New and Underutilized Technology: Spectrally Enhanced Lighting

The following information outlines key deployment considerations for spectrally enhanced lighting within the Federal sector. This information spans:

Benefits

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) research studies show that simply shifting the color of fluorescent lamps from the warmer yellow to the cooler blue end of the color spectrum allows people to see things more clearly and for spaces to appear brighter. By changing the light color to be more like daylight, lighting levels can be reduced to save energy while still achieving the same visual acuity.

Conventional practices use lamps with correlated color temperature (CCT) of 3,000K to 4,100K. Spectrally enhanced lighting uses lamps with a CCT of 5,000K. In T8s with electronically ballasted fluorescent lighting systems, this can translate to a 20% energy savings. In T12s with magnetically ballasted systems, it can translate to a 50% energy savings.

Application

Spectrally enhanced lighting is appropriate in almost any fluorescent lighting system in most building types and settings.

Key Factors for Deployment

Spectrally enhanced lighting can be used in combination with other fluorescent lighting, such as low ambient/task lighting, delamping configurations, and daylighting controls. To maximize occupant acceptance and comfort, it should be done so that color comparison with lower color temperature fluorescent lighting is minimized.

Ranking Criteria

Federal energy savings, cost-effectiveness, and probability of success are ranked 0-5 with 0 representing the lowest ranking and 5 representing the highest ranking. The weighted score is ranked 0-100 with 0 representing the lowest ranking and 100 representing the highest ranking.

Federal Energy Savings Cost Effectiveness Probability of Success Weighted Score
4.9 4.0 4.5 91

Contact

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