And Now, for Something Completely Different
By Gersil N. Kay, IESNA, IAEI, Conservation Lighting International Ltd.

Today's buzz words are green, sustainable and energy efficient. Lighting is one of the three disciplines now regulated by the national ASHRAE/IESNA/ANSI Standard 90.1 (Energy Conservation for other than low-rise residential buildings, which have their own standard). Standard 90.1 is the basis for IECC, LEED and state building codes. Lighting, necessary to see or do anything, has made the most strides in saving energy. Since 1882, complete lighting source/systems are constantly being developed and employed abroad. These include light pipe, glass fibre optics functional architectural lighting, OLEDs and DALI.

Because of unawareness of their beneficial properties, lack of practical education in these subjects, and terminal inertia to change procedures, these alternate lighting tools been virtually ignored by American design professionals, even though in many cases, they can do a better job in certain applications than the conventional incandescent, halogen or fluorescent. If the most energy-efficient method for the particular use is selected, sophisticated and affordable illumination can be created within the increasing energy restrictions.

This is such a huge subject, constantly being updated, that each category has to be addressed separately. The best way to serve the inspectors' needs, is with pictures, so when these completely different physical principles of Optics are seen on a project, they will be easily recognized. Starting with the most energy efficient technology now known - glass fibre optics functional (for task, display and architectural features, and also general light) - the main features are:

• Delivers light exactly where needed., including both high-level directional and lower-level ambient beams, plus special effects of color, motion and dimming. High light levels are achieved by selection of the size and length of the tails.
• One lamp, usually a dependable 6000-hour metal halide, powers up to 30 points of equal level light. The only other maintenance is dusting the projector as needed.
• Relamping every 18 months keeps the system operating as long as needed. LED life is about ten years, after which the entire lighting system has to be removed and replaced.
• Equipment can be reused. Glass does not stiffen, turn yellow or stop carrying light rays like plastic.
• The light source is located away from what is being lit, in a readily accessible location for relamping.
• Sheathing on the glass harness is MegalonTM. It is halogen-free and does not support combustion. No electricity, just light rays travel along the light guides, so the system is safe installed within the structure, buried, or under water. It is indispensable for high, inaccessible, confined space, electromagnetic or hazardous locations, as well as sites with vibration, water features, historic dˇcor, retrofitting fixtures, or constantly changing exhibits.

Power and control wiring can be done before or after the glass light guides are fished through the building like copper wire. This is just another lighting job. even 'greener' than we look.