New Systems Minimize Energy, Cost and Maintenance
By: Robert Catone

This article will review the latest advances in lamps, ballast and fixture design that can significantly lower a school’s initial, operational and maintenance cost. This knowledge can minimize fixture and lamp requirements on your next project.

Fluorescent Technology
Linear Fluorescent: T8 lamps have become the standard for new construction. And, even smaller T5 lamps are entering the scene in indirect fixtures. New phosphor coatings provide 17% to 28% higher lamp output and almost perfect natural color. Better lamp design has allowed life ratings up to 30,000 hours. New low mercury lamps do not require special disposal.

The chart below summarizes differences that can impact your operational costs.

Chart: Lamp Choices – With Standard Electronic Ballasts

Lamp	Size	Lamp Life (3 hrs/start)	Color Accuracy	Initial Lumens	Maint. Lumens	Lumens per watt	Low Mercury
F32T8/ADV	4’	30,000	86%	3100	2950	89	Yes
F32T8/PLUS	4’	30,000	78%	2850	2710	84	Yes
F32T8	4’	20,000	78%	2850	2710	84	Yes
F54T5HO	4’	20,000	85%	5000	4750	81	No

 
Fluorescent Electronic Ballasts: These ptimize lamp performance and minimize energy. Their high frequency (20,000 hertz) eliminates 60 cycle lamp flicker and extends lamp life. Newer designs are smaller, intelligent and universal. Many operate 2 or more wattage lamps and accept 120 or 277 volts. Some can operate 2, 3 or 4 lamps. Instant Start ballasts operate lamps in parallel. If one fails, the others still operate. Electronic ballasts are sensitive to heat. The fine print states that they need to operate at 70C or cooler for full life.

Reduce T8 lamps by 26% and energy 5 to 7%. The standard instant start ballast has a ballast factor (BF) of .88 and drives a 32 watt T8 at 28 watts. The “high light output” instant start ballast has a BF of 1.19 and drives the same lamp at 38 watts.  This allows you to remove 1 lamp from a 4 lamp troffer. As a bonus, the fixture efficiency increases
5-7%. This ballast does not reduce lamp life or warranty.Ballasts for T5 and compact fluorescent lamps are only available with a ballast factor of 1.

Chart: Optimized Combination: The lamp and ballast choice can save cost and maintenance.

System	Lamp	Rated Lumens	Life at 3 Hrs/Start	Electronic  Ballast Type	Ballast Factor	Actual Lumens	Watts per lamp
Industry Standard	F32T8-741	2850	20,000+ hours	Instant start	.88	2508	28
Optimal	F32T8/ADV	3100	30,000+ hours	High output instant start	1.19	3391	38

Ballast Controls: Dimming systems and software have the potential to reduce energy through daylight harvesting, sensors and optimizing illumination to task requirements. An open Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) is progressing towards becoming the lighting communications standard.  Each ballast can be individually controlled and belong to any or all of 16 different groups. The open standard allows interchangeability from different manufacturers. These ballasts and control systems are just entering the marketplace.

Induction Fluorescent Lamp: This new system from two major manufacturers features 100,000 hours of maintenance-free life (20 years). Microwave energy operates the lamp. Lamps are available in three sizes up to 165 watts. The system is expensive but may be ideal for high-cost maintenance areas.

LEDs: Light emitting diodes, rated at 100,000 hours of life, are being used for exit lights, traffic signals and in automobiles. White LEDs are only 30% as efficient as fluorescent lamps. They presently have no practical mainstream applications.

Compact Fluorescent Lamps
This new lamp type has become popular for gyms and multi-purpose areas. They offer high lumens and 83% color accuracy. Most are dimmable, and their output is almost unaffected by ambient temperature. They are the standard-offer alternatives to Metal Halide linear fluorescent and incandescent lamps.

Wattage	Life	Lumens	Maintained Lumens	Length
26	10,000	1800	1530	5”
32	10,000	2400	2040	5.63”
42	10,000	3200	2720	6.38”
60	20,000	4000	3440	7.17
85	20,000	6000	5160	8.78”
120	20,000	9000	7740	11.81”

High Intensity Discharge Technology
New Electronic Metal Halide ballast systems now equal fluorescent performance – 320, 350 and 400 watt lamps provide 87 maintained lumens per watt, have 0-10 volt continuous dimming to 50% power, integral occupancy sensors and no noise. Lamp life is expected to increase to 30,000 hours. Ballasts are available from three manufacturers.

Lamp	Ballast Watts	Rated Lumens	Maint. Lumens	Ballast Factor	Actual Lumens	Actual Lumens per watt
400 MH	425	44,000	37,000	1.0	37,000	87
350 MH	375	37,000	31,820	1.0	31,820	85
320 MH	345	34,000	28,560	1.0	28,560	83
F32T8	28	2850	2710	.88	2508	89
F54T5	58.5	5000	4750	1.0	4,750	81

School Fixtures
Design: They should clean easily and be gasketed to resist the entry of dirt and bacteria..

Materials: Bodies and doors are available in steel, stainless steel and aluminum. Ballasts run coolest in an aluminum housing. Life can be extended 10 to 20%.

Advances in technology when properly applied can provide a low-cost, reduced-maintenance and a more energy-efficient installation. Today you can provide 100 foot-candles at less than 1.5 watts a square foot.

Robert Catone is the General Manger of Guth Lighting. He is a Certified Lighting Professional by the National Council of Qualifications for the Lighting Professions (NCQLP) and a member of the Illuminating Engineering Society Progress Committee.

Product Roundup

RT5 Volumetric Recessed Lighting by Lithonia
RT5 Volumnetric Recessed Lighting by Lithonia Lighting uniformly illuminates the entire volume of space, eliminating harsh shadows, dark walls and the “cave effect” arising from the sharp cutoff of parabolics. This new lighting system also uses up to 33 percent less energy than the industry standard for office lighting. To achieve the proper balance of light, RT5 features a two-piece refractor system (patent pending) that uses a combination of diffusing film and precisely extruded prisms to efficiently diffuse light.  The result is a low-brightness refractor that illuminates and complements the highly reflective barrel, provides outstanding lamp obscuration and creates a smooth distribution at all angles and distances. The fixture’s high efficiency accommodates stringent energy regulations in place in some states. 
www.lithonia.com/RT5

Applied Electronics
Applied Electronics is the North American distributor for LSC Lighting, Ltd., theatrical manufacturers out of Melbourne, Australia. LSC Lighting manufactures the maXim line of intelligent light controllers. The maXim is an easy-to-use, yet powerful intelligent light controller. The maXim controls both intelligent lights and conventional fixtures. Features include standard two-scene preset operation, fully proportional soft-patching, simple to program, touch-screen operation, DMX-512 output, disk-drive and VGA monitor output and can control up to 60 intelligent fixtures (depending on size of console). Every console is shipped with a training video covering all operational functions in easy-to-understand, two to five minute lessons. All products carry a two-year factory warranty and are available from stock.
www.appliednn.com

Theatrical Lighting Systems, Inc.
Everybody loves an ellipsoidal.  It’s probably the most used and most commonly recognized of the conventional lighting fixtures available. ETC’s (Electronic Theatre Control) Source Four put a spin on this fixture several years ago by introducing the energy-saving power of the HPL lamp and adding a patented dichroic reflector.  This combination puts off less heat, which translates into longer usage from gels, patterns, and shutters.  The Source Four offers crisp pattern projection, and a bright, even field. Its powerful 750 watt rating allows saturated colors to punch through, and long throws. The lens tubes are interchangeable as well. 
www.tlsinc.com  

Staging Dimensions, Inc.
Pixel Panel decking incorporates the most advanced programmable LED technology using a grid of individually addressable tri-color LED nodes to create the mood of the stage. These modular interlocking decking panels allow users to create their own video imaging design or utilize the pre-programmed library. Pixel Panels are complete staging panels that support 150 pounds per square foot and require no sub floor. Pixel Panels are structural portable light surfaces, and the 4' x 4' individual panel dimensions give users endless configuration possibilities. Staging Dimensions, Inc. offers other products, like Soft-LED Drapery, portable staging, rolling risers, custom staging, choir risers, translucent staging platforms, stair units, guardrail, deck carts, stage skirting, pipe & rape and ADA ramps.  All staging accessories can be customized to accommodate use with other staging systems.
www.stagingdimensionsinc.com

Leviton’s Commercial Sensors
Leviton’s new line of intelligent commercial-grade occupancy sensors feature all-digital, microprocessor circuitry that continually analyzes real-time occupancy patterns in commercial buildings to continually adjust settings for maximum performance. The new line of sensors includes passive infrared, ultrasonic and state-of-the-art multi-technology devices. The multi-technology sensors integrate passive infrared and ultrasonic sensing in the same device to achieve optimum motion detection capabilities and eliminate false triggering from inanimate movement like air currents. The result is a trouble-free, “install-and-forget” lighting control solution. Ultrasonic models fill a room with continuous high-frequency (ultrasonic) sound waves and interpret changes from the original frequency as movement. They respond by turning on lights or maintaining illumination. These devices are ideal for applications where either direct-line-of-site detection is not possible or movement is limited.
www.leviton.com

Technical Productions, Inc.
Have you ever been at a concert venue and marveled at the technological advances that have been made with theatrical lighting? Technical Productions, Inc. can help schools achieve the same lighting features in theaters or auditoriums. TPI crews are on the road using these products in live event settings on a weekly basis. It is that experience that allows TPI to offer its clients the highest level of professional service. TPI offers intelligent lighting, lighting and dimming, strand lighting, lighting consoles and other options. 
www.technicalproductions.com

STAGE WASH 900 by Chauvet Lighting
The Stage Wash 900 is a powerful yet economical color wash lighting system, ideal for stage and musical performances and easily transportable from one venue to the next. Three 300-watt lamps housed in a reflector collectively produce 32 selectable, RGB-induced colors. The Stage Wash 900 provides a wide area of projection, which makes it especially suitable for stage and wall color washes. Dimming is infinitely variable (0-100%). Barn doors provide an effective method of beam control, limiting light spill.
Stage Wash 900 responds to DMX control via four channels. It also can operate on a master/slave mode triggered by music. There is no limit on daisy chaining multiple fixtures. A very handy and simple CA-8 Easy controller and its foot pedal version, the CA-8F Easy Controller, allows hand-free control of the most important features of the Stage Wash 900. 
www.chauvetlighting.com

Princeton Series from Guth Lighting
The Princeton family of lowmount fixtures from Guth Lighting comes in four sizes that fit any mounting height from 9 to 30 feet. Lamping can be single or multiple compact fluorescent, metal halide or incandescent. Choose from hundreds of colors, louvers, wire guards and bottom lens. Ballasts can be switchable electronic, dimming or core and coil and provide a level of light to match any activity. This versatile family is listed for use in 104˚F ambients so components run cool and last much longer. It is ideal for use in classrooms, gyms, libraries, vocational rooms, hallways and multipurpose rooms. Enviroguard and Super illuminator are companion products.
www.guth.com

Data Projector Relamping  
Typically, when a LCD or DLP data projector lamp burns out, the consumer must purchase both a new lamp and module (metal cage housing around lamp) at a considerable cost. Bulb Source has introduced a new line of equivalent lamps to relamp about 60% of the most popular data projectors on the market. Since the consumer is purchasing only the lamp and not the module, they will easily see a savings of 30% to 40%. Customers simply return their lamp and module to Bulb Source, which, in turn, installs a new lamp in the original module. The turnaround time is only a few days from the time the lamp and module unit is received.  They also offer a warranty and will recycle the old lamp at no charge.
www.bulb-source.com

GLA by Williams
The GLA is a stylish, energy-efficient alternative to traditional HID high-bay or low-bay lighting. T5 or T8 fluorescent lamps produce comparable light levels using half the energy and provide better color rendition than 400-watt metal halide fixtures. GLA is perfect for big-box retailers, supermarkets or your school gymnasium – anywhere an attractive fixture is needed at higher mounting heights. Extruded aluminum sides provide a modern appearance while 4 or 6 lamps in cross-section accommodate a wide range of mounting heights and light levels. Custom colors are available to put the finishing touches on your project.
www.hew.com

Wybron NEXERA
Now your facility can have the same professional lighting that was once only seen on Broadway. For more than 25 years, Wybron has been synonymous with the transformative power of light. The lightweight and easy-to-use NEXERA from Wybron is a compact fixture with integral CMY subtractive dichroic color mixing. NEXERA offers an unlimited color palette and smooth color integration. NEXERA is available in both wash and profile models, with either a tungsten or CDM light source. And because the color module is convection cooled, there are no fans, no noise and no problem. Add in the reassurance of peerless dependability, and it’s an easy choice.
www.wybron.com