outdoor
An avenue for creativity
Comments from South Africa’s leading players on the current state of the industry.
With energy consciousness at a level never before seen, how are lighting designers
and manufacturers coping with the demands of their customers?
Q: How are modern interiors, and the
care of all customers concerns to offer them
devoted to lighting, and some of the air
demands of customers, affecting the
sustainable lighting solutions.
conditioning too…
evoloution of lighting?
Lighting companies, with new LED
Shaun Bouchier, Eurolux: Energy efficient
technology, offer most applications up to 80%
Michael Rafferty, Tier One Electronics: As
technologies are at the centre of most of the
energy savings, from quick win retrofit lamps,
an audio visual distributor we have noticed
emerging lighting trends. Fifteen per cent
to new lighting solutions and even concepts.
a dramatic change in the market. Customers
of the electricity used in most homes goes
Apart from the energy savings, LED offers no
are no longer look for the huge hi-fi system
towards keeping the lights on and that number
UV nor IR in the beam, no harmful susbstances,
that was so popular years back. Now the
jumps to 25% for commercial buildings. South
long lifetime, many colours and easy controls
minimalist, sleek approach is definitely the
Africa has also begun introducing energy
for dimming.
preferred option. Customers no longer look
for the largest and most outrageous systems
efficiency requirements for lighting, aiming
Still for customers to benefit from all these,
to help people keep their energy bills down
lighting manufacturers should take care of the
and the same holds true for lighting and
and soften their impact on the environment.
thermal management of the LED chips inside
general modern decor. We have seen a trend
Even the consumers selection of fixtures is
their lamps or luminaires. These small chips
where customers are looking for smaller yet
now based, in part, on their compatibility with
emit heat inside the chip, and this needs to be
most effective solutions with a trendy modern
energy efficient lamps, whether it is fluorescent
extracted from it. Otherwise it becomes too
design. And with that came the birth of the
or LED light sources. Local consumers demand
hot and its lifetime is heavily impacted, along
Wireless Light Bulb Speaker, a system to suit
energy efficient lighting options that do not
with delivering less light. So manufacturers
the needs of the modern customer.
compromise on décor preferences – this is
have to develop new competencies. Note
undoubtedly a huge driver of the lighting
that some electronical companies push their
Q: Are lighting trends rather predictable
market and will continue to be for the
products into markets without having a
and stagnant, or do you believe that
forseeable future.
clue about lighting… Also, some cheap LED
consumers will always have something
solutions are offered in South Africa – these
new to look forward to?
Mark Greenhill, Osram: The biggest influence
only offer a blueish, cool light, and often little
Eurolux: Fortunately, the evolution of LEDs
is finding a balance between good efficent
light too, and doubtful lifetime due to poor
and other energy saving technologies has
light that is cost effective to run. In many
thermal management.
given both architects and consumers alike a
applications, light output should not be
A quick mention of quick win retrofit LED
new focus with regards to designs, layouts
compromised and hence installing intelligent
lamps. It is best for manufacturers to make sure
and the like. With traditional lamp sources
lighting control systems is advisable to better
that their lamps perfectly fit existing luminaires
now available in halogen, CFL and LED
manage the lighting. LED light sources are
and deliver good lighting. Allying innovative
versions, one is spoilt for choice between
making huge inroads and one must make sure
LED technology, with ‘old’ phosphors
staying traditional or experimenting with
that the LED product can replace the current
technology as used in fluorescent lamps, allows
modern contempary fixtures.
light source or reach the desired lighting
users to benefit from warm, stable light, which
For the foreseeable future I believe the
levels. I still believe that LED’s are application
is dimmable and offers good colour rendition
lighting industry’s focus will shift from light
dependent and many traditional lighting
of interior decor and objects.
source replacement to new fixture installation.
products are still benefical in many aspects
LED technology evolves quickly and it
However, the lighting industry is such a
requires agility from the manufacturer. Philips
dynamic arena that we will undoubtedly see
have predicted that by 2015, LED technonology
from light output to energy efficency.
continued development and changes.
Jacques Serge