Here’s a roundup of the latest news in energy-efficient lighting.
A California car dealership has cut lighting-related energy consumption by 80 percent through a contract with Qnuru, the lighting division of energy efficiency company the Noribachi Group. LAcarGUY, which bills itself as the world’s largest dealer of hybrid cars, has retrofitted its Lexus Santa Monica dealership (pictured) with Qnuru’s Vector line of high-wattage LED bulbs.
The retrofit increased illumination levels by 38 percent in the new car lot, where Qnuru used 86-watt Vector La Luz bulbs, and 25 percent in the used car facility, where 120-watt Vector Artesia LED bulbs were used. LAcarGuy will earn a 27-month return on its investment, Noribachi Group said. The dealership will have no maintenance costs for at least five years, based on the product warranty and the lights’ 50,000 hour rated lifetime.
A lighting overhaul has enabled the Grand Coulee Dam, the largest power plant in the U.S., to produce about one additional megawatt of power, or 9 million kWh per year. The Bonneville Power Administration and the Bureau of Reclamation installed energy-efficient lights in more than 10,000 fixtures at the dam, on the Columbia River in Washington state, cutting energy use in half.
Lights used included high-performance T8 fluorescent lamps in the dam’s powerhouses and tunnels, LED lamps in turbine rooms and pit areas, and induction lighting in the machine shops and high bay areas. Region 10 of the Environmental Protection Agency recognized the $1.2 million retrofit with its 2010 Champions of Environmental Leadership and Green Government Award.
Medical lighting manufacturer Philips Burton has introduced the Nuance Elite LED fixture, which it says is suited to work stations in doctor’s offices, acute care and other healthcare facilities. The natural white LED lights provide more than 70 percent energy savings compared to halogen lights, with a color rendering index of 85, Philips Burton said. An optional occupancy sensor can be added to the Nuance Elite to turn off lights when work stations are not in use.
The fixtures are available in three different lengths and can be interconnected to create a continuous row of under-cabinet lighting. They are supported with a five-year limited warranty.
