Ruediger Mueller, CEO of Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH, said at the Electronica 2008 exhibition, that LED technology has the potential to lower light energy usage by 30 percent. This means total energy use could be slashed by 50 percent. He estimated that 19 percent of global electricity is used for lightning. The LED technology can help reduce light energy consumption by 30 percent, and by adding some intelligence, it goes to 50 percent.

Mueller noted overall LED efficiency has improved by a factor of 50 percent.

Read More at LEDInside.com

Category B is established as a future target for performance of SSL-based luminaires.  Products cannot
qualify under Category B until three years after the effective date of these criteria.  If technology improves faster than expected, and opening category B prior to completion of a three-year waiting period would be in the public interest, DOE will advance the date for allowing products to qualify under Category B.

DOE’s intent, is to substantially increase future performance requirements of LED Luminaires, and to
encourage continued improvement in technology selection and design of luminaires using SSL
sources.   Products for a wide range of general illumination applications will be eligible.
 
The minimum luminaire efficacy target given for Category B is intended to rival today’s most
efficient lighting systems using traditional light sources. 

T8 Fluorescent Lamp and Electronic Ballast Comparisons

For example, the best commonly  available high-performance T8 fluorescent lamp and electronic ballast systems are rated  around 100 lm/W. High-quality fixtures for these lamp-ballast systems are about 70% efficient,
yielding 70 lm/W luminaire efficacy.
 
Based on current commercially available technology, the Category B level of minimum
luminaire efficacy is not achievable for LED luminaires.  However, DOE anticipates  performance will rise rapidly over the coming years due to on-going progress in LED efficacy, LED high temperature tolerance, power supply efficiency improvements, and luminaire design.
 
DOE believes a significant number of general illumination products will be able to achieve 70 lm/W luminaire efficacy within three years after the effective date of these criteria. 

DOE will monitor the technical progress of the technology, steadily adding additional Category A
products in future versions.  If technology improves faster than expected, and opening category
B prior to completion of a three-year waiting period would be in the public interest, DOE will
advance the date for allowing products to qualify under Category B.

SOURCE: Energy Star Program Requirements for Solid State Lighting Lunminaires

The ENERGY STAR criteria for SSL Luminaires use  Luminaire Efficacy to establish performance as defined below:

                                     Luminaire Light Output (includes fixture efficiency and thermal effects
   Luminaire Efficacy =                       Luminaire Input Power
 
The ENERGY STAR criteria for non-SSL residential light fixtures (commonly referred to as
RLF) use system efficacy defined as the light output of the lamp-ballast system divided by the
input power measured in a 25°C environment.  Established test procedures for fluorescent
sources support this approach.  However, the program requirements in this document are
based upon luminaire efficacy, instead of system efficacy for the following reasons:
 
• Accurate measurement of the LED light source separate from the fixture is often not
possible.  LEDs typically are integrated into the fixture and not readily removable
without altering the performance of the light source.

• LED performance is significantly affected by elevated temperature.  LED devices
generate heat that is typically removed by an external heat sink, which may be
designed into the luminaire itself.  Separating the light source from its heat sink will
significantly impact test results.  There are no standards or test procedures to measure
system efficacy of LEDs.  However, standards organizations are developing a test
procedure for photometric measurement of LED luminaires.  This test procedure is
currently in draft form and scheduled to be final by the 4th quarter of 2007.

• Luminaire efficacy provides more realistic energy efficiency information because it
accounts for power supply, thermal, and fixture losses, thus better meeting the needs of
buyers who seek the most light output for the least energy input. 

The California Department of Transportation has been involved with the development of LED traffic signal modules for more than a decade. The recent energy crisis played a key role in speeding up the statewide conversion from incandescent lights to LEDs.

The Institute of Transportation Engineer's Future Directions Advisory Committee (FDAC) was appointed to identify and consider the trends and issues facing the Institute and the transportation profession. The FDAC gathered and reviewed information on transportation issues and identified trends:

• continuing increase in demand for transportation;
• Population increases and urbanization increase traffic flows
  
• traffic congestion;
• Progarmmable controllers and LED lights can improve communications and monitor/measure and adapt to traffic congestion
  
• transportation programs to help meet air quality and energy goals;
• Think saving energy, reducing greenhouse gases and reducing wasted mileage on the streets
  
• greater mix of revenue sources for transportation;
• Think BLUE LEDs on traffic signals to identify traffic violations!
  
• federal government setting the direction for transportation programs;
• Think funding...and ubiquitious traffic communications for tourism and travelers
  
• operations and demand management taking precedence over increasing capacity;
• Less is better...especially vehicles on the road.  Less oil consumption, less congestion, less accidents, less infrastructure costs...
  
• intelligent vehicle highway systems
• Programmable systems adapt to changing conditions and can even be predictive and take immediate steps to reroute traffic, etc. 
  

THE EDGE Family of Products

LED lighting for general commercial and industrial applications:

• Efficiency
  
• Performance
  
• Longevity
  
• Style

THE EDGE features LEDs with a color temperature of 6000K and outputs of 80 lumens per watt - - two factors that make THE EDGE a viable option to replace high-intensity discharge (HID) sources.

About BetaLED

BetaLED, a brand of Beta Lighting, was established to dedicate resources to the emerging use of LED technology for general illumination. Beta Lighting, a division of Ruud Lighting, Inc., provides the lighting market with high-quality, specification-grade luminaires for exterior lighting applications. For additional exterior LED luminaire information, visit www.BetaLED.com.

Beta Lighting, a Ruud Lighting company, provides the lighting industry with high-quality, specification-grade luminaires for exterior lighting applications.

Auxiliary lighting on motorcycles

The "Night-time Awareness - Auxiliary Lighting" bill unanimously passed through the Maryland Senate  and the House in April 2008. This Motorcycle lighting legislation enables the front, rear, and sides of bikes to be illuminated using non-outwardly projecting lights. The bill was publicized to raise awareness for the National Highway Traffic Safety Association's motorcycle awareness week.

"Most motorcycle accidents involving another vehicle, they are almost always the fault of the other vehicle, and usually the comment of the other vehicle is, we just didn't see him."

Police Sgt. Dave Ennis adds that "Anything that adds to the visibility of the rider, I think is a move in the right direction."

Gallium Lighting is proud to introduce the new 4" square family of high-performance LED downlights at LIGHTFAIR (http://www.lightfair.com/) in Las Vegas, Nevada (May 28-30, 2008).  The GS4 is a direct replacement for a 50-watt PAR 20 downlight, yet it consumes only 12 watts.  With color temperature as warm as 2700K, it is ideal for residences, hotels and hospitality applications.
 
"The latest generation of our GS6 downlight, is now the most efficient downlight on the planet (to the best of our knowledge) with a system efficacy of 65 lumens per watt,"  says Keith Bahde, President of Gallium Lighting

The GS6 is now available with full architectural dimming from 100% to 0%, and several new trim options.
 
Gallium in the news: 

GS6 featured on PBS March 2008
See the first 2½ minutes.  It can be accessed from on the PBS site or viewed directly at Climate-Talks.net.

Keith P. Bahde, Ph.D.
President
Gallium Lighting, LLC
116 Bethea Road, Suite 402
Fayetteville, Georgia  30214
(831) GALLIUM (425-5486)
(770) 573-3789 fax
(404) 822-6688 mobile
keith@galliumlighting.com
www.galliumlighting.com

In 2007, Philips Lumileds released the LUXEON K2 warm and neutral white LEDs that offer new lighting possibilities

Warm-white and neutral-white LUXEON K2 emitters and a LUXEON K2 Star part  can be specified with any standard white emitter.

The new white colors have typical correlated color temperatures (CCT) of 3000K and 4100K and a color rendering index (CRI) of 80 and 75 respectively. The CCT range for LUXEON K2 now extends from 2670K to 10,000K and a new finer color bin structure allows for better overall selection.

Unlike most power LEDs that are limited to 700mA, LUXEON K2 warm white and neutral white LEDs can be run up to 1500mA and a junction temperature of 150°C. The new warm-white and neutral white can deliver more than 130lm and 140lm respectively. LUXEON K2 delivers more usable light at virtually any drive current and junction temperature condition.

“With the increases in light output performance and efficacy, there is expanding demand for power LEDs that deliver the quality of light required for general lighting applications,” said Steve Landau, Director of Marketing Communications. “Designers of residential applications, such as recessed can lights need uniformity, high color rendering and a warm white color temperature at 3000K. In many retail and commercial applications, a cooler temperature of 4100K is desired. With the new binning and phosphor technologies in LUXEON K2, the needs of lighting designers in both markets can be addressed.”

Lighting designers consider several critical “quality of light” factors when evaluating white LEDs: color temperature (CCT), color rendering (CRI) and color uniformity are three of the most important. The new LUXEON K2 parts address CCT and CRI and Philips Lumileds phosphor expertise and technologies ensure the highest degree of color uniformity resulting in white LEDs that are as much as 7 times more uniform that other white power LEDs.

LUXEON K2 Star, like the configuration already available in other LUXEON product families, consists of a white LUXEON K2 emitter mounted onto a metal core pc board (MCPCB). This configuration allows for rapid prototyping and production in a wide range of applications without the need to create custom level 2 boards. LUXEON Star products have been an industry standard for many years and been the configuration of choice for everything from architectural and entertainment lighting to emergency and portable lighting. Complete product information is available on the company’s website and in the LUXEON K2 datasheet also available online. LUXEON K2 warm-white and neutral-white power LEDs are in-stock and available for immediate delivery from Future Electronics. LUXEON K2 Star is stocked in limited quantities and interested parties should contact Future Electronics with their specific needs.

About Philips Lumileds Lighting Company

Philips Lumileds Lighting Company pioneered power LED technology and is the world’s leading provider of power LEDs for everyday lighting applications. The company’s recent records for light output, efficacy and thermal management are direct results of the ongoing commitment to advancing solid-state lighting technology and enabling lighting solutions that are more environmentally friendly, help reduce CO2 emissions and reduce the need for power plant expansion. Today, Philips Lumileds’ LUXEON LEDs are enabling never before possible applications in the automotive, camera flash, display, general lighting and signage markets. More information about the company’s products and technologies can be found at www.philipslumileds.com.

Philips Lumileds Lighting Company
steve.landau@philips.com
+1 408 964 2695
www.philipslumileds.com