The International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) regular column tackling the principles of lighting design... This issue, IALD member Stefan Graf, Principal of IlluminArt takes a critical - and lighthearted - look at LEDs...

leds - oh i'm deluged by leds

One aspect of this industry that keeps it so interesting is how fast new technologies are introduced. It seems like every month I learn of new lamps, luminaires and support systems to make my job as a lighting specifier easier or in some cases, more complicated. It's the technologies that become the "tools" for the lighting artist to paint patterns of illumination into an architectural environment. The more tools we have to choose from, the more innovation and flexibility are offered to our client's projects so I love learning about new opportunities.

Where do we learn about new products? From the suppliers of course. Manufacturers, sales representatives, magazine ads and attendance at trade shows all contribute to our knowledge base. When a new tool is introduced, large marketing budgets are often available to bring the news our way, and, once in a while, there is a real breakthrough in technology that takes the industry by storm.

Take LED technology for example. The news about LEDs is everywhere. I must have had more visits from LED reps to our office when it was first introduced than any other product. LED products filled a niche in the marketplace. But like many new technologies, I was initially a bit sceptical - "How much does this cost and what are its shortcomings? Oh, it costs that much? HmmmÉ and what were the other short comings again? There are none? This sounds great to me. Maybe we will have a project application soon."

I have clients now that have learned about LEDs and ask me or, sometimes tell me, that they want them used in their projects. They have become a lighting expert after reading an article or seeing an ad somewhere. Articles featuring projects with extended use of LEDs fill our magazines today. The colour changing within a space makes for a great photo op and people with little exposure to theatrical lighting become enamoured by it. I'll be interested to learn if the lighting is still as effective for the user one year later.

I remember the horror stories, however, of misapplied use of new technologies within a year or two after their release into the marketplace. Like the open office spaces that were illuminated using indirect high pressure sodium because it was the newest, most efficient lamp on the market. Or the large retail spaces with 14 foot ceilings that were lighted exclusively with the new MR-16 lamp because it was the 'latest craze'.

Radiant colour from a luminous source, however, can be exciting, attractive and add a dimension to the project not possible using a white light source. Is infinite colour changing options important to the success of project? If so, LEDs may be the way to go in low ambient lighted conditions with limited space to conceal the source.

When considering new technologies, it is important to look at all of the features, benefits and potential constraints. My good friend, Naomi Miller, IALD, has a passion for LEDs so I contacted her for a few comments. She reminded me of some of the questions that should be asked when considering using LEDs in your next job, like, how does the manufacturer define 'lamp life'? How will ambient temperature fluctuations affect that lamp life? Do the lamps die, or do they just fade away? Lamp lumen depreciation can be considerable with LED lamps and can vary from colour to colour. How will the LED system colour and colour rendering shift over time and over ambient temperature? How will the heat be managed in the design of the LED luminaire system? The lamp colour can vary from one batch to another in the manufacturing process. Will replacement lamps or strips or clusters of the same colour and output be available over time?

The answers to these and other questions are available from the manufacturer but, please, be sure to ask them as you consider using LEDs in your next project. I wish all of the sales representatives would bring these issues forward in conversations to the folks they are trying to sell their products. Some manufacturers are bringing this information to light. So, let us support them when considering which products to specify.

In August, I provided a band for entertainment at the National Illuminating Engineering Conference in Chicago. We asked for lyrics to parody industry topics, put to popular music. Here is what Naomi came up with:

Sing to the tune of Yesterday by the Beatles

LEDs
All the Light Fair booths show LEDs
Now I face such colour quandaries
Oh, I'm deluged with LEDs

Now and then
You could win awards with halogen
Even CMH and sodium
Now LEDs trump all of them

Green, red, blue and white, I don't quite know which to choose
Should I paint with peach, or reach for aqua blues...

Suddenly.
Every lobby throbs with disco sleeze
Every office looks like Chucky Cheese
Oh, I'm confused by LEDs

Yes, they're small and cute, and they suit low energy
And, the hours they give, they'll outlive both you and me

LEDs
All the Light Fair booths show LEDs
Now I face such colour quandaries
Oh, now I am tired of LEDs

information : www.iald.org