New developments enhance energy-efficient lighting.

In the bad old days, building owners had to live with the inevitable trade-off for energy-efficient lighting: large fluorescent lens fixtures with cool white lamps that turned everyone and everything a ghastly hue. No more.

Today, owners can reap the financial rewards of increased energy-efficiency - lower operation and maintenance costs - along with improved lighting quality and aesthetics. This is important to an increasing number owners, who realize the value that high-quality lighting can add to a property.

At Syska & Hennessy, we have noticed a number of positive trends in the lighting industry of late. First and foremost is the ongoing effort to improve the energy-efficiency of lamps and lighting systems. It is a very dynamic industry, and research is producing many new developments. What's driving all this R&D is market demand: the continued interest among owners and facility managers for energy-efficient lighting systems.

Another continuing trend is toward reducing the size of lamps. Years ago the only thing available in fluorescent lighting was the 2 x 4 foot fluorescent lens fixture and 1.5-inch diameter cool white lamps. Not only were these undesirable aesthetically, but brightness was difficult to control, which adversely affected the quality of light and visual comfort of users.

Reducing the size of lamps has enabled better lighting control, along with smaller ceiling openings and smaller, less intrusive fixtures. As a result, 2 x 4 foot lens fixtures have been replaced by indirect pendants, which may be as small as two inches high by three inches wide, as well as recessed lighting fixtures installed in six-inch slots in the ceiling.

In addition to improved lighting quality, control and aesthetics, the total number of fixtures often can be reduced, resulting in lower overall energy consumption and reduced maintenance. Furthermore, smaller fixtures provide owners with more flexibility in the design and use of spaces, helping them avoid or minimize the need to renovate ceiling lighting systems to accommodate changes in office configurations.

The lighting industry is also steadily and quickly improving the color rendition of fluorescent lamps, thanks to a particular form of phosphorus being used in new lamps. The infamous cool white fluorescent lamp is fading into history. Today, lamps are rendering color more accurately than they did just five years ago - and without a premium price-tag. The new lamps are providing more consistent color, both from one lamp to another within a particular type of lamp, as well as within families of lamps. In addition, metal halide technology is improving, making it much easier to control color and enabling designers to use this formerly exterior-only technology indoors.

Continued improvement of the life of fluorescent, incandescent (including halogen) and metal halide lamps is reducing the cost of purchasing replacement lamps and labor. This is a very positive trend, considering that maintenance costs can add up, especially if an owner must use an outside contractor to re-lamp a facility.

The push for "green building design" - buildings that use only materials that are environmentally-friendly and energy efficient has driven the development of fluorescent lamps with lower mercury content. Because these are not classified as hazardous material, disposal is less costly.

Five specific technologies available today in fluorescent, high-intensity and incandescent lighting systems include T-5 fluorescent lamps, compact triple tube fluorescent lamps, conversion compact fluorescent lamps, metal halide lamps, and halogen lamps.

T-5 fluorescent lamps are ideal for indirect and direct pendant fixtures, as well as cove lighting, and are 10 percent brighter than T-8 lamps. The primary limitation of the T-5 lamp is that it is not recommended for a conventional large cell open parabolic fixture, in that the surface brightness of the lamp is very high.

Compact triple tube fluorescent lamps increase light output over quad CFL's in light fixtures and are five to six times more efficient in lumen output than standard incandescent lamps. They also last 13 times longer than standard incandescent lamps. They are limited only in their extreme brightness and the 5 to 10 percent dimming capacity of full light output.

Conversion compact fluorescent lamps are designed for direct replacement of incandescent lamps, especially incandescent A-lamps in table lamps, and are available in a wide variety of wattages and fixtures. However, they are not intended for direct replacements in downlights due to difference in optical performance and larger size, nor do they have the capacity to dim.

Metal halide lamps are increasingly applicable to interior use, particularly in lobbies and atriums. They also boast improved color rendition and consistency and last three times the lamp life of incandescent halogen lamps. Disadvantages of this type include need for ballast, the high cost of replacement lamps, and the inability to dim.

Halogen lamps can be expected to last three times as long as standard incandescent lamps, have increased light output, and have improved lumen maintenance over the life of the lamp. Halogen lamps are available in A-lamp, PAR lamps and small T-lamps.

When designed by a professional lighting designer for maximum cost-effectiveness, an energy-efficient lighting design offers clear benefits. First and foremost, there is a decrease in capital operating expenses due to reduced energy consumption and reduced maintenance.

Lighting quality and aesthetics improve thanks to more accurate color rendition. The system can boost the marketability of a property to buyers and tenants alike, who have come to appreciate the value added of an efficient, high-quality system. Finally, there is the public relations benefit of designing and maintaining a "green building" - an example of doing well by doing good. All in all, it's a winning formula.