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nick4u1
Joined: 15 May 2008
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 6:35 am Post subject: LED Lighting, Viable yet? |
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Hey Guys,
I'm a newb here so I thought I would just introduce myself.
I'm Nick and the owner of Murden Architectural Services at www.murdenarchitectural.co.uk . I'm not actually an architect, however, I would like to open up a discussing on the uses of LED lighting. Do you think its a viable option for lighting interiors and exteriors? What about the economic and environmental benefits of using eco-friendly lighting within your designs. Are architects more concerned now days about these issues when developing new designs than before?
Thanks in advance! |
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Madimel
Joined: 06 Feb 2008
Posts: 154
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
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| Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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| we were first introduced to LED light fixtures about three years ago. they are nice, but at that time, still cost prohibitive for most projects. I'm sure the pricing have gone down since, but using LED lighting for the entire home is not viable in the economic sense. They are terrific in getting great effects when you mix it with water element. Since you sell the product, do you know if they meet Title 24 mandates in California? |
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csintexas
millennium club
Joined: 06 Feb 2006
Posts: 1860
Location: USA
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| Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 7:07 am Post subject: |
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I think LEDs have a lot of potential but I have not actually seen any products besides night lights and under counter lights.
I would like to see the entire electrical and lighting system reinvented instead of making LED's just fit into the existing methods. For example I have to wonder if we would be better off converting to DC. Also we tend to use large amounts of ambient lighting that gets expensive with LED so a more task oriented lighting system would be more efficient.
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Chris Stewart
Modern Texas Home Project |
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nick4u1
Joined: 15 May 2008
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 7:25 am Post subject: |
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| Well the suppliers and manufacturers I work with have available countless LED products that are used not only efficiently light a home and produce funky or moody effects but also ones that are specifically designed for tasking. When working with architects I find they get excited at the idea of lighting a home efficiently, saving on energy etc but they often come up with the objections of light output and temperatures. Whats been growing is the interesting in ceiling spots and under cabinet task lighting. It might be because we run them at around 3400-3500 kelvin the same as those normal warm white spots you get but we can also drive them long enough to produce a similar lumen output. It can be quite costly but the second you flick that switch your saving money and they shouldnt need to be replaced until around 70,000 hours depending on the quality of the fitting. The fittings I deal with are our PAR L compliant of our building regulations, I would imagine if they pass our stringent english regulations they may pass yours also. |
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csintexas
millennium club
Joined: 06 Feb 2006
Posts: 1860
Location: USA
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| Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 7:55 am Post subject: |
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I am pretty skeptical of the 70,000 hour life claim. Perhaps for the LED itself but these systems contain a lot of other components and they are complex. I think the current manufacturer's warranties reflect that.
Ceiling spot lights are a pretty poor way to light an area in my opinion and was exactly what I was saying as far as having to use a lot of lumen's per floor area. If bulbs and fixtures are cheap than it is easy to incorporate waste but with LED's this is not the case.
Heat is an issue and would be problematic in most current ceiling designs in my area. I think recess ceiling installations are not a good idea as far as energy efficiency.
Some additional thoughts here:
http://www.inspiredhabitat.com/community/showthread.php?t=148
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Chris Stewart
Modern Texas Home Project |
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nick4u1
Joined: 15 May 2008
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 5:51 am Post subject: |
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| I find that interesting, I will agree with the fact that there is alot of junk out there but then thats the case with virtually anything. A supplier I have sells his lights with a 5 year warranty which in LED lighting is exceptionally long. You do of course pay alot for his fittings, when it comes to designing a well ventilated and eco-friendly building LED lighting really has its benefits, it uses very little power can be designed to produce good and functional light aswell as produce very little heat gain. Of course cheap allows you to incorporate waste but waste is often something that we should work together to avoid. Its the same scenario as a Mercedes and a Ford, a Mercedes may last twice or three times longer than ford but it will cost twice as much. The added benefit with LEDs is that imagine the Ford gets you 30mpg but the Mercedes will get you 250mpg, you begin to see in what direction people will look. At the moment the mercedes ie. LED is reserved for those with the money but in time cost of development and production should move in line. |
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csintexas
millennium club
Joined: 06 Feb 2006
Posts: 1860
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 6:46 am Post subject: |
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I think you are right. I have not seen a five year warranty (that seems a little more reasonable to me)
Although left on 24/7/365 for five years would only amount to 42,720 hours. LED's could very well be the future. Certainly they will come down in price and become more reliable.
My main point is that other than extremely high end and demonstration houses we will really have to rethink how we use them in order to make LED's a real solution any time soon.
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Chris Stewart
Modern Texas Home Project |
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