LED lighting for the green home???

In the UK, current Building Regulations require that a minimum proportion of lighting installation in new buildings and extensions to existing ones to be non-incandescent. A recent building extension nearby used only one incandescent lamp in its fixed lighting, the remainder being LEDs [Light-emitting diodes] and high-efficiency CFLs [compact fluorescents], to the complete satisfaction of the inspection officers.

LED lamps as drop-in replacements are becoming more common here, though the directional nature of the light coming from high-intensity LEDs lends them to applications where a directional spot lamp might otherwise have been used. It is more common for CFLs, with a wider light spread, to be used, with LEDs taking up the specialised directional lighting where required.

It is usual for specialised LED lighting to rely on lamps that are intended for extra-low-voltage operation. 12VDC is a common supply arrangement, requiring the use of an interposing transformer-rectifier power supply appropriate to the mains voltage in use locally. These supply units are inexpensive, and the use of extra-low-voltages proves attractive to the use of LED lighting in safety-critical areas, such as shower- and bath-rooms.

LEDs in Fl would tend to reduce the heat load presented to building cooling systems slightly compared to the use of incandescents, which may be of economic value.

LEDs in higher latitudes offer less heat savings, as the heat that would otherwise be dissipated from a filament lamp and tending to keep the building warmer will now need to be provided elsewhere.

If high circuit loadings is a current problem (sorry about the pun!), changing to LED and CFL lamps can offer a simple alternative to running additional lighting circuits and the disruption sometimes inflicted on internal décor.

How about a family research trip to the local home improvement stores' lighting sections?

Thanks for the info. The locals have no idea about LED it is still new technology here...

Kelly

Try www.ledsource.com or call them (I don't know the number but it's on the site)... they are very knowledgeable about anything relating to led lighting for architectural purposes and carry many of the top brands available. They are also located in Florida. Good luck.

Thanks I will...

Kelly

Osram / Sylvania has a new series of white LED strip lights out, they are very bright. Not cheap, but they last almost a lifetime. They also have Dot-it lights that are small LED spot lights that you can stick up in convenient places.

http://store.sylvania.com/

My hat of off to you Sir, thank you for making a active contribution to a "green planet" Yes i think the LED rout is very favorable for the following reason: There is a LED war out there between some of the top Co's like Cree, Luxeon and Osram to name a few. I just learned yesterday Osram has broken the 500 lumen's mark in a lab test. 5mm LED's from them are available at 136 lumen's. Tomorrow who knows? but its defiantly the way forward. Research the subject a little more and i think you will be amazed, my suggestion is to visit the sites above mentioned.

Good luck.

Craig.

Thanks for the positive response. I have been working on this GREEN system for 13 years now and it has been a tough haul. When I started gas was .65 a gallon here and people said why are you worried about home electric bills, I told them what the future held and you would have thought I had a tin foil hat on...LOL...

Please check out my web site and let me know what you think of the building system?

www.igreenconstruction.com

Thanks,

Kelly

Its very interesting to discover your works from ur web site.I stay in india & fewer of these technology is evident to be noticed, I am keen on the green building & always want to work on one. I am an architect , but primarily work on landscape projects!

Looking forward for more innovations/info from your end.

Kishore N

We used them in a parking garage retrofit and they look beautiful. But they are still too expensive for us to include in lighting projects, so i don't know. But i would like to know if you find and LED light for your project that you like. God luck

Here is a link to a company that seems to be a good contact...

http://www.creells.com/index.aspx

Kelly