Organic LED lighting: only a niche market by 2020?

The future market for lamps based on organic LEDs is set to be a very small one, according to a new market analyst report. Lux Research says that although the aesthetically pleasing technology will improve over the next decade, and become much cheaper than today, it will still be far too expensive for mainstream use.
As a result, says Lux, OLED lighting will command just a $58 million market by 2020, with the technology only making a significant penetration into high-end applications such as designer lighting, casinos and upmarket bars and restaurants. If correct, it will mean that the wider market for OLEDs will be almost totally dominated by display applications such as phone handsets and televisions.

Long term alternative to wasteful halogen

As the world looks to meet targets for carbon emissions, one of the ways to reduce energy use is through LED lightning. While halogen and incandescent lights are more commonly used, there are a number of benefits with the continuing uptake of LED technology. The emergence of the technology being used in both commercial and domestic environments has been attributed in some quarters to increased efficiencies in chip technology.

The light bulb test

How many conservatives does it take to screw up a light bulb law that sets a higher bar for energy-efficient bulbs -- a law that was passed during Geroge W. Bush’s administration, no less? With any luck we won’t find out. While Republican lawmakers push back against modern bulbs in favor of old-fashioned bulbs, hopefully consumers will continue to forge their own path by embracing the modern bulbs that the light bulb industry has already developed.

Acuity Brands' Winona Lighting Expands LED Landscape Portfolio

Acuity Brands, Inc announced the availability of the Winona Lighting Winline 607 LED Submersible Light, designed for decorative landscape applications. This architecturally designed luminaire received the Specialty Lighting Gold Level honor from Architectural SSL Magazine at LIGHTFAIR 2011. For over 50 years, Winona Lighting has been recognized throughout the architectural design community, serving the commercial, retail, and institutional markets with a portfolio of high-quality and design oriented luminaires suitable for decorative, custom, asymmetric, and landscape lighting applications.
Part of the WinonaLED product family, the Winline 607 LED Submersible Light is an LED linear water-cooled submersible luminaire. Available in various color temperatures and in sizes from 30" to 54" in length, the fixture delivers up to 1840 lumens per foot. Its stainless steel end cap and pure copper center tube, as well as its high-impact UV resistant polycarbonate lens material, make it ideal for landscaping applications that require submersible luminaires. The Winline 607 LED Submersible Light incorporates a patent pending method called Cool Core Technology, used to keep the fixture from overheating. This technique moves water through a pure copper heat-sink, providing maximum cooling to the LEDs. Designed to be the most powerful, reliable and easiest to implement submersible LED luminaire, the Winline 607 LED Submersible Light is suitable for installations up to 3 meters deep.

GE Lighting to acquire leading driver maker Lightech

GE Lighting, a lighting manufacturer based in East Cleveland, OH, has signed an agreement to acquire Lightech, a privately-held manufacturer of LED electronic drivers and halogen transformers for the lighting industry. Based near Tel Aviv, Israel, Lightech has R&D facilities in California and Israel, and commercial teams in Europe, the US and Asia. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close within the next six to eight weeks.

Automotive Qualified High Brightness LED Driver IC

Micrel Inc  rolled out the MAQ3203, an AEC-Q100 version of the MIC3203. This new step-down High Brightness LED (HBLED) driver IC reduces the complexity and cost of high current LED driver solutions in automotive lighting applications. The MAQ3203 is currently available in volume quantities, with 1Ku pricing starting at $1.50. Samples can now be ordered at: http://www.micrel.com/ProductList.do .
"LED-based lighting is gaining popularity in automotive applications with both LED makers and LED light engine designers in need of more robust, efficient solutions that enable OEMs to realize the full benefits of energy-efficient LEDs," noted Doyle Slack, senior marketing director for Analog. "By integrating the core functions critical to automotive LED lighting, the MAQ3203 driver IC offers a compact all-in-one solution that requires few additional components, enabling more cost-effective, elegant and reliable LED module designs."
The MAQ3203 is capable of driving multiple HBLEDs in series at more than 90 percent efficiency with +/-5 percent current accuracy from input voltages of 4.5V to 42V. With its hysteretic control architecture and high-side current sense scheme, the device provides an ideal solution to drive the HBLEDs with constant current. The MAQ3203 operating frequency is adjustable up to 1.5MHz which allows flexibility in the design and offers a frequency dithering feature to mitigate EMI. The IC features a dedicated PWM dimming pin, an enable pin for very low power shutdown, over temperature protection and an under voltage lockout. The MAQ3203 has an external power switch and requires no external compensation. The MAQ3203 is available in a SOIC-8L package.

LED Emergency Floodlight for Hazardous and Marine Environments

A new floodlight combining maintenance free LED technology and a self contained backup battery has been introduced by hazardous area lighting specialist Chalmit. The Solas is designed for use in both Zone 1 hazardous areas and harsh marine environments. Uniquely it provides the same level of light output under either normal or emergency conditions. This performance and durability offers a new solution for both lighting designers and engineers tasked with providing a safe working environment.
“We are excited about the possibilities the new Solas LED can provide,” explained Chalmit Marketing Manager Gareth Bruce. “The initial concept was to replace an existing emergency floodlight, the 261E. In this product the batteries were contained in a separate Ex e box. The use of LED’s and smart driver technology has allowed the complete solution to be contained within the luminaire enclosure. Not only is the Solas a more efficient, compact and price competitive replacement for the 261E, it has also created a host of new applications due to its increased flexibility.”
Traditionally, battery backup emergency floodlights have been reserved for specific platform abandonment applications. The development of quality long life LEDs is proving to have a much wider appeal. Such floodlights can now be used for continuous operation under normal lighting conditions. In contrast to high intensity discharge floods, the Solas is effectively maintenance free offering over sixty thousand hours of continuous operation. Another advantage of using LED technology is the efficient use of the light generated. The Solas has a high light output ratio resulting in over four thousand lumens with minimal losses. These levels can be compared to a seventy watt high pressure sodium (HPS) floodlight. However unlike HPS lamps the use of LED results in a much whiter light closer to that of natural daylight.
The luminaire is compliant with both ATEX and IEC Ex standards and is suitable for use in a wide range of ambient conditions from -55 degrees C to +55 degrees C. The universal voltage; 110V – 254V AC/DC 50/60Hz, makes the Solas a truly global product. An industrial, non-hazardous version is also available that provides the same levels of ingress protection (IP66/67) and maintenance free capability.
In addition to normal emergency operation where the battery engages when the mains power goes off, the Solas can also be fitted with a remote inhibition switch. Similar in function to the earlier 261E, this enables the LEDs to remain de-energised (Off) when the mains power fails. By operating the switch, the LEDs can be energised and run from the internal batteries. This gives instant illumination with one hundred percent output, unlike HID lamp technologies. The use of remote switching thus ensures battery duration is maximised.
This flexibility means the Solas is ideally suited to provide emergency escape lighting for example; during platform abandonment conditions, where the sea must be illuminated to ensure lifeboats can be safely launched.
Chalmit is part of Hubbell Harsh and Hazardous, a division of Hubbell Inc. The company has worldwide distribution and a network of offices strategically located to provide sales technical support to the oil and gas industry. Free Chalmlite software is available to help electrical and mechanical services designers optimise lighting intensity for safety and efficient working.

Seeing the light with new LED technology

As roughly 50% of a boating day is actually night time, onboard lighting really deserves at least half our attention, not total disregard. Someone once opined that since 70% of the world’s surface is covered with water we should go boating seven-tenths of the time. By the same logic, roughly 50% of a boating day is actually night time, so onboard lighting really deserves at least half our attention, not total disregard. In recent years, with the rise of energy-efficient and attractive LED cabin and navigation lighting as well as those glorious underwater lights, the marine industry has emerged from the dark.

Why the new bulbs turn me off

I have a horrible confession to make. I’m an environmentalist who’s been hoarding old incandescent light bulbs before they become illegal in January. But it was all unnecessary, so I learn. In 2007, Congress passed a law (signed by President George W. Bush) requiring that light bulbs be 70 percent more efficient by 2020. The tea party opposes all laws that force energy conservation on the public. (I like them.) My objection to the squiggly “energy savers” is purely aesthetic. I can’t stand the way they look.

New Wakefield LED Heat Sink Extrusions Available

Newark, a leading multi-channel, high-service electronics distributor in the Americas, announced an exclusive stocking agreement for Wakefield Solutions' new LED heat sink extrusions. Wakefield and Bridgelux engineering teams worked together at Newark's behest to design an optimal heat sink extrusion line which is compatible with all Bridgelux LEDs.
While very efficient, LEDs produce heat that must be dissipated in lighting designs and retrofits, and this is often a challenge for engineers who do not have an extensive thermal management background. Wakefield's new heat sink extrusions save engineers the considerable time it can take to match the right heat sink with the right LED. Offering the maximum thermal management performance, they can accommodate top or side mounting with Bridgelux LEDs.

Council unveils UK's first LED street lights

UK councils are set to cut costs and save thousands on their energy bills after the introduction of the first LED powered street lights in Britain. Bath and North East Somerset Council are pioneering the move and have already installed the environmentally friendly lights at the Hicks Gate roundabout at the Bristol end of the Keynsham, Somerset.

Rise of Energy-Saving LEDs in Lighting Market Seen as Unstoppable

The switch to energy-efficient lighting will proceed rapidly this decade, no matter the results of a Republican campaign to keep older energy-guzzling light bulbs on the market, industry executives and experts say.
The reason is simple: The new technologies promise brighter days for the bottom line. Light-emitting diodes or LEDS, in particular, are driving the lighting market as commercial, industrial and outdoor sectors — which make up 96 percent of the world's lighting energy use — continue to realize massive savings from the emerging technology.

A better way to cool LEDs gets attention from GE

Overheating electronics and lighting: it’s the bane of laptop and light bulb users everywhere. But a better way to cool electronics and LED lighting systems is getting attention from GE and a group of VCs. On Tuesday, electronics cooling startup Nuventix announced that GE’s lighting unit has entered into a licensing agreement for its LED cooling tech, and at the same time, GE and a group of VCs have invested $10 million into the company.

New LED traffic signals will brighten Mahoning Valley streets

Motorists traveling throughout the Mahoning Valley may have noticed something new while stopping at an intersection. The Ohio Department of Transportation is installing light-emitting diode (LED) traffic signals, replacing the signals with incandescent bulbs and older-model LEDs. ODOT crews were working on Western Reserve Road near the Interstate 680 exit ramp this week and already have installed some lights along U.S. Route 224, state Route 7 (Market Street) and state Route 46.

Philips looks to LEDs to restore lighting profits

Pricing pressure and increases in raw materials costs have badly impacted Philips’ lighting business in the second quarter of 2011, off-setting a 21% year-over-year increase in sales of LED-based lighting products.The giant company, headquartered in The Netherlands, posted revenues of €1.78 billion from its lighting business for the three months that ended in June. Although that represents a decline from €1.86 million in the equivalent period in 2010, Philips said that “comparable” sales were actually slightly up, and that the company was hit by unfavorable currency fluctuations.

Samsung sues Osram as LED patent row escalates

Korean electronics firm Samsung has hit back in a patent dispute with Osram, a rival maker of light emitting diodes (LEDs). Samsung LED has filed a complaint with the US International Trade Commission against Osram and two of its subsidiaries.

Leo Villareal turns math and code into emotional art

A highlight of the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art’s 2007 grand opening was a pulsing lightwork by sculptor Leo Villareal. Permanently installed on the underside of the museum’s cantilevered entrance, the large grid of flashing, chasing, white LEDS continues to welcome visitors with an overhead array of myriad, ever-changing patterns driven by computer.

No leaves, just LEDs on Christmas tree

There will be no leaves, just LEDs, on a new hi-tech Christmas tree in Melbourne this year. The giant City Square Christmas tree will this year be adorned with a "skin" of more than 10,000 individual LED lights that flash still and moving images to celebrate Christmas and the people and places of Melbourne.

InGaN-on-silicon LED from RoseStreet Labs reaches green and longer wavelengths

The world's first long-wavelength light-emitting diode (LED) devices using low-cost silicon wafer substrates were demonstrated by RoseStreet Labs. The company says its technology will find a home in the rapidly growing global LED lighting market where energy efficiency, low cost, and miniaturization are critical product characteristics. The technology, which enables green and longer-wavelength LEDs out to 575 nm, is a significant milestone considering that such longer-wavelength nitride-based LEDs have, until now, been challenging to fabricate compared to blue and ultraviolet (UV) LEDs due to decreasing quantum efficiencies.
The RoseStreet Labs (RSL) LEDs are based on the company's proprietary thin-film indium gallium nitride (InGaN) on silicon technology already used for high-efficiency photovoltaic (PV) applications and power devices. The LED devices are fabricated utilizing commercial-scale deposition tools at RSL's Nitride Research Center in Phoenix, AZ; the silicon substrates have a substantial cost advantage over the more traditional sapphire or silicon-carbide substrates typically used in LED fabrication.

Denali D2 Motorcycle LED Light Kit

When bright isn't bright enough aboard your motorcycle, grab a set of Denali D2 LED lamps. Advances in LED technology have increased the effective light output of our Deanli D1 system by nearly 70% without increasing the electrical power draw to your motorcycle. Consuming only 10 watts (0.83 amps at 12 volts DC) of power per lamp, it throws a blazing beam of light in front of you nearly twice as bright as the beam generated by the original D1. Retail price for the D2 kit is $349.99.

Walls that Glow, Ambient Wallpaper that Illuminates

Crystal LED ring-lights illuminate Ferrari World fountains

Aquatic Design & Engineering, an aquatic architecture firm, supported by water-feature specialist Crystal, has created one of the world's largest customized water features at the Yas Island Welcome Pavilion in Abu Dhabi.
 The water feature covers 8268 m2 and makes extensive use of LED ring-lights manufactured by Crystal. Unlike the previous generation of submersible LED lights, these ring lights have a number of LED light sources in a circle around a central opening that contains the water jet.
 The water feature serves as the gateway to Ferrari World, billed as “the biggest covered entertainment city on the planet.” The choreographed dancing fountain is located in pools on either side of the entrance.
 Yas Island in Abu Dhabi is also home to the iconic Yas Hotel which sits astride the Grand Prix circuit, and which is illuminated with an exterior LED mesh supplied by Cooper Lighting and Enfis, and controlled by a system from e:cue lighting control.
Outside Ferrari World, thousands of LED lights and nozzles (2,100 Crystal LED lights, 750 nozzles and 91 custom Crystal CheoreoSwitches) were installed in geometric patterns symbolizing a racetrack to create unique choreographed sequences of water and light.

Watch TV on a 60-Inch Wearable LED Television Coat

You know how everyone in the room gets annoyed when you walk in front of the television? Well, Dave Forbes kind of, sort of has a solution to the issue, assuming you are wearing his 60-inch LED TV coat when you get up and walk in front of good Sawyer scene during your weekly Lost on Netflix viewing party. The resolution isn’t so great — only 160 x 120 — but the thing is powered by a 12V battery and can receive video input from an iPod or media player.

Switch to LED traffic lights saves money, energy

One of the first things home owners do to save energy is swap out traditional light bulbs for compact fluorescent or LED bulbs. But this simple switch is not limited to the home. Some very important lights in South Bend are saving some serious money. The city has more than 205 intersections, add up all the individual lights and that is over 4000 bulbs. "The reason that we changed the bulbs is because incandescent bulbs are inefficient. By changing an incandescent bulb to an LED fixture, you save roughly 85 percent of the energy,” Rob Nichols said.

LED to illuminate Tokyo Skytree

Panasonic will be the sole supplier of LED lighting to be used to light up the world's tallest free standing broadcast structure, the Tokyo Skytree, scheduled for completion in May 2012. Only LED lighting will be used to illuminate the Tokyo Skytree. This includes 1,995 LED lighting fixtures and a LED lighting display system, which will dress the 634-meter tower in elegant, subtle nuances of light, while also addressing the modern day environmental need to conserve energy.

ARC Energy Delivers 100th LEDs Furnace

Advanced RenewableEnergy Company, LLC (ARC Energy), a provider of innovative c-axis sapphire growth technologies and turnkey solutions for the LED solid-state lighting and other clean energy markets, today announced that it has shipped its 100th CHES Furnace. ARC Energy’s highly automated, leading-edge c-axis sapphire growth technology is generating tremendous demand worldwide, and is being used by leading LED manufacturers throughout Asia.
By significantly increasing material utilization and efficiency for sapphire manufacturers, ARC Energy products enable semiconductor scale production and commercialization of cost effective, large diameter sapphire wafers for LED applications.
Designed specifically for LED applications, ARC Energy’s CHES Furnaces are highly automated “c-axis” growth furnaces that are used to produce sapphire boules. Cores from these crystals are turned into LED wafers, and finally into the High Brightness (HB) and Ultra-High Brightness (UHB) LED chips that are used in LED backlighting, general lighting, and automotive and signage applications. In addition to CHES Furnaces, ARC Energy also offers state-of-the-art turnkey solutions to quickly and efficiently ramp-up production to generate revenue from sapphire products. The end-to-end turnkey solutions and services include setup and installation, training, material handling, inspection, core fabrication and material recycling

ESI Revolutionizes LED Manufacturing Processes

Electro Scientific Industries, Inc., a supplier of innovative laser-based manufacturing solutions for the microtechnology industry, announced today that it will showcase its new and expanded suite of LED manufacturing systems and applications at Semicon West 2011, which will be held in San Francisco this week. ESI's new state-of-the-art products deliver the industry's highest light output LED wafer scribing; the most advanced LED packaging solution; and the highest throughput, highest accuracy packaged LED test.
ESI will showcase these revolutionary technologies for LED scribing, advanced packaging and test at Semicon West, taking place at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco on July 12-14, 2011. An official press conference is being held on July 13 at 8:30 a.m. in the Moscone Center North Hall, Room 121. The LED solution suite will also be featured in ESI's booth (North Hall, #5871) throughout the show.

Consider LED lighting for savings

Streetlights perform an important function, making it safer for people to drive or walk at night while also deterring criminal activity. They also consume a lot of electricity. Often street lighting is a municipality’s biggest fixed costs. But what if a change in technology could improve that lighting and cut the energy use in half? LED streetlights are doing just that. Seattle’s municipally owned utility is installing 41,000 residential streetlights to LEDs. Once all 41,000 are converted, energy costs alone are expected to save almost $1 million a year.

LG files complaint to halt Osram LED imports

LG Electronics Inc has filed a complaint with the South Korean trade commission to ban imports of LED products from Siemens (SIEGn.DE) lightbulb unit Osram in response to patent infringement litigation by the German firm. LG joined Samsung LED to countersue Osram, after the German firm said in June that it filed lawsuits against the two business groups in the United States, Germany and Japan and another against LG in China.

Through-hole LEDs target full-color electronic signages

Avago Technologies Inc. has launched three high-brightness oval through-hole LED families—HLMP-Lx75, HLMP-Hx74/75 and HLMP-Ax74/75. The LEDs have matched RGB radiation pattern that is designed to maintain consistent light and uniform color mixing from all viewing angles. This combination enables sharper viewing quality with lower power consumption for full-color electronic signage such as billboards, stadium video screens, building video walls, as well as for simpler roadway and commercial signage.

LED Maps Light Up Wherever You’ve Been, or Where You’re Going

Do you travel a lot? While you could certainly use any of a number of digital tools to keep track of all the locations you’ve visited, it might be sort of cool to have a more physical manifestation of your journeys than just some Google Maps page that only exists in the digital ether of The Cloud. These LED wall maps might just do the trick.

LED Lighting Coming From LED TV Company

The new Vizio High Efficiency LED Lighting Collection will hit the market in the latter part of the fourth quarter this year. What has it got over other, more well-known LED bulb brands, such as Phillips and Osram Sylvania? According to Vizio, its new High Efficiency LEDs give off a warmer hue of light, “reminiscent of a natural source,” (we assume that means the sun, moon, or your happily-crackling fireplace).

The World's Greatest Light Bulb

When I drove to the offices of a start-up called Switch Lighting last week, I wasn't expecting much. A company representative had promised to show me something amazing—an alternative light bulb that uses a fraction of the energy of a traditional incandescent bulb and lasts 20 times as long, but that plugs into a standard socket and produces the same warm, yellowish, comforting glow that we're all used to seeing when we flip the switch.

Market's Brightest Oval Through-Hole LED Series Reduce Power Consumption

Avago Technologies, a supplier of analog interface components for communications, industrial and consumer applications, today announced three series of high-brightness oval through-hole LEDs that set a new performance standard for electronic signage applications. The new HLMP-Lx75, HLMP-Hx74/75 and HLMP-Ax74/75 LEDs deliver industry-leading brightness for oval through-hole LEDs, reducing the current required to drive systems. The LEDs' matched RGB radiation pattern is designed to maintain consistent light and uniform color mixing from all viewing angles. This combination enables sharper viewing quality with lower power consumption for full-color signage such as billboards, stadium video screens, building video walls, as well as for simpler roadway and commercial signage.
The HLMP-Lx75 and HLMP-Hx74/75 LED series offer a typical viewing angle of 40 by 100 degrees, while the HLMP-Ax74/75 LEDs offer 30 by 70 degrees. The wide typical viewing angles and the high luminous intensity of the LEDs deliver optimal performance for outdoor applications. The package epoxy of the LEDs contains UV inhibitor to reduce the effects of long-term exposure to direct sunlight, and the package also offer superior resistance to moisture, providing enhanced durability for outdoor environments. Avago provides design flexibility with the option of shipping tight color and intensity bins, up to 4 nm per bin for the new blue and green LEDs.
The new red AlInGaP LEDs are available at 626-nm dominant wavelength, and the new green InGaN and blue InGaN LEDs are available at 530-nm and 470-nm, respectively. The maximum luminous intensity at 20 mA of the new LEDs is as follows

Next iPhone to Sport an LED Indicator?

Our tipster – let’s call him Mr T – referred to an article in which DigiTimes claimed the next iPhone will sport a dual-LED camera flash. According to Mr T, the next iPhone will indeed sport 2 LEDs, except that one will be a LED camera flash, and the other one will be an LED indicator. 

Higher-voltage LEDs boost light bulb efficiency

Changing incandescent screw-in light bulbs with bulbs that use LEDs as the light source is gaining much interest. Typically, a small number of LEDs—between five and nine—are connected in series and a power supply has to convert the line voltage to a low voltage, typically tens of volts, at currents around 350 to 700 mA. There are a number of tradeoffs in determining how to best isolate the consumer from the line voltage. Isolation can be accomplished either in the power supply or in the mounting of the LEDs. In these lower-power designs, physical isolation of the LEDs is a common choice as it allows the use of a cheaper, non-isolated power supply.

Outdoor LED Luminaires help minimize light pollution

Suited for parking lots and walkways, Tersen Ratio 1.5 supports 48 LEDs that produce illumination equivalent to 175 W metal halide lamp. Unit has finned shape that serves as both heat sink and architectural statement, and luminaire achieves 50,000-hr life at 1,000 MA with 70% lumen maintenance.

Digital billboards in downtown Miami may flout law

All of a sudden, hard-to-miss examples of the advertising industry’s latest innovation are popping up along expressways in and around downtown Miami: Giant LED-illuminated digital billboards that change ads 10,800 times in a day. And if the city of Miami gets its wish, you haven’t seen anything yet.

Olney prepares to install new LED traffic lights

A project to replace approximately 170 traffic lights with LED lights is set to be performed this summer. According to information from City Manager Randy Bukas, the city applied for funding to replace the current incandescent bulbs with LED traffic lights. The budgeted costs were $24,958. The city was awarded $9,783 from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Public Sector Energy Saving Program and $13,175 from the federal EECBG.

Residents Aim to 'Light Up' Hilton

The Hilton Neighborhood Association recently celebrated its 16th anniversary by launching a new initiative to improve community safety. “Lighten Up Hilton” is providing all neighborhood residents with free light bulbs to encourage them to keep an exterior light on at night to deter crime. At a work-party held earlier in June, HNA members assembled 300 bags — which also included informational pamphlets from the Maplewood Police Department and letters explaining the program – and distributed them door-to-door. 

Hand-Drawn Electrical Circuits for LEDs

Engineers at the University of Illinois have developed a silver-inked rollerball pen that allows users to draw electrical circuits and interconnects on paper, wood and other surfaces. Led by Jennifer Lewis, the Hans Thurnauer University of Illinois’ professor of materials science and engineering, and Jennifer Bernhard, a professor of electrical and computer engineering, the team has published its work in the journal Advanced Materials.

SmartWatt Energy Completes Significant LED Lighting Retrofit

SmartWatt Energy, Inc. recently completed a LED lighting retrofit at Americold's temperature-controlled storage facility in Fort Worth, TX resulting in an 86% reduction in total lighting cost. The project, which replaced 319 fixtures, produces higher quality light and gave rise to a utility incentive greater than $46,000 from the local energy provider.
This LED lighting retrofit project will reduce Americold's energy consumption at just its Fort Worth facility by 516,024 kWh and will help it shed 85.92 kW, while resulting in additional cooling savings of more than $17,000. "LEDs are perfectly suited for the cold storage environment," said Ben Stewart, Vice President of West Coast Operations for SmartWatt Energy. "The light is better than with fluorescents, the energy savings are higher and the projects have a greater environmental impact."
"SmartWatt Energy designs projects highly beneficial to cold storage environments," said Fred Walker, Americold's Vice President of Engineering. "We've been able to install fewer fixtures and achieve greater energy savings. We're looking forward to working with SmartWatt Energy on additional projects worldwide."
Americold partnered with SmartWatt Energy's Sacramento, CA office for the Fort Worth project. Earlier this year, SmartWatt Energy completed LED lighting retrofit projects at Americold's Rochelle, IL, Victorville, CA, Allentown, PA, City of Industries, CA and Russellville, AR facilities. SmartWatt Energy teams will be upgrading two additional Americold facilities by the end of July.