Builder - November 2008 - (Page 68)

PRODUCTS resource of the NAHB Research Center in Upper Marlboro, Md., says ﬂuorescent bulbs last up to 10 times longer than incandescent and use 50 percent to 80 percent less energy. But now a newer technology, lightemitting diode (or LED), is emerging, and manufacturers say it offers more promise than CFLs. LED ﬁ xtures use a semiconductor to convert electricity into light. ToolBase says the bulb incorporates a built-in driver (like a ﬂuorescent ballast) or uses a plug-in transformer that allows portable ﬁ xtures to run on standard AC power. Bulbs generate about 20 to 30 lumens per watt. LEDs aren’t exactly new—they’ve been around since the 1960s—but manufacturers say they have made technological advancements that will propel the technology into consumer consciousness. Zachary Gibler, chief business development officer for New York–based LED manufacturer Lighting Science Group Corp., has even proclaimed 2008 “the year of the LED light.” Why the conﬁdence? LEDs are “now at a point where they deliver comparable performance to incandescent,” Gibler says. “They can put out the same amount of light, the color temperature is similar, and the color rendering is now close to incandescent.” “In the past, LEDs were synonymous with harsh, blue tints, but LED technology has grown considerably,” says Jim Jones, product manager of Kichler Lighting in Cleveland. “The LED chips Kichler uses emit a soft, white light that adds warmth and ambience.” ToolBase agrees that LEDs are more efficient and do not produce heat like incandescent bulbs. Moreover, they “last considerably longer than incandescent or ﬂuorescent lighting” and “don’t typically burn out like traditional lighting, but rather gradually decrease in light output.” Lighting designers admit that LEDs have come a long way, but some say the technology still has some growing to do. Naomi Miller, principal of Naomi Miller Lighting Design in Troy, N.Y., says the technology still isn’t mature enough. “The color rendering is not very good, and many ﬂicker during operation with a dimmer,” she says. Miller admits that LEDs are great for colored lights, but she says they’re inconsistent for white light and don’t generate as many lumens as manufacturers claim. “The technology is evolving very fast,” but it’s still about ﬁve MOOD LIGHTING: The Ambiance Lx LED lighting system is designed for undercabinet or architectural cove applications. Unlike traditional lighting that produces illumination in every direction, the system is effi cient at directing light where it’s needed. The low-voltage product off ers 1.2 watts per socket and will provide 50,000 hours of life. ▪ Sea Gull Lighting. 800- 347-5483. www.seagulllighting.com. Circle no. 111. years away from perfection, she says. Samuel Samson, CEO of Moda Light in Cape Coral, Fla., disagrees with this assessment. Samson says Moda, which only manufactures LED ﬁ xtures, develops products that are every bit as consistent as incandescents and more energy efficient than CFLs. The ﬁ xtures “use only a small amount of electricity, last in excess of 50,000 hours, and are maintenance-free,” Samson says. One of the company’s 15-watt recessed products is brighter than ﬁve 50-watt halogen bulbs, he claims. Despite the long list of positive attributes, LED has limitations. Designers say the ﬁ xtures typically beam light in a single direction, so they are great for art or as undercabinet lighting but are not as good for general-purpose illumination unless you use a lens or reﬂector to spread the light. Price is also a major issue. “The biggest limitation to LED for common residential use is the cost of manufacturing due to still-limited production runs,” ToolBase reports. “Manufacturers claim production will increase considerably in the near future, further lowering prices. Currently, there is a limited number of LED ﬁ xture manufacturers, but this is changing.” Despite cost and other issues, manufacturers are convinced that LEDs are the future of lighting. With the surging interest in energy efficiency and highperformance homes, they say, the demand for products that cost less to operate will (see page 70) only grow. RECESS APPOINTMENT: The Halo downlighting product line now includes an LED version. Designed for new or retroﬁt construction, the module delivers over 600 lumens or about the same light output as a 65-watt BR30 lamp or an 18-watt compact ﬂuorescent bulb and will provide up to 50,000 hours of life (or more than 20 years when used six hours a day). ▪ Cooper Lighting. 770-486-4800. www.cooper lighting.com. Circle no. 112. GOT A NEW PRODUCT? E-M AIL NIGEL F. M AY NARD AT: nmaynard@hanley wood.com FOR MORE PRODUCT INFORMATION, VISIT EBUILD, HANLEY WOOD’S INTERACTIVE PRODUCT CATALOG, AT WWW.BUILDERONLINE.COM/PRODUCTS OR EBUILD.COM. 68 ■ B U I LD E R nov e m ber 2008 W W W.BUILDERONLINE.COM http://www.seagulllighting.com http://www.cooperlighting.com http://www.cooperlighting.com http://WWW.BUILDERONLINE.COM/PRODUCTS http://www.EBUILD.COM http://WWW.BUILDERONLINE.COM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Builder - November 2008

Builder - November 2008 Contents Editor’s Notes B-Mail Book It Missing Links Inside Story Top Shelf Green House Business Update Sales Strategies Industry Insight Products Tech Tools National Best Seiders' Economy Sifting Through the Ruins Cottage Industry Upside Down Ad Index Last Word

Builder - November 2008

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