OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diodes) are materials that emit light when current is passed through them. OLED are used today to make beautiful and efficient displays in MP3 players, mobile phones and other gadgets, and the world’s first OLED-TV can be bougt from Sony. Because OLEDs emit light, it is also possible use the technology to create white light.
OLEDs are very power efficient and they can be made very thin. An OLED light bulb is actually a thin film of material that emits bright white light. Because OLEDs can be flexible, or even transparent, exciting new OLED lamp designs are possible.
OLEDs are also the most ‘green’ light source. Not only are they super efficient, but OLEDs do not contain any ‘bad’ metals such as mercury, which is present in efficient CFL lamps. So OLEDs are really the future lighting source, when all things are considered.
In April 2008, OSRAM has announced the world’s first OLED lamp. It was designed by lighting designer Ingo Maurer, uses 10 OLED light panels, sized 132 x 33 millimeters. The OLED bulb in this lamp are actually thin square sheets that emit light. This lamp is more of a prototype than a commercial product - only 25 will be made, and the price is more than 25,000euro. But it sure is an important milestone on the path for OLED lighting.
Several companies are working towards white OLED light products. GE is hoping to get products out by 2010, and OSRAM is planning products for 2011-12, even though, like we said, they already introduced their first OLED lamp in 2008.
Philips is already shipping product samples and OLED lighting kits, and is hoping to have commercial products as early as 2009. Other companies involved in white OLED lighting are Konica Minolta (plans to have products by 2011), Universal Display (WOLED technology), and Kodak.The EU is funding several OLED lighting projects, while in Japan a few companies have joined forces to create Lumiotec - a JV to study the possibilities of OLED light bulbs.
We’re yet to see which company (or companies) will win the race for OLED lighting. But we’re seeing more and more evidence that OLEDs will play an important role in our green-light future.
Most present day houses use compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) for lighting purposes though there are a large number of homes that also use traditional tube lights and incandescent bulbs. In earlier days, candles and oil lamps were used for lighting purposes. Three popular methods of outdoor lighting are down lighting, up lighting and front lighting. Of all these three methods, down lighting is the most common one. In down lighting method, light fixtures are recessed into the ceiling of a house or building. Up lighting is used in environments that require uniform general illumination and minimum amount of glare. A front lighting arrangement makes the subjects look flat with no visible shadows.
There are different forms of lightings like alcove, sconce and soffit. In alcove form, an indirect up lighting is provided into the area to be illuminated. A soffit is used for wall decoration purposes while a sconce is used for lighting the objects that are on the topside of a room. Different variants of light fixtures are available in the markets now days. While some fixtures are plain and simple, others may be some piece of art in them.
Most common types of outdoor lighting include accent, task and general lighting. Accent lighting is mainly decorative and is used to illuminate plants and other elements of landscapes. Task lighting is a concentrated form of lighting and is commonly used for reading & material inspection purposes. A general lighting is used for outdoor places like parking lots and pedestrian crossings that require less illumination. One should take measures to protect his lighting equipments from fire and other natural disasters. One should follow the specifications and installation instructions of manufacturers to avoid any accident during fixation of lighting equipment.
Creating a good lighting design requires complex planning. One has to take various factors into account while creating a design for a lighting appliance like energy requirement and its aesthetic impact on the surroundings. Complex lighting design may require elaborate mathematical modeling. Large areas with irregular floor plans may require special softwares for their illumination. These softwares generate a number of contour charts that show the effect of lighting on the area under consideration. Zonal Cavity Method is commonly used to calculate the effect of light reflected from the walls and ceiling of a room on the overall illumination of the room.
Proper lighting is a key element of home furnishings and interior designing. Outdoor lighting may be affected to a great extent due to various factors like lamp burnout, dirt accumulation on fixtures and ageing of lamps. Lighting appliances are an integral part of any home decor course. One should make conscious efforts to optimize the use of electrical power in one’s house. One should make maximum use of natural and sky lights in his rooms. These days, digital lighting are extensively used in motor vehicles. Such lighting is controlled by a computer. One can get a pattern of colours by the use of these lights. One should use quartz halogen lighting for outdoor illumination. One should follow the instructions of lighting equipment manufacturers while installing fixtures for outdoor lighting. Any deviation would leave a negative effect on the overall illumination of the area.
More ethanol? That is the dumbest idea ever. Great for farmers, bad for consumers and the environment.
Plus we are forced to use CFL light bulbs in 5 years, which are more expensive and contain mercury.
I am growing palm trees indoors. Right now I’m using cfl’s (compact fluorescents). I was wondering if I should be using the cool spectrum, warm spectrum, or a mixture of both? should I change the spectrums seasonly?
What better example to be set for the American Public than if the ‘White House’ became the model for green technology? Does anyone know if the White House recycles, has solar panels, CFL lights, etc.?
Couldn’t find anything on the web - does anyone have any info about this?
1960s LEDs were only found in expensive industrial machinery before progressing to indicator lights in common household electronics. Now the biggest growth area for light emitting diodes is in lighting. There low power consumption, rugged construction and long life makes them the perfect choice for energy saving lighting applcations.
LEDs are a microscopic chip encapsulated in a lightweight, study epoxy resin enclosure that is more durable than traditional glass lamps or fluorescent tubes. Because they have no fragile or moving parts they are resistant to vibration and virtually indestructible. Wtih an epoxy resin coating, LEDs are able to withstand extreme temperatures and also resist moisture damage.
Recent developments in LED technology have seen significant improvements in their light output with the new Array range of replacement bulbs from Nexxus Lighting. with a luminous output of 95lm/w, Array lamps are available in for sizes from 1 to 8 watts.2W - now LEDs are available in most common bulb and pin configurations.
The only downside to LEDs for general domestic lighting is the perceived cost, and when retrofitting LEDs transformers may need to be changed to meet the transformers minimum load requirements. Like any emerging product, there are many inferior products on the market that do not live up to manufacturers output claims or life expectancy. There are calls for industry regulation and universal performance and output measuring standard to be introduced. Inferior quality LEDs give very little cost saving when they do not live up to claimed life expectancy or output, often resulting in costly replacement and disillusioned consumers. LED manufacturers are currently developing diodes manufactured from silicon based materials, which are non toxic and led expensive to manufacture than current gallium & sapphire based diodes that will not only help in the performance of LED chips but also help reduce their manufacturing cost.
There is no doubt that LEDs are more energy efficient in their running than both compact fluorescent, and incandescent bulbs, however little research or information is available on the true energy costs of producing LED chips or their heat sinks, nor on the effects of disposal of some colour LEDs (red & IR) which contain toxins and harmful materials. LEDs do not however contain mercury like compact fluorescents - a harmful toxin present in all compact fluorescent and requiring special disposal to prevent this heavy metal entering our waterways and environment.
Much like computer chips, LEDs are doubling in their output every 2 years, while research and development is being done on alternative, lower cost materials to further help reduce production costs and help them become the lighting choice for the 21st century. If LEDs can be manufactured using no more energy than common incandescent bulbs, then they will help reduce the electricity consumption from lighting by as much as 90%, reducing carbon outputs, alleviating the need for hundreds of new power plants and helping to turn our world into a brighter place.
can i run a 12v 11cfl on a 12v 8amp/hour battery here are the links
battery:
http://www.powerportstore.com/DC%20Prod-AR.htm#PowerPort%2073
lamp:
http://store.altenergystore.com/Lighting-Fans/Compact-Fluorescent/Compact-Fluorescent-12V-11W-Lamp-Bulb/p1005/
my question is , do i need anything else any extra wiring ,? i’m planning on buying both items but i dont know how to connect them and stuff.
The first ever practical, long lasting incandescent light bulb was developed by Thomas Edison in 1879. While Edison did not invent the concept of the light bulb, he was the first to create a version of the electric light bulb that was safe, practical and cost-effective for home lighting. To achieve success with the light bulb, Edison played a critical role in overcoming challenges that were hindering the innovation of the electric light bulb by developing such electrical breakthroughs as the parallel circuit, an underground conductor framework and light sockets with switches.
Today, electrical lighting is a commodity and is considered an indispensable component of life and business. Alongside widespread consumer use of incandescent light bulbs has come a realization of the environmental and economical drawbacks of the once coveted technology. As more advanced technology such as fluorescent lighting began to provide consumers with an alternative to incandescent bulbs, it became clear that incandescent bulbs produce an excessive amount of energy waste as compared to their more energy efficient counterparts. Only about 5 percent of the energy consumed by an incandescent light bulb is used to produce light, while 95 percent is released as waste in the form of heat. Prevalent awareness and activism concerning the environmental repercussions of electrical waste, such as greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, perpetuate the urgency of reducing energy consumption and thus waste.
Energy conservation leaders such as Australia, Ontario and California have taken ground-breaking steps toward elimination of the use of incandescent lighting altogether. New regulations push consumers to replace energy wasting incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, or CFLs. With goals aimed at reducing hundreds of thousands of tons of carbon dioxide emissions and banning incandescent bulbs in just a few years, other communities are sure to follow in these leaders’ environmentally conscious footsteps.
There is concern about the economic cost that aggressive lighting regulations will pass on to consumers, as incandescent bulbs are sold at a much lower cost than compact fluorescent bulbs. While initially a higher investment, fluorescent bulbs prove their worth in saved energy costs and a much longer useful life than incandescent bulbs. Additionally, as more governments institute energy conservation legislation favoring fluorescent bulbs, their consumption volume will increase and prices are sure to drop as a result.
Electric incandescent lighting technology has changed little to none in the over 125 years since its inception. As the world becomes more aware and concerned about human effects on the environment, innovative regulations are certain to have an enormous and increasing impact on lighting use and energy consumption. While the future does not look bright for incandescent light bulbs, modern fluorescent lighting and rapidly progressing LED lighting technology are gaining a stronghold on the lighting industry and consumer preference.
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are becoming far more common for indoor lighting solutions due to their human and environmental safety, cost, and longevity. An LED is a solid-state semiconductor diode that emits light when an electrical current is applied in the forward direction of the device, as in the simple LED circuit. The effect is a form of electro-luminescence where incoherent and narrow-spectrum light is emitted.
LEDs are widely used as indicator lights on electronic devices and increasingly in higher power applications such as flashlights and area lighting. An LED is usually a small area light source, often with optics added to the chip to shape its radiation pattern and assist in reflection. The color of the emitted light depends on the composition and condition of the semi-conducting material used, and can be infrared, visible, or ultraviolet.
Why Choose LED Lighting?
1. The LED advantage: LED (light emitting diodes) are solid state technology and offers the most efficient (energy savings) form of lighting available. In comparison to conventional incandescent light bulbs, LEDs can be equated at approximately 7 to 8 time equivalence. For example, a 3 watt LED can produce as much illumination as a 20 watt incandescent light bulb.
2. On average, LEDs last 3 to 5 times longer than fluorescents and 20 to 30 times longer than incandescent.
3. LED lamps allow less maintenance costs, lower heating and utility costs and reduces the need for higher rated cable, transformers and electrical components.
4. LED lamps are very resilient, shock and vibration proof and virtually waterproof.
5. LEDs are smaller and more compact and provide more light output per square inch than any other light source.
6. LED lamps produce very little heat and no UV rays, making them safer to handle and safer to use. Ideal for sensitive fabrics/paintings.
7. LEDs are not sensitive to extreme temperatures (unlike fluorescent).
8. Solid state LEDs can be controlled with a processor to achieve unique lighting effects.
9. LEDs are available in cool white, warm white and multiple colors.
10. LEDs draw (on average) about 1/10th the power of today’s conventional lighting, providing new alternative solutions to conventional energy saving lamps. LEDs are the most environmentally friendly lamp technology.
11. Along with Fluorescent bulbs, LED technology is the future of lighting. It can reduce many types of pollution and meet the need for the continued world wide energy demand
Compare LED to Standard Fluorescent and Incandescent and Light Bulbs*
Category LED Fluorescent Incandescent/Halogen
Avg. Utility Cost per Month (20w) .02 cents .35 cents .86 cents
Lumens per Watt (avg.) 50 to 60 32 to 40 14 to 18
Wattage Equivalent (20w) 3 watt 9 watt 20 watt
Average Longetivity 75,000 hrs 15,000 hrs 2500 hrs
Maintenance Zero Ballast issues Replacement
Average Cost Compared to Incandescent 3x 2x variable
Operation Instant On / No Flickering Delay and Flickering Instant On / No Flickering
Added Cost Minimal Service Ballast/ Service High Service
Safety No Gas or Glass Gas and Glass Glass and Heat
Damage due to Shock and Vibration Zero Problem Problematic Problematic
Size per Unit Smallest Medium Largest
Heat Issue Least Ballast Gets Hot Lamp Gets Hot
UV Stable (ultra violet) Stabilized Not UV Stable Stabilized
Light Control Most Control Variable Control Variable Control
Weather/Temperature Changes Not Sensitive Sensitive Some Sensitivity
Ecology/Environment Minimal Issues Some Issues Damaging
Note: These comparisons are based on national averages.
Summary on Savings: Energy bills, Heating Bills, Fixture Longevity, Maintenance and Replacement Labor. These savings may far outweigh the higher cost of solid state (LED) lighting products.
Compact fluorescent lamps are designed to replace incandescent lamps and reduce the carbon footprint of a building. Most are capable of retrofitting into existing light fixtures formerly occupied by incandescent bulbs, making it necessary only to buy the lamp and save on the cost of replacement fixtures. This shift toward CFL retrofitting is part of a global movement to produce the carbon footprint of commercial buildings. It is estimated that 40% of all greenhouse gases are produced by commercial properties. Because a significant portion of the electricity used to power building lights is still produced by burning coal, oil, and natural gas, inefficient light fixtures contribute to increased fossil fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Energy saving alternatives such as compact fluorescent lighting has become increasingly prevalent in the world of indoor and outdoor lighting for this very reason. It is hoped that by reducing the consumption of electricity with more power-saving commercial fluorescent light fixtures, the need to burn fossil fuel will decrease, and the pollution caused by burning fossil fuels will proportionally decrease as a result.
Regardless of whether or not retrofitting incandescent fixtures with compact fluorescent light bulbs will actually have enough of a positive impact to reverse rising global temperatures, CFLs are nevertheless here to stay. They have already found their way into most forms of commercial indoor and outdoor lighting, and the technology behind their functionality is constantly being fine tuned and re-engineered for even greater efficiency and color rendering capabilities. Any contractor looking to be taken seriously should become as familiar as possible with commercial fluorescent lighting. As more companies sweat the problematics of rising fuel costs, inflation, recessionary downturns, contractors must make available every form of technology that offers a glimmer of financial hope and environmental sustainability beyond the horizons of the current crisis.
It also helps to share some basic information with cost conscious clients who may be hesitant to spend money on new equipment. Pointing out the enormous savings on power costs as a tangible return on investment is often all it takes to get a client to accept your proposal in the confidence that money well spent is a means of recession proofing themselves.
The first thing to point out to clients is the fundamental inefficiency in the design of the incandescent lamp. Incandescents use the most electricity of any lamp type and tend to have a much lower lamp life than newer technology such as the kind used by compact fluorescent light. Because of this, California has outlawed Incandescents and mandated that they be completely phased out by December 2010. The company that continues to rely upon incandescent is at odds with the inevitable. They are paying more in electricity than they have to pay, more in replacement costs than is necessary, and contributing the global madness of rampant CO2 emulsions. Pointing out to clients that there is a more rational and profitable alternative to this available through LED and compact fluorescent lighting can encourage businesses to have to confidence to move forward in spite of the sluggishness of the economy around them.
You may encounter hesitancy over costs and the quality of compact fluorescent lighting in general. The lamps do cost more. This is a fact. At the same time, the savings they create on power costs and the longer lifespan they enjoy that reduces replacement costs pays the customer back on their investment over time. Because CFL’s rely upon ultraviolet light to produce visible light, they operate on a different spectrum than Incandescents. Recent improvements in compact fluorescent light technology have improved the quality of the lighting they produce and the level of color they can render. Today’s CFL emits a light very similar to an incandescent soft white light, which is less glaring and more comfortable to the eyes, anyway. These two improvements have made it possible for CFLs to be used in almost any indoor or outdoor environment.
Contact your account manager at RLLD Commercial Lighting for information power saving percentages generated by specific CFLs. We can provide you with detailed specifications on any compact fluorescent light fixture you are interested in, and we will also give you a free photometric analysis of your client’s facility that you can lay on the table as a visual keynote to your proposal.