Eco-friendly Lighting Design: definition, standards, types of low energy light bulbs
What role do designers to reduce light pollution? Seen that the effects of entries bright pollutants depend on the direction of emission of the lighting fixtures and the way that they have the different surfaces to distribute their light in various directions, it is essential to minimize possible the emission upward of the apparatus, to reduce the effect of the input light into the atmosphere. A conscientious design should also maximize the fraction of the light emitted from the plant that is actually used to illuminate the surface (called "utilance") so as to minimize leakage of light in the surrounding areas.
This is actually achievable through careful design and careful selection of lighting fixtures based on their features and performance, so thanks to careful lighting designs.
It's called Eco-friendly Lighting Design the matter that aims to raise awareness and culture professionals in the lighting of outdoor lighting with particular attention to the issues of energy conservation and light pollution.
Professional Associations increasingly organized meetings to disseminate news on the topic and update practitioners on the legislation and measures to comply with the limits of the law, while local authorities adopt solutions that are increasingly eco-friendly: first of all by minimizing the dispersion of light by direct part of the lighting fixtures outside of the areas to be illuminated.
In most Italian of the criteria approach to a lighting project are met, where there is a regional law, applying the UNI 10819, and except in the Valle d'Aosta and Piedmont, which states that new plants must comply with the CEI and UNI.
There are also some areas of the territory where it is necessary to ensure safety (see walls of prisons and barracks, embassies, museums and historical monuments), which are necessary for good vertical lighting levels for both circuit TV surveillance closed, both for direct vision by the surveillance personnel. In these cases, it becomes difficult or impossible so that there is a dispersion of light upwards and therefore are necessary exceptions to rules.
Apply regional laws in some cases it becomes difficult, because in addition to being interpreted differently by those who design, are different from each other and impose limits are not comparable: such as the LR Lombardy, which imposes zero values cd / klm 90 ° and over while the LR Veneto speaks dispersion values of the luminous flux upwards <3% of the flux emitted from the apparatus. The complexity increases in those cases where it is necessary to apply more regional laws, such facilities or infrastructure built on extensive territories of more than one region.
Throughout the European Union, by September 2012 should be banned incandescent bulbs [glass bulb and internal filament Ed] to make room for those so-called "low-power" [Ecodesign Directive of energy-using products (EuP)]: a proposal for a regulation of the Commission to remove the bulbs from the market gradually, beginning in 2009 when they were no longer selling the old incandescent light bulbs 100 watt, followed in 2011 by 75-watt incandescent bulbs until elimination from the market of those between 40 and 25 watts in 2012.
According to this proposal for a Regulation, which must still be approved by the European Parliament, consumers will still choose between the long-lasting compact fluorescent bulbs or the efficient halogen lamps that provide the same quality of light from incandescent bulbs with energy savings between 25% and 50%.
But CFLs [known as LFC but often erroneously called neon Ed], the most widespread type of energy saving light bulbs on the market today, have three problems:
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION - generate powerful electromagnetic fields at a short distance from the source. [Source: CRIIREM (Centre de recherche et d'information sur les rayonnements électromagnétiques)]
MERCURY - contained in an amount of 3 to 5 mg, extremely toxic to the brain, nervous system, kidneys and liver. This is despite not say that CFLs have a low mercury content, but you see that is in the amount quoted is more than enough to cause serious damage to your health.
The UV RADIATION - in LFC without the double protective shell, and even some types of halogen lamps that emit UV-B and UV-C traces, harmful to the skin (skin cancer) and eyes (cataracts) , until the appearance of allergic symptoms on the face and / or injuries similar to burns from the sun [source: British Association of Dermatologists]
Then encountered other problems related to the use of LFC as the flicker of light that can cause headaches, eye fatigue and concentration problems, and the high percentage of the blue component of the light that would decrease the production of melatonin, which in turn cause of sleep disorders, cancers, heart attacks, etc.. A study published in June 2008 by the American Journal of Industrial Medicine is learned that the LFC can increase up to 5 times the risk of contracting cancer!
The alternative would seem unavoidable then the LEDs that contain silica dust, do not contain harmful gases and toxic substances - in contrast to fluorescent and discharge lamps containing metal halide and sodium vapor - and do not emit UV rays and IR rays, which are harmful to eyes and skin to direct exposures.
But here's a notation that will bring down some eco-myth: halide lamps (or iodides) metal - better known as LED white light - are sources emit a broad spectrum light, white, which pollutes all spectral bands and particular emit a lot of blue light, as seen, due to the suppression of the nocturnal production of melatonin.
The use of these broad-spectrum lamps (instead of the sodium with emission peak at 590 nm) could make the roads less safe for drivers over 60 years of age [source Blue Sky Organization].
Keep in mind that lighting design is constantly evolving and sustainable progress and therefore it is said that the experts are not already refining the search to improve the performance of LEDs or even towards the creation of new types of lighting elements.
31/07/2011
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Translated via software
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Source:
Italian version of CercaGeometra.it