LED technology in the wingtips and the addition of high performance brakes in addition to the 2013 load carrying exclamation point of recent Cirrus innovations which also include: Cirrus Perspective™ avionics by Garmin®; Cirrus Known Ice Protection™; Perspective Global Connect™ satellite communications; 60/40 FlexSeating™; and the totally unique Cirrus Airframe Parachute System™ (CAPS). The SR22/SR22T has been the best selling GA aircraft now for over a decade.

Xeleum Introduces New LED Stairwell Light Fixture

Xeleum Lighting announced the introduction of its new Athena Series LED Stairwell Light Fixture. Specifically designed for use in stairwells that may be unoccupied for long periods of time, this LED Light Fixture is capable of reducing energy usage by up to 75% over conventional stairwell fixtures that do not employ LEDs or occupancy sensors. It achieves this dramatic reduction in energy usage by automatically providing the fully ON light level of over 2,650 lumens only when the space is occupied and, when the space is unoccupied, reduces the light output by approximately 80% while continuing to provide light levels specified by NFPA and ASHRAE.

“We are looking forward to significant savings in both energy usage and bulb replacement costs.”

Mehrdad Ghalebi, President of Xeleum stated that, “Among the unique features of our system is the linking of multiple fixtures through use of a ground breaking intelligent wireless RF system which, together with built-in sensors, automatically tracks occupancy so that the lights are at full brightness at the levels above, below and directly at all occupied locations, irrespective of the direction of the occupant’s motion.”

Additional features include an affordable built-in battery back-up system, capable of operating for at least 90 minutes following a power outage; vandal-resistant construction and electroluminescent tape recharge capability. Installation is simplified because the fixture is self-contained without the need for external sensors. The use of LEDs ensure many years of maintenance-free operation without ever having to change a bulb.

The XASW Stairwell LED Light Fixture is UL 924 rated, NFPA compliant, FCC certified and in conformance with DOE rulings pertaining to ASHRAE 90.1-2010, Section 9.4.1.6(g). Occupied mode light output of 2,650 lumens is reduced by approximately 80% when in unoccupied mode. Occupied mode input power of 29 watts is also reduced by approximately 80% when in unoccupied mode.

Todd Albright, owner of Albright Properties, stated “Because so much energy is wasted on lighting stairwells during the long periods when they are not being used, I expect this new stairwell fixture from Xeleum will quickly find wide acceptance. We especially like the inexpensive battery back-up feature and the fact that installation is simplified because the occupancy sensors are built directly into the fixture”. He added “We are looking forward to significant savings in both energy usage and bulb replacement costs.”

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Wonderful Design: The Honeycomb-Shaped SOL Dome Lit by LED

Recently, a London-based art and design studio loop pH have developed ‘the SOL dome’, a fully responsive lighting pavilion in Michigan. The honeycomb-shaped structure is assembled onsite from thousands of individual circles woven from composite fibers, extending through space with its hollow lightweight constructing.

Measuring 8 x 4 meters and weighs just 40 kg, the ‘SOL dome’ is illuminated by a circular matrix of solar powered LEDs. The portable structure is animated; it interacts and adapts to its environment, similar to a plant and its surrounding ecosystem. The rotational breathing rhythm of light is driven by an onsite CO2 sensor—the underlying geometry and construction technique of the dome is based on chemical and molecular bonds between carbon atoms. When each fibre is bent into a circle, it charges the LEDs like a battery, creating a controlled energetic structure.

Dining By LED Lighting

Dining is a visceral everyday human experience. We plan and talk about our dining experiences almost as much as we talk about the weather, maybe more. What do you want for dinner tonight? Our collective vocabulary describing the dining experience is personal, sensory and passionate. We take the alchemy of food and drink seriously!

Light defines the dining experience. It sets your expectations for what is to come…the bright lights of your neighborhood McDonald’s communicate a different story and sense of welcome than the warm, soft glow of your favorite Italian place. Light nudges us to feel while we eat, drink and share stories with friends and family.

Restaurants require special consideration in lighting, and given three important trends today- the “mainstreaming” of LED lighting on the market, delivering distinctive dining experiences that reflect the attitude and ethos of the restaurant’s brand and the need for more energy efficient lighting in general- restaurateurs and designers need guidance in navigating the design and technical issues inherent in restaurant lighting today.

I was one of the early proponents of LED lighting many years ago, completing my first project in 2004, and it still amazes me how many problems many owners, designers, and installers have in designing with and selecting LED lighting, especially in restaurants. LED lamps and luminaires are now available that will match every desired dining experience, with all the energy efficiency expected from LEDs. And compatibility problems are getting much easier to solve if you follow a few basic rules like looking for pre-tested dimmer/transformer combinations, sizing for in-rush current, and using reputable, high performance LED solutions from credible companies like Soraa.

LEDs can be used in many different applications to create a comfortable and nuanced dining atmosphere, even in fast food environments. Designing with the six layers of light will transform any space, enhancing ambiance and providing a much more enjoyable customer experience than simple, static uniform lighting. Lighting has a significant impact on how interior and exterior spaces are perceived. Diverse intensities, textures and colors of light will order the visual importance of the space, indicate circulation paths, highlight art and interior details and encourage social interaction. Lighting in restaurants also has a large impact on the food - light with point source definition and full visible spectrum color rendering makes food look more appetizing, bringing out its true colors and textures and making dining more pleasurable and memorable. The most successful restaurant designs provide a dining experience that stimulates all the senses, especially sight, and lighting plays a significant part in driving sales in hospitality.

Today, with the correct combination of people-inspired design and the best LED technology, designers can specify lighting with no compromises, fully energy efficient with low operating and maintenance costs that unleashes the enchanting power of food and drink to connect people and their stories together in the everyday dining experience.

LED Lighting will debut with a driverless metro new train at London

The world's oldest London underground maybe introduce more spacious and more energy efficiency driverless trains in the future. New car air conditioning system will make the British people no longer sweat when they take the subway in the summer. The new car will be displayed in London royal Victoria terminal on Tuesday.

The subway car is designed by German Siemens electronics company with the LED Lighting. It is claimed that energy efficiency will be thirty percent higher than the current car and its weight will be twenty percent lighter. The new train cars are no longer separated by partition door and that can increase thirty percent space. New car doors will also become more broadly and the busy people do not need to squeeze hold when getting on or off.

Each new train cars cost more than $1.54 million. Siemens refer to if authorities decided to purchase, the train can be made in the UK. But as a result of the new train to unmanned operation and make the subway conductor without work at any time, expect the new train may not be popular with the relevant trade union.  

EPA Closes Energy Star Program

The U.S. government shutdown has taken a toll on Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star program. Facing a funding lapse due to the shutdown, EPA decided to temporarily shutter the electronic energy certification program, which is expected to impact LED lighting, other lighting, many other products, and has cancelled the annual Partners Meeting scheduled for this week, according to a report by LED Magazine.

Ongoing fight between Democratic President Barack Obama and Republican-led House of Representatives has paralyzed government operations as the political stalemate has led to an overall government fund freeze. Affected by the political dispute, Energy Star’s partner applications and inquiries are on hold for now, said EPA. Furthermore, EPA will not be updating qualified products lists or releasing any new specification drafts until funding is fully restored.

Energy Star falls as the latest victim of U.S. government shutdown. (LEDinside/ Energy Star)

Although, Energy Star’s website is still functioning, no further updates will be made to its website or social media channels. Online tools, applications and agency hotlines have also been disabled.

While it is hoped Energy Star’s shutdown will be temporary, EPA is not over with its funding woes. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy already reported to the congress on Sept. 23 that the agency would be unable to pay employees or draft regulations if the funding shortage continued till Oct. 1. A White House 2013 budget document showed government funding for the agency was already down 1.2 percent to US$ 8.3 billion, or US$ 105 million below the 2012 enacted level.

The congress appears to be keen on implementing further reductions, though. On July 23, 2013, the U.S. House of Representative Panel proposed a bill that will cut 34 percent of the agency's funding, a move led mostly by Republican politicians to block Democrats from introducing new environmental measures, according to Science Insider. While the bill is unlikely to be passed and funding will be maintained at 2013 levels, it remains unclear when the two parties will reach a final budget agreement. 

Flextronics Expands into LED Lighting Solutions

Company enables original equipment manufacturers, commercial and industrial customers to improve cash flow, accelerate time to market and meet energy efficiency targets globally

During a webinar hosted by Flextronics, the company announced an expansion of its portfolio of energy infrastructure solutions and services that will help original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) address regional shifts in the energy market by developing and delivering products to market faster, enhancing their regional market reach, and freeing up cash flow by leveraging its global capabilities. Flextronics also introduced a portfolio of commercial and industrial lighting solutions and services that will help enable businesses and property managers, who operate mega square foot facilities, to reduce both their procurement and utility costs as they meet corporate and government energy efficiency targets.

According to a 2012 McKinsey & Company report, the lighting market is at an inflection point as LED lighting is expected to grow 40% annually and become over 65% of the total lighting market by 2020. Flextronics has responded to this market need by introducing Flextronics Lighting Solutions, a portfolio of energy efficient lighting solutions for commercial and industrial applications. These include applications for high and low bays, offices, outdoors and lighting controls. It also includes a full set of lighting services such as lighting audits, order fulfillment, incentive management that can be offered directly to customers or with their preferred partners.

"Flextronics is proud to help OEMs respond to regional growth opportunities from Smart Grid and LED lighting, while improving their cash flow and reducing the time to bring new solutions to market. In addition to OEMs, we are now helping commercial and industrial businesses lower their utility bills with energy efficient lighting solutions," said Jeannine Sargent, President, Energy at Flextronics.

The energy industry is faced with an aging energy infrastructure, increasing government regulations on emissions and renewable energy mix, as well as customer initiatives to improve energy efficiency and lower costs. In fact, the European Commission is targeting a 20% increase in energy efficiency, as well as 20% of all energy consumed to be from renewable sources, by the year 2020. Such initiatives are driving the need for smart and clean energy solutions with increasing power electronic and digital communication capabilities that are interoperable, cost effective and highly reliable.

For many years, Flextronics has been helping manufacturers of solar modules, advanced meter infrastructure, and LED lamps cost effectively build and deliver products to their customers. The solutions announced today further expand Flextronics' scope and depth of capabilities to provide a suite of supply chain and technology solutions across the exploration, generation, distribution, and consumption of energy.

MaxLite’s New LED Linear High Bay Fixtures Offer Energy Savings for Industrial Lighting

News Source： 

MaxLite_New_LED_Linear_High_Bay_Fixtures_Offer_Energy_Savings_for_Industrial_Lighting

MaxLite debuts its DesignLights Consortium (DLC)-qualified BayMAX LED Linear High Bay Fixtures with A-B bi-level capabilities that offer LM-80-tested LED strips in a low profile rectangular high bay housing; dimming models are also available. The BayMAX fixtures replace T8 and T5 fluorescent and HID high bay fixtures in industrial applications with 15- to 40-foot ceilings, including big box retailers, factories, gymnasiums, manufacturing facilities, workshops and warehouses. The BayMAX LED fixtures are assembled in MaxLite’s New Jersey facility, and are added to the company’s lineup of United States-assembled and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)-compliant lighting fixtures.

MaxLite DesignLights Consortium (DLC)-qualified BayMAX LED Linear High Bay Fixtures

“Our new BayMAX LED Linear High Bay Fixtures are designed with either dimming or A-B bi-level capabilities to easily obtain additional energy savings by using dimming, a motion sensor or simple circuit wiring techniques,” said MaxLite’s Vice President of Product Marketing and Engineering Pat Treadway. “The new fixtures perform extremely well with an ROI of less than three years in industrial environments where maintenance plays a costly and time-consuming role.”

MaxLite’s new 110-watt performance- and value-optimized LED Linear High Bay with more than 11,000 lumens replaces up to a 250-watt metal halide high bay fixture, while the 160-watt LED model is equivalent up to a 400-watt fixture with more than 16,000 deliverable lumens. The 250-watt model replaces up to a 450-watt pulse start metal halide high bay fixture with deliverable lumens up to 24,000.

High efficacy LED boards with dual copper cladding are engineered with cool-operating thermal and lumen balanced light engines that outperform harder-driven, hotter LEDs, resulting in greater energy savings and lumen output, longer life and better quality of life.
Solidly constructed of 22-gauge, cold-roll steel housing, the BayMAX LED Linear High Bay Fixtures operate on universal 120- to 277-volt electrical systems. A specular reflector controls the light distribution and maximizes light output. A topside access door enables easy driver maintenance and serviceability.

Variations include dimming and bi-level controls, while options include occupancy sensor, wire guards and lensed doors. Accessories include 10-foot SO cords and plugs for 120- or 277-volt systems and cable hanging kits.

LED Canada Growthstar Horticultural LEDs

GrowthStar "PowerBloom Plus" is a light spectrum mix that has been very carefully configured for heavy flowering and fruiting growth cycles, it comes in several models and is a proven producer in horticultural operations of varying types. "VegMax" blend, on the other hand, is completely different in is combination and selection of relevant spectrum.

LED Canada collabortes with Growthstar™ in horticultural lights.

Homegrown Hydroponics is the first hydroponics wholesaler in Ontario and one of the largest horticultural suppliers in Canada, with the largest network of retails stores in the country. Homegrown is known for its quality products and long standing wholesale and retail presence.
LED Canada commercial grade horticultural lights are already well proven in research facilities, commercial greenhouse and farm applications across North America. This partnership allows LED Canada to bring this level of professional quality and performance to the retail consumer, with the local support and professional services of an expert in the horticultural industry to back the product up.

Plant growth under LED

“Customer feedback is very positive, LEDs deliver on their promise and LED Canada has stood behind its products with solid warranty and product support”, said Alex Dymon, Manager of Homegrown Hydroponics.