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Solid State Lighting (SSL) has often been touted as the future of energy-efficient lighting products.
For years the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the lighting industry have been promoting the development of SSLs that are commercially viable and affordable. For eight years DOE's SSL Program has been sponsoring the Lighting for Tomorrow competition to award advances in SSL design and bring visibility to the technology.
Most often taking the form of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), SSL technology could reduce U.S. lighting energy use by one-fourth by 2030 – a savings of $120 billion. Not only are SSL lamps and fixtures more efficient, but they’re also longer lasting—up to 50,000 hours on one lamp.
DOE, the American Lighting Association (ALA), and the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE), jointly announced the winners at the 2010 ALA Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fifty companies submitted a total of 107 products that were evaluated by a panel of judges representing a cross section of industry.
Each lighting fixture and replacement lamp was analyzed based on color appearance, color rendering, appropriate measure of light intensity, efficiency, appearance, and style. Bonus points were earned for dark-sky friendliness, dimming features, sustainability features, and innovation. Lighting controls were evaluated for functionality, value, ease of use and installation, innovation, ability to interface with other systems, and compatibility with existing fixtures. Additional bonus points were given for energy savings potential, appearance, and sustainability.
The winning entries include:
SSL Fixtures
• Kichler Lighting Design Pro LED Broad Roof LED Path & Spread Light
• Kichler Pro LED Modular and Disc System
• Edge Lighting Scope LED Pendant
• Edge Lighting Scope LED Monorail/Track Light
• Albeo Technologies Inc. Agito—Intelligent Task Light (honorable mention)
• Blackstone International Ltd. Sunter Architect LED Desk Lamp (honorable mention)
• Cree LED Lighting CR6&0099; Downlight (honorable mention)
LED Replacement Lamps
• Philips Lighting EnduraLED A19 Lamp
Lighting Controls
• Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. Decora® CFL Slide Dimmer
• Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. Radio Powr Savr&0099; Occupancy/Vacancy Sensor with Maestro Wireless® Switch
• Legrand/ Pass & Seymour RT1 7-Button Timer
Alison Pruitt is a freelance writer/editor living near Washington DC. She has written about a variety of issues, including education, healthcare, IT, the arts, and energy/environment -- and has worked with the U.S. Department of Energy. She has a B.A. from Oberlin College and a Ph.D. in English Literature from Rutgers University.
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