LEXINGTON, KY - Lighting offers bright possibilities for reducing energy costs in both residential and commercial projects. Members of the local chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council learned about some shining examples at the group's leat summer meeting.
Hosted by Erle Levy, owner of Kentucky Lighting and Supply, and his staff, the meeting drew architects, builders, electrical contractors, interior designers and other people who are interested in construction that is beneficial to the environment and reducing energy costs.
A revolution to make lighting environment-friendly is assuredly on the way. A slide presentation quoted Charles Jerabek, CEO of Osram-Sylvania. He noted that "78 percent of the U.S. population doesn't realize that incandescent light bulbs will be phased out by 2012."
Paula Minton, Kentucky Lighting's Manager, has worked in the lighting field for 30 years. "I've got customers who've used the same (type of) bulbs for 40 years and have learned that they'll be discontinued. They're coming in and asking 'What do we do?'"
Compact fluorescent light (CLF) bulbs have become more available in recent years. Consumers who are aware that old style light bulbs will soon be historical artifacts know about and are starting to use CFLs. Newer than CFLs, and offering more advantages, but much more expensive, are Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights.
Pat Kelly, manufacturer's representative for Satco, said that "It'll be a few years before it's beneficial residentially" because LED lights can be as much as 10 times as expensive as CFLs.
Kelly said that LED lights even now "can be commercially feasible because the payback [in a commercial operation where lights may be on for 16 or more hours a day] is faster."
LED lights vary in the color of light they produce and aren't yet as precisely dimmable as are standard incandescent bulbs. But GE is putting 50 percent of its lighting research money into the development of LED lights.
That's because they offer such tantalizing advantages over both incandescent and CFL lights. They use less energy, last longer, resist heat, cold and vibration better as well as the fact that they don't contain mercury and aren't hot enough to burn if touched. Because LED lights don't have ballasts there is no radio interference with broadband or other technologies.
Wendy Loween, Wac Lighting's representative, sees LED installed in homes now only "for specialized use: task lighting, by art on display, and in high places [where it's nearly impossible to change bulbs]."
Loween is excited about the next phase of lighting, Organic LED, which is still in the lab development and testing phase. These lightweight lights "contain no hard metal, are of thin organic material that is less than 1 millimeter thick, and offer true dimming range from 100 percent down to 1 percent."
Started in 1938, Kentucky Lighting has been owned by Levy since 1963. The Winchester Road showroom draws mostly residential customers. The supply side of the business serves electrical contractors and other commercial customers.
Asked about changes in the lighting business, Levy said "Energy saving is the biggest, even though we in Kentucky don't have utility bills as high as people do in other states."
Responding to that demand, Kentucky Lighting has grouped both indoor and outdoor light fixtures and fans that have earned the blue Energy Star rating in a showroom display that's easy for customers to find. The main lines carried are Minka, Wac, and Thomas Lighting.
Levy and his staff see demand for "more and more contemporary designs. It used to be all traditional styles. In the last three, four, five years, the younger population of customers wants newer designs."
Besides supplying lighting needs directly to or for residential customers, Kentucky Lighting takes care of lighting needs for a number of commercial customers, including the University of Kentucky and the Fayette County Schools. A recent special project was installing LED lights over the art in a museum at the Kentucky Horse Park.