green lighting

Climate change produces a wide range of effects in different parts of the world. Many kind of international luminaire industrial, such as OSRAM, Philips, GE, and many more, sustainability campaign invites consumers to “switch over to climate protection” – with key visuals adapted to suit the various regions. In Europe and America, the polar bear is strongly associated with global warming. In China, however, there is grater emphasis on maintaining the habitat of the panda, and in India it is the tiger that inspires protection. The campaign shows that, by energy-saving lamps, we all can do something to protect climates and preserve natural habitats, everywhere on earth.

halogen lamp

A halogen lamp is an incandescent lamp in which a tungsten filament is sealed into a compact transparent envelope filled with an inert gas, plus a small amount of halogen such as iodine or bromine. The halogen cycle increases the lifetime of the bulb and prevents its darkening by redepositing tungsten from the inside of the bulb back onto the filament. The halogen lamp can operate its filament at a higher temperature than in a standard gas filled lamp of similar wattage without loss of operating life. This gives it a higher efficacy (10-30%). It also gives light of a higher color temperature compared to a non-halogen incandescent lamp. Alternatively, it may be designed to have perhaps twice the life with the same or slightly higher efficacy. Because of their smaller size, halogen lamps can advantageously be used with optical systems that are more efficient and in architectural lighting it’s recommended applicated for accent and general lighting in homes, recidential building, shops/stores, restaurant/café, also exhibition/art galleries.

There are several types of halogen lamp which are deppend on dimention of the reflector. MR16 is the mostly used and it has low-voltage dichroic reflector type. The dichroic reflector coating transmits the infra-red radiation (heat) backwards through the glass and reflects the visible radiation (light) forward, thus resulting in a ‘cool beam.’ Dichroic reflector lamps are ideally suitable for accent, task and decorative lighting in homes, shops and hotels/restaurants.

compact fluorescent

A spiral-type compact fluorescent lamp. This style has slightly reduced efficiency compared to tubular fluorescent lamps, due to the excessively thick layer of phosphor on the lower side of the twist. Despite this, it has become one of the most popular types among North American consumers since its introduction in the mid 1990s.

A compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), also known as a compact fluorescent light bulb (or less commonly as a compact fluorescent tube [CFT]), is a type of fluorescent lamp. Many CFLs are designed to replace an incandescent lamp and can fit in the existing light fixtures formerly used for incandescents.

A photograph of various lamps illustrates the effect of color temperature differences (left to right): (1) Compact Fluorescent: General Electric, 13 watt, 6500 K (2) Incandescent: Sylvania 60-Watt Extra Soft White/Warm White (3) Compact Fluorescent: Bright Effects, 15 watts, 2700 K (4) Compact Fluorescent: Sylvania, 14 watts, 3000 K.

As we can see on the left picture , there are different kind of energy consumption, and have different color from the sources. I think that we need to determining what atmosphere we want to attends before we have to design the light. For example, the warm color (2700-3000K) are good for houses, café, restaurant, boutique, residences and thematic office. And the cold color (4000-6500K) are good for hospital, general office, also sport field (indoor & outdoor).
So, which one we prefer to choose to get high quality of light, but also more efficient in energy consumption ?

For a given light output, CFLs use between one fifth and one third of the power of an equivalent incandescent lamp. Since lighting accounted for approximately 9% of household electricity usage in the United States in 2001, widespread use of CFLs could save as much as 7% from household usage.
If incandescent lamps are replaced by CFLs the heat produced by the building's lighting system will be reduced. At times when the building requires both heating and lighting, the building's central heating system will then supply the heat. If the building requires both illumination and cooling, then CFLs will use less electricity themselves and will also reduce the load on the cooling system compared to incandescent lamps. This results in two concurrent savings, and since most air conditioners are also electrically powered, they are directly comparable.

lighting effect with fluorescent tube

Fluorescent Lamp

Unlike incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps always require a ballast to regulate the flow of power through the lamp. However, a fluorescent lamp converts electrical power into useful light more efficiently than an incandescent lamp; lower energy costs offsets the higher initial cost of the lamp. While larger fluorescent lamps have been mostly used in large commercial or institutional buildings, the compact fluorescent lamp is now being used as an energy-saving alternative to incandescent lamps in homes. Compared with incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps use less power for the same amount of light, generally last longer, but are bulkier, more complex, and more expensive than a comparable incandescent lamp. (taken from : wikipedia.com)
Nowdays, fluorescent lamp has different types according to their application. Fluorescent could be use for general lighting, also accent lighting such as uplighter, downlight, path-ways lighting, bollards, indirect lighting which is often used in interior building to avoiding the direct light from its source accepted by our eyes.
To obtains the correct illumination, we have to choose the right reflector which are becomes part of the armature designed for fluorescent lamps. Many lighting designer usually used matte than glossy alumunium surface reflector to decrease dazzled when our eyes are catching the lamp source. The other sides, the light would be more softer and not too much.

Lounge with bulb

Bulb as accent lighting in butique

creation with the bulb

Incandescent Performance

On the picture above, showing us how the very simple incandescent could be transformed into unusual performance. With special touch of creativity and imagination, a cheap bulb becomes valuable and most wanted.

The light generated from this lamp come from the filament tungsten inside the glass tube which is produce heat after the electric flows through the filament.
We should be notice that only 10% energy from the filament becomes light, and others released as heat. The life times itself is very short than another lamp types (± 1000 hours), it caused by the metal strand of filament can easily break when heat activated.

The yellowish light from bulb can built a warm ambience, romantic and intimacy. Besides becoming task lighting, incandescent could becomes accent lighting such as in restaurant, café, and sitting room. Because of that reason, until nowadays bulb still becomes the alternatives choice of designers.
Latter, I will give you examples how incandescent can built an ambience into an interior design.

Light box

Above are kinds of box lighting fitting’s examples. I’m trying to give you illustration what we can do with the box if u wanna use it as a different-look for your creativity.

On picture no.1 are the standing lamps which have a simple design but they have ability to adding warm atmospheres in your room. Such as for guest room, family room, home office or restaurant.

Picture no.2, on this case, the benefits of this fitting is depends on your needs. It may become a fresh-look table at the café, a table lamp, wall lamp, or even a hanging lamp. Anyway you wanna try; I think the best condition is to make it as a point in your room. It has an ice-look, so it’s applicable if you wanna makes your room more fresh, cozy and different by others.

Picture no.3, it is show us that the reflection also gives us choices for making a different scene of lighting effect.

Picture no.4, it’s an interior design from a café. As we can see, the ambience of the room is so comfortable, cozy and so alive. I think the designer was trying to make a very simple design, with replace ‘the light box’ in different size on the wall and combine it with the strike lines. Heres, a light box chairs also adding unusual atmosphere.

Light is Art

Why we need light but also the darkness…?

Without light, there’s nothing. So dramatic, is it…?
Without light, there are no plants and therefore animals…
Without light, our world lacks shape and form and colour…
Through the vision and technical skills of modern architects our homes have been opened up to the pleasures of natural light, and for the first time in history we’ve had on-tap, artificial electric light which has extended our days and irrevocably changed the way in which we live.

While it is an absolute fact, that why we need light, I also suggest that we need darkness. If we combine between light and darkness, it will be creating the dramatically effect trough the shadow when light hit an object. Darkness adds modulation, contrast, subtlety, excitement, restfulness, and mystery.

Light and dark are not only physical entities, they also have powerful cultural associations, but both throughout the world in the past and present.
Heres, I try to explain the benefit of lighting for architectural product.

Introduction

Light, both natural and artificial, is an aspect of architectural design which can make so much difference to the look, feel and use of any space. Although we are increasingly aware of the importance of light in architectural design, it can be difficult to know where to begin when introducing a new lighting scheme, or maybe just revamping a current one.

In recent years, architects and designers have been inspirited by light to create a range of effects both indoors and outdoors, moving beyond the purely practical, light is manipulated to create dynamic visual displays, enhance moods and alter colour. Retailers have responded to this with a wider range of intriguing light fittings that are often pieces of art in their own right.