Electical Contractor

Debate continues about whether LEDs have the output in lumens, the color consistency and the price point to replace traditional incandescent, halogen and fluorescent lamps in high brightness and general illumination applications. Is it finally time to end the discussion?

The LED revolution continues to promise many lighting benefits, such as compact size, energy efficiency, long service life with long mean time between failures, no mercury disposal, a resistance to shock and vibration, and no radiated heat or UV output.

Lighting fixtures are built around a given light source. In the case of LEDs, this task is more complex because LEDs are sensitive to heat and require special means to transfer it away.

Significant innovation in linear fluorescent lighting is being spurred on by commercial building energy codes, sustainability initiatives, new legislation and regulations, customer demands and competition from other light sources, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

Electrical contractors have seen the bright lights of opportunity borne by involvement in lighting specification and installation.

Because surfaces and objects in typical spaces reflect light, they can play a part in lighting efficiency as extensions of the lighting system. By controlling room surface reflectances, light levels can be improved, creating opportunities to save energy.

Commercial building owners wishing to add low-voltage control wiring to their existing space for the installation of smart lighting controls used to be severely handicapped by architectural, technological and economical logistics.

In part 1 of this two-part series on photosensors, I described the major characteristics of photosensors and ended with a problem: suppose we have a classroom in which we want to begin dimming the row of fluorescent lighting fixtures adjacent to a series of windows when daylight levels reach 150 pe

Since the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum Bilbao opened in the Spanish city in 1997, crowds of tourists have flocked there. Most say they come to see the museum, hailed as the most important structure of its time. And many stay to shop and eat, generating millions in revenue for the town.