What is solid-state lighting?
Solid-state lighting is a semi-conductor technology that uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for illumination. The term ''solid-state'' refers to the fact that the light in an LED is emitted from a solid object rather than from a vacuum or gas tube, as in the case of incandescent and fluorescent lighting, respectively. Solid-state lighting is poised to greatly surpass the energy efficiencies of incandescent and fluorescent lighting.
How does solid-state lighting differ from conventional lighting?
Incandescent lamps create light by heating a thin filament to a very high temperature. The reason for their low efficiency is that more than 90 percent of the energy consumed is emitted as invisible infrared light which creates heat. A fluorescent lamp produces ultraviolet light when electricity is passed through a mercury vapor, causing the phosphor coating inside the fluorescent tube to glow or fluoresce. There are efficiency losses in generating the ultraviolet light and in converting the ultraviolet light into visible light. Incandescent lamps typically have short lifetimes ''about 1,000 hours on average'' due to the high temperatures of the filaments. Fluorescents, including compact fluorescent lights, have lifecycles 10 times greater than incandescents, while LEDs can produce quality light anywhere from 50,000 to 70,000 hours.
How do LEDs work?
LEDs consist of a chip of semiconducting material treated to create a structure called a p-n (positive-negative) junction. When connected to a power source, current flows from the p-side or anode to the n-side, or cathode, but not in the reverse direction. Charge carriers (electrons and electron holes) flow into the junction from electrodes. When an electron meets a hole, it falls into a lower energy level and releases energy in the form of a photon (light). The specific wavelength or color emitted by the LED depends on the materials used to make the diode. Red LEDs are based on aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs). Blue LEDs are made from indium gallium nitride (InGaN) and green from aluminum gallium phosphide (AlGaP). ''White'' light is created by combining the light from red, green, and blue (RGB) LEDs or by coating a blue LED with phosphor that converts the light to visible white light.
Why Renaissance Lighting?
LEDs are normally brilliant light sources that can create disabling glare. Almost all LED light fixtures from other companies have LEDs can be seen, thereby causing an undesirable glare, striation and distracting pixilation. Renaissance Lighting's solid state fixtures are essentially glare-free and striation-free due to their optical design that blends the light from the LEDs before directing it from the fixture. The result is uniform light and no visible light sources. Another key characteristic is continuous feedback monitoring. A light sensor and integrated electronic controls adjust the light from each color channel to maintain the original calibration balance. This unique feature assures constant color delivery between fixtures over the life of the lighting system. In a retrofit scenario, fixtures can be color matched to others already in place thanks to this same unique feature. Finally, Renaissance Lighting controls produce complete control of color and intensity, taking full creative advantage of what LEDs can do for lighting.
How environmentally friendly is solid-state lighting?
LEDs may appear to be just another light source. But a closer look reveals far more than simple lumen output and watts consumed. Renaissance Lighting is also all about being green - in partnership with the environment. Using LEDs to lower energy consumption has many positive environmental effects that include:
Reduced CO2 emissions - 1.6 pounds for each KWH saved
No mercury content, therefore a reduction of mercury by .023 grams for each KWH saved (Coal to Electric)
Reduced hazardous waste including nuclear and chemical by-products
Lower dependence on imported energy resources
Less demand to create and exploit new energy extraction sites
Exceptionally long life resulting in little waste material
What additional benefits does solid-state lighting offer?
Looking beyond energy use, LEDs are still the best choice for an application as a light source even when they do not necessarily provide the highest lumens per watt. LEDs produce a range of advantages which add up to a superior solution. These include:
The benefits of architectural lighting, directed light output produces efficient illumination on a target surface
Independent color and intensity control
Virtually no heat and no heat or UV in the lighted pattern
Compact source and fixture packaging
Long service life resulting in virtually no maintenance
No mercury content requiring control or disposal
What solid-state lighting products does Renaissance Lighting offer?
Renaissance Lighting's downlight is the most versatile LED recessed product available. Capable of producing over 16 million color combinations, including the full range of white light color temperatures, Renaissance Lighting downlights are available in two apertures: 6-inch and 4-inch (both in white and RGB) for general illumination and ambient space illumination. Renaissance Lighting also offers linear wall washers for interior wall grazing, stage and studio lighting, cove and indirect lighting, and retail and display lighting applications. For exterior applications, a linear outdoor floodlight provides surface-grazing, outdoor floodlighting of building facades, signage, pedestrian walkways, tunnels, bridges, traffic signs and statuary.
How do Renaissance Lighting solid-state lighting products compare to conventional lighting in terms of annual cost of operation and cost of ownership?
Renaissance Lighting solid-state fixtures cost far less to operate than conventional incandescent lighting. For example, a 4-inch solid-state downlight white fixture contributes annual energy savings of 89 percent over its incandescent equivalent. A 6-inch downlight posts an impressive 86 percent savings, while a four-inch RGB color downlight can save as much as 80 percent of the cost associated with an incandescent light. Cost of ownership in terms of payback has equally impressive numbers: The payback in terms of months is 13, 14 and 41, respectively, and total cost of ownership numbers will continue to improve as solid-state lighting gains broader acceptance. And because solid-state lighting is virtually maintenance-free, owners stand to save even greater sums of money over the long life of these fixtures.
Why has Renaissance Lighting chosen to focus solely on solid-state lighting technology?
Renaissance Lighting has taken an advanced approach to product engineering and design, focusing its innovation and human capital to the advancement of solid-state lighting technology. Like its name, its highly unique approach represents a ''rebirth'' within the architectural lighting industry. The company's efforts have resulted in an optical system that blends and controls light from multiple LEDs to produce elegant and uniform illumination for use by architects and space designers. Renaissance Lighting's visionary leadership recognizes the potential of solid-state LED lighting and its ability to change forever the way our world is illuminated.
What is Renaissance Lighting's future view of solid-state lighting?
To advance the solid-state lighting market is a lot like walking a triangular tight rope: In effect, it is advocating the truth behind advanced in technology and its application in our products. We do not subscribe to the industry hype. It is also recognizing the technology's potential and how it is poised in so many ways to transform lighting as we know it. We are going where solid-state lighting has not dared go before, into general illumination applications. Like many traditional industries, the lighting market is slow to adopt new technology. We place the likelihood of a massive industry transformation to solid-state lighting as inevitable. The real question is how fast will it occur.
Is solid-state lighting poised to replace conventional lighting forms?
It is inevitable that Solid-state lighting will become the cost-effective, energy efficient, high-quality replacement for incandescent and fluorescent lighting. To better understand the technical merits of solid-state lighting, it is important to understand the underlying technology it replaces. However, just as the cost of fluorescent products exceeds that of incandescent to attain energy gains, solid-state lighting products will continue to be slightly more expensive than their fluorescent counterparts. Higher up-front costs for solid-state lighting will be offset by its many other advantages.
