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Adaptive controls add to LED efficiency (MAGAZINE)

Aug. 20, 2010

LEDs may offer a path to more efficient lighting in many different applications, and adaptive control technology significantly stretches the efficiency gain, says Maury Wright.

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As municipalities and commercial enterprises look to LED-based solid-state lighting (SSL) as a way to make major reductions in energy usage, the LED evaluation should include adaptive controls in the equation. Two recent research reports highly recommend that controls are part of commercial lighting upgrades, and an industry street-lighting expert has made the same claim. Controls that dim—or even extinguish—lights based on ambient light conditions and activity can slash electricity usage.

Printed-board technology from Hausermann Reports from both Cleantech Approach (CTA) and Lux Research address SSL in commercial applications. The CTA report states that lighting comprises as much as 38% of the electricity expense in a commercial building, and that’s clearly a target for reduction.

With the title of “Lighting Controls: Savings, Solutions, Payback, and Vendor Profiles,” CTA’s report puts a target on SSL savings in the 35-55% range. CTA goes so far as to recommend that companies first adopt a lighting control system when trying to cut energy usage, because control systems carry little of the technology risk associated with new lighting technologies such as SSL. Moreover, CTA expects a control system installed today to be compatible with new SSL technology in the future.

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This article was published in the July/August 2010 issue of LEDs Magazine. To read the full version of this article, please visit our magazine page, where you can download FREE electronic PDF versions of all issues of LEDs Magazine. You can also request a print copy of LEDs Magazine (available by paid subscription) and sign up for our free weekly email newsletter.