Specialty and Architectural Lighting

When it comes to lighting retrofits, we often get focused on utility rebates and energy savings to the exclusion of all other issues. If the energy company is offering $10 per bulb and $20 per fixture, it seems like a no-brainer to go ahead with a complete retrofit, right? Rebates...

While most new digital projectors ship with a lamp manufactured by either Philips, Osram Sylvania, Ushio, Phoenix or Panasonic, Epson has forged it's own path with its UHE lamp for Epson projectors. Epson calls their lamp the "Twin Optimized Reflection Lamp or E-TORL". To improve optical efficiency Epson engineers focused...

Over a year ago, we published an article on 5 Tips to Prolong your LCD Projector Lamp's Effective Life. That article took a look at issues like using gloves or a cloth to replace a bulb, not moving the projector when the bulb is still hot, cleaning the air filters,...

Projector overheating is the primary cause of premature LCD, DLP and LCOS projector lamp failure. The high wattage lamps that provide the lumen output for crisp images on the screen also generate a significant amount of heat. If this heat is not effectively removed from inside the projector, lamp life...

Projector lamp life is affected by temperature, altitude, air pressure, humidity and physical impact. Here are some best practices to help extend lamp life: (1) Once the projector is turned on, wait at least five minutes before turning it off to allow the fan to cool the unit. (2) Do...

"I just replaced that bulb. It's already burnt out? The previous one lasted two years!" Yes, we've all had that feeling, as a light bulb we screwed into a socket a few months ago unexpectedly burns out. The usual response is a little annoyance, paranoia about the fixture or electrical...

Currently, T8 fluorescent tubes dominate the commercial and institutional lighting sector both in number of lamps and in lumen output. The USDOE estimated in 2010 that there were 1 billion fluorescent fixtures in the U.S. It is no surprise that LED manufacturers have focused on this potentially huge retrofit market...

If you've ever had to work for 16 months in an office with overhead fluorescent tubes that flicker or buzz, you know how annoying they can be. If you work in an office with flickering lights AND buzzing ballasts, you may have a permanent headache (in addition to your boss)....

This is the latest in our short series on benefits of lighting retrofits. In the first article, we examined reducing load on regional utility companies and explored why it makes economic sense for utilities to offer rebates for lower energy usage, rather than simply upgrading equipment to meet higher energy...

Last week, we started a series on the benefits of LED retrofits for consumers and businesses, mostly focused on the commercial sector. As LED bulb prices have come crashing down from a couple years ago, retrofits are becoming more economically feasible by the day. Our first article took a look...

Yesterday, we looked at some of the benefits of lighting retrofits, mainly from the perspective of utility companies. The high cost of maintenance and new construction makes energy subsidies and rebates attractive for power companies, which can reduce the load on their legacy systems by encouraging residential and commercial end...

Half a decade ago, when LEDs were either cost prohibitive if available or simply unavailable as replacements, retrofitting was a pipe dream for commercial property managers. But with prices down as much as 90% for LEDs from a few years ago, switching to LED is no longer a huge up-front...

The UHP lamp (ultra high pressure lamp, usually mercury arc) refers to projector lamps with an internal pressure of over 3000 lbs per square inch. The acronym also stands for ultra high performance. Originally developed by Philips in 1995, it is a common light source for digital data / video...

Most people view their electric bill as a fixed cost, but having such a complacent view could cost you hundreds if not thousands of dollars per year. You can significantly reduce your expenses and help the environment by making just a couple changes, no matter if you rent or own...

Cities and states can enjoy numerous benefits by switching from high pressure sodium to LED lights in street lighting fixtures and traffic signal lights. These benefits included better visibility for drivers, lower power consumption for street lights, and reduced maintenance when compared to the old lighting technology. On the negative...