light fantastic

Saving the planet by turning the street lights down clearly isn't the whole solution to global warming and the need to reduce greenhouse gases. However, with an increasing concern and awareness around the world of these issues, lighting experts are developing energy-efficient technologies.

A new invention now available from Sylvania Lighting offers a combination of reduced energy consumption, extended lamp life and uniform, improved illuminance. Sylvania's lighting control unit, developed by engineers Dr Richard Dluzniak and Brian Howell, is ideal for applications such as street, industrial and public lighting, and sports facilities, prolonging the lamp life of high-intensive discharge lamps by up to 50% and achieving energy savings of up to 25%.

The major difference between the newly developed Sylvania Environ Control Gear System utilising Active Reactor and existing conventional control gear is that under the old system, a lighting design had to allow for a reduction in lamp and luminaire output over time, resulting in excess redundant light and excess power consumption in the initial stages before, over time, it faded to the required levels. The Active Reactor, on the other hand, monitors and controls lamps to ensure they always operate at the required level, hence the power savings and increased lamp life. And, as a result of the increased life span of the lights, maintenance savings are also significant.

The Active Reactor has been tested on street lighting in a Melbourne suburb over the past three years and research shows a 23% reduction in power consumption and none of the devices failed. It is now being installed by the City of Melbourne in Collins Street and other areas. The reactors have been shown to pay for themselves in three to four years and to last about 12 years, offering further economy.

Sylvania Lighting, a subsidiary of lighting company Gerard Lighting, has the Australian and New Zealand distribution rights for the reactor.

For more information, contact Sylvania Lighting, Locked Bag 9, Gosford, NSW 2250, phone (02) 4328 0600, fax (02) 4328 2605. Email: sylvania@sla.net.au. Website: www.sla.net.au.

Story by: Trendsideas