Integrated Home Competition – Lighting by Jeffrey

Lighting for Tomorrow was a new product competition that sought to highlight inventive uses of energy efficient lighting. When started, fluorescent lighting was considered pedestrian and good for only the most functional of lighting chores. America installed fluorescent lighting into garages, basement workshop areas and MAYBE the laundry room. Why not other areas? The competition encouraged manufacturers to reimagine fluorescent use in decorative products.

As a Product Manager of a luminaire manufacturer at the time, I readily accepted this opportunity. I asked the talented design staff to create products that would ameliorate the undesirable aspects of fluorescent light. While fluorescent lamping was the only energy efficient option, we received recognition for multiple products. Once LED entered the scene we again enjoyed awards in different categories. Our product was recognized and displayed at many trade shows, countless publications and industry events.

When the competition accomplished its goals, the adoption of energy efficient lighting across the luminaire spectrum, Lighting for Tomorrow was retired. A new goal was then established. Controls. Many consumption researchers found that the next “big” reduction in energy could be achieved through the use of intelligent controls. The most far reaching predictions were an additional 25% savings of electric consumption simply by better controlling light use.

At the same time, other areas outside lighting were going through their own efforts to reduce energy consumption. What if all of this were combined? When people leave their home they shut off lights, reduce the heat, turn on a security system, lock a door, close a garage and start a car. Electric power is plentiful throughout the night, why not run the dishwasher, clothes washer and dryer when demand is at its lowest? Lighting for Tomorrow was transitioned into the Integrated Home Competition.

The Integrated Home Competition seeks to find high efficiency products that easily integrate with home control systems and other like-minded products, are well built, easy to install and set up and provide the consumer with perceived value and security. Among the categories is lighting.

Manufacturers

Do you have a product that, in addition to saving money on energy, also easily links with home control systems (Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home) and perhaps, interacts with HVAC systems, security systems and/or utility data sharing apps? Is it a product that works beyond the simple wall switch control? If so, consider submitting it for consideration.

Sales Representatives and Design Practitioners

You see new products every day. Does something you’ve seen recently break new ground? Does it make installation and set-up easier? Does it facilitate easy transition between other consumers of energy in the home? Urge the manufacturer to submit the product for consideration.

Winners

I was honored to be asked to judge the submitted products entered into lighting and ceiling fan 2023 competition category. A group of us with decades of experience in lighting and controls installed, set-up, operated and tested each submitted item. We read the included instructions (I know that sounds unusual!) and watched online installation videos to determine if the product functioned as promised. We paired products with smart phones, Alexa and Google Home and tested functionality. Via conversation and a genial exchange of view, we unanimously agreed upon the products that deserved a year’s worth of recognition.

While testing and talking we wondered if there were other products that should have been submitted. We all agreed to do what we could to encourage additional submissions, hence my inclusion of this information in the blog. Every one of us will benefit from reduced energy consumption. Let’s work to recognize those who are creating products to meet that end.

For complete guidelines and information on how to enter, please visit https://www.integratedhome.org/enter-now Watch this short video on the submission process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkGmyndY4wk or contact competition@cee1.org.

Let’s call out the parade! We won. LED is now the official light source of the world. We’ve saved lots of money. Energy use is down. Wo-Hoo! We’re done!

Photo by Vlad Vasnetsov on Pexels.com

Or, perhaps, we are not. If you’ve noticed a lull in new lighting product innovation you’re not mistaken. I believe however, it would be wrong to assume this to be a permanent state. Instead, we need to keep our eyes open for the next innovation that will rock the lighting world.

Advances in Integration

Over a decade ago, the “Lighting For Tomorrow” competition instigated new and exciting energy efficient products into the market. Initially, products were created to prove that fluorescent didn’t need to be ugly, but LED appeared quickly thereafter and the whole landscape changed. Because we are fully enmeshed in the use of LED, that competition has been abandoned in favor of the “Integrated Home Competition.” By seamlessly linking HVAC, controls and lighting, the next level of energy savings might be met. Finding a system that is easy to use and requires minimal education for the consumer can take us to the next level of energy savings.

https://www.integratedhome.org/

Cutting Bait on Existing Technology

Perhaps you noticed the news that Canada and a few states in America are considering a ban on HID, high-pressure sodium and Metal Halide lighting. The US got rid of Mercury Vapor a number of years ago. There is also a growing band of government entities who have already ended, or are in the process of ending, the use of fluorescent. LED is now the only real game in town. I have even seen OLEDs on a list of possible elimination in Europe because of its lack of efficacy. Ultimately, this means that the desire for increased energy efficiency has NOT disappeared.

Most industry experts and utility concerns understand that the next generation of energy savings will come from more effectively applied controls. Occupancy sensors, motion sensors, zoned lighting controls and a more generous collection of dimmers will all result in reduced lighting power demand. This may seem awfully incremental, but a study done by Pacific Gas & Electric in 2013 on an Ace Hardware Warehouse illustrated the impact controls could achieve.

The original fluorescent and HID lighting was swapped for, at the time, “new” LED luminaires. That move reduced energy consumption to 80% of original. By adding, dimming, daylight sensitive switches, occupancy controls, course zoning and fine zoning controls, the end result brought energy consumption to an incredibly low 7% (a 93% reduction of energy) of the baseline! If even a portion of that can be achieved in a residence, it must be considered a win.

You may read the entire PG&E report here: https://www.etcc-ca.com/sites/default/files/reports/ET12PGE3361%20LED%20High-Bay%20Lighting%20and%20Controls%20Assessment.pdf

Sweat Energy

The scientist at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst have created a biofilm that sticks to the skin and creates electricity from sweat. They imagine it to be used for all types of electronic wearables and electronic health devices. Combining this invention with the recently discovered need to have light delivered to our bodies in various angles and directions and the whole concept of how we use light and how it is powered might be upended.

The researchers further believe that additional energy could be extracted from the naturally occurring process of evaporation. Apparently, half of the sun’s energy is lost in its transition to the earth. They believe they can capture some of that loss and turn it back into a usable resource. Yes, I know. This is wild. It seems so odd that we could extract energy from sweat and evaporation, but back in 1917 the concept of electroluminescence from solid-state diodes led us to LED today. With that as a baseline, almost anything is possible.

Small…Finally!

I have been saying for years that I didn’t understand why integrated LED recessed cans have maintained their 6” size. There is no reason for such a large hole in the ceiling now that diodes are delivering illumination. At the very least, I assumed the industry would swap to 4” as more of a standard. A number of smaller pieces have shown up on the market, but their output have been closer to recessed MR16 performance than the larger units.

Imagine my delight when I found the new CSL Whisper. This is a trimless ½” diameter recessed downlight. Checking out the specifications, it looks like the 50° optics deliver excellent light amounts. (A center-beam candle power of 1398.) While no recessed light placement is “rule-of-thumb,” numbers like this should work great in 10’-0” ceiling heights. A tighter 30° beam angle will be effective in tall locations or in areas with lower reflectance. Because of the extremely small size, glare should be very low. Checking out the installation instructions, it shows a very simple task. Clearly easier than installing that huge metal box in the plenum. This appears to be exactly what I had hoped would happen once some smart engineers started to think outside the 6” can. I have not yet seen the unit installed, but I sure am encouraged!

https://csllighting.com/SystemDetail.dmx?itemnum=WS-IC-Sys

Change

Perhaps these aren’t the paradigm shift we experienced with LED, but they do continue advanced movement and fresh thinking. It also suggests that lighting will not fall into another 130-year incandescent rut. We will, however need to expand our concept of light and energy savings to include some advances. Controls, sweat and ultra-tiny luminaires will make our exit from existing technologies easier. It also bodes well for a more planet-friendly, sustainable future. We should all feel good about that.