News Release
Acuity Brands' Lithonia Lighting Provides Guidelines For Selecting Quality Indoor Ambient LED
Lighting Systems
ATLANTA, Oct 07, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -Acuity Brands, a market leader in innovative energy efficient lighting and control solutions, via its Lithonia
Lighting unit, has developed LED lighting system selection criteria for indoor, general ambient
applications. These guidelines were created to help the lighting industry identify high quality solutions
that will effectively deliver on the promise of the benefits of LEDs for years to come.
"Indoor LED lighting has hit the lighting mainstream and certainly has many benefits, including energy
savings, extended life expectancy, reduced maintenance and improved sustainability. However, if the LED
lighting does not perform as expected, then the benefits are never realized," said Dave Ranieri, Vice
President and General Manager, Lithonia Lighting(R) Commercial Indoor Products. "It is essential to
conduct a thorough review of indoor LED luminaires using six general performance criteria prior to
making a final purchase decision."
Guideline #1:Standard Criteria: Even though LED lighting is a relatively new technology, standard
evaluation criteria still apply. Use basic lighting specification tenets to determine lighting quality,
efficiency and aesthetics. For example, the proposed LED lighting solution should be better at delivering
energy savings over time than the system being replaced or any available standard linear, compact
fluorescent or other general lighting options. To be considered, the LED lighting solution should
incorporate the design aesthetic of the application and complement the interior space.
Guideline #2:Thermal Management: Determine how heat is managed in the overall LED lighting
system. Even though LEDs run cooler than they did just a couple of years ago, thermal management is
still fundamental to the performance of a solid state lighting system. Heat affects the efficacy of the
luminaire source, system life expectancy and the color quality and consistency of LEDs. LEDs that run on
the hot end of their design range will degrade faster and more unpredictably than those that are running
cooler.
Criteria #3: Color Quality: Until the Color Quality Scale - a new industry standard that will more
effectively measure LED lamps across multiple color quality aspects - is completed, use the color rending
index (CRI) to determine color quality. An indoor LED fixture for general ambient lighting should have a
minimum CRI of 80.
Ask the luminaire manufacturer how color consistency is managed using binning (sorting), color mixing
and/or controls. The process of manufacturing white LEDs is inherently inconsistent relative to color
quality and requires rigorous production controls to ensure high quality and consistency are maintained
through binning.
Criteria #4:Lumen Output: Determine theLED system'sdelivered lumens and system efficacy or lumens
per watt (LPW). This information will enable you to determine if an LED solution can meet your lighting
objectives effectively and efficiently. Check the manufacturer's published data for this information and
ensure that it has been derived in accordance with IESNA LM-79-08.
Criteria #5:Adaptability: Research the adaptability of the LED lighting system. Once LED luminaires are
installed and despite their long-life, it should be easy to replace or upgrade components as well as
reconfigure the existing system if the interior space is updated or re-designed.
Criteria #6: Digital Lighting Controls: Use digital lighting controls whenever possible to achieve
maximum benefits. LED luminaires should be "control-friendly" and become more efficient as they dim.
LED lighting should also be fully compatible with occupancy sensors, daylight harvesting controls, manual
dimming and full-scale energy management systems. Insist on compatibility testing or compatibility proof
before venturing too far into a specification involving controls. Otherwise, if all "electronic components"
are not in sync, multiple commissioning problems and/or a drop off in dimming capability often result.
For more information about indoor ambient LED lighting systems, visit www.lithonia.com/RTLED or
www.facebook.com/LithoniaLighting. You can also follow Acuity Brands'Lithonia Lighting at
twitter.com/lithoniaLED.
About Acuity Brands
Acuity Brands, Inc., is a North American market leader and one of the world's leading providers of
luminaires, lighting control systems and related products and services with fiscal year 2010 net sales of
over $1.6 billion. The Company's lighting and system control product lines include Lithonia Lighting(R),
Holophane(R), Peerless(R), Mark Architectural Lighting(TM), Hydrel(R), American Electric Lighting(R),
Gotham(R), Carandini(R), RELOC(R), MetalOptics(R), Antique Street Lamps(TM), Tersen(R), Synergy(R)
Lighting Controls, Sensor Switch(R), Lighting Control & Design(TM), and ROAM(R). Headquartered in
Atlanta, Georgia, Acuity Brands employs approximately 6,000 associates and has operations throughout
North America, Europe and Asia.
SOURCE: Acuity Brands, Inc.
Acuity Brands, Inc.
Jennifer Manocchio, 910-772-1688
jennifer@sweeneypr.com
or
Samantha McLarty, 770-860-3917
samantha.mclarty@lithonia.com