#flourescent lamps

[lightsourcesinc]

LightSources and our European partner LightTech, offer industries worldwide a range of effective solutions for air sterilization and odor control.

Color Rendering index (CRI) is a rating scale to assign the effectiveness of a light source in rendering colors, compared with natural daylight.  A CRI of 100 is equal to natural daylight referring to the highest ability of color rendering which is by the sun itself.  On the contrary, a low CRI of 50 or less means that the light source does not render colors very well.  An acceptable CRI in fluorescent lighting is 80 to 95, which equates to an excellent color rendering ability.  

Where is CRI Important in Industry?

Knowing the CRI of your lighting has great benefits and will provide competitive advantages in certain industrial applications.  For example, in the jewelry store you want your lighting to reflect the full spectrum of lighting when exposed to diamonds and jewels, showcasing your items and making them more appealing and desirable.  

A high CRI index used in clothing displays makes a big difference in the appearance of clothing, casting an appealing glow in the right displays to reveal vibrant color schemes.  Food displays in restaurants, showcasing primed aged meats or delectable desserts can make the difference in a consumer’s decision to appease their appetite. Whatever your lighting application, do not underestimate the power of pleasing, high quality lighting with a high color rendering index.  

LCD Lighting, a valued partner company to The LightSources Group, has developed proprietary color rendering index technology with more rare-earth tri-phosphors revealing natural true colors.  With advanced technology, LightSources and LCD Lighting can develop custom colors for specific requirements in various applications.  

Fluorescent Lamp Color Specification

With more than 100 various shades of white, it is important to choose the right color coordinates for your fluorescent lighting application. Even the slightest variation will make a difference in many different environments.  The most effective method of defining the color is with color coordinates.  

We can choose an existing phosphor blend with exact color coordinates for your application, or we can develop a unique phosphor blend just for your specific needs.

LightSources and its affiliated companies – LCD Lighting, Voltarc, LightTech, and Cerlux represent the leading high-tech designers and manufacturers in the lamp industry today. Our standard lamps and components as well as customized products offer high-quality solutions to meet our partner’s unique needs.  We invite you to contact us to learn more about our wide selection of lamps.

[vaporlok-blog-blog]

New Hybrid Light Bulb Features Incandescent Bulb Shape but Still Requires Careful Handling and Proper Disposal

General Electric's new hybrid halogen-compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs look like a spiral frosted CFL light bulb snugly fit inside a clear glass bulb shaped like a typical incandescent light bulb. Another feature that will appeal to consumers is the light bulb’s capability to light up quicker than many traditional CFLs. When switched on, the hybrid bulb's halogen portion lights up within a half-second. Then once the CFL portion has warmed and brightened to full luminescence, the halogen portion turns itself off. GE has also claimed that each hybrid bulb only contains one milligram of mercury, which is a significant difference compared to the four milligrams of mercury in the average CFL light bulb. However, less mercury does not indicate that consumers should neglect to handle fluorescent and CFL light bulbs with care. Furthermore, these bulbs need to be properly packaged and recycled when broken or burned out. Mercury-containing waste that isn’t properly recycled poses a serious environmental and health concern. Safe packaging reduces the threat of mercury vapor emitted from broken lamps.

Read more at the VaporLok Blog.

[vaporlok-blog-blog]

Recycling Fluorescent Lamps

The EPA estimates recycling rates of fluorescent lamps at only 20 to 25 percent, leaving the majority to be placed in dumpsters and eventually end up in landfills—where they may emit hazardous mercury vapor into the environment. The consumer recycling rate has been estimated to be even lower—possibly at less than 2 percent. According to one study, mercury air emissions could be lowered by 30 percent if recycling rates are increased to 50 percent and improvements in handling are made to lower losses from breakage. (1) Consumers can choose to recycle used lamps in several different ways. Lamps can be sent to a recycling facility via truck, UPS or FedEx® in bulk or through pre-paid shipping recycling box programs—which provide simple online ordering, tracking and compliance documentation for the proper management of mercury-containing items and other types of Universal Waste. Mercury-containing waste that isn’t properly recycled poses a serious environmental and health concern. Safe recycling facilities exist, but should be encouraged by new rules and regulations. New legislation should also ensure that used fluorescent lamps are packaged in configurations proven to effectively contain mercury vapor emitted from broken lamps.

Reference: 1. 3. Cain, A.; Disch, S.; Twaroski, C.; Reindl, J.; Case, C.R. Substance Flow Analysis of Mercury Intentionally Used in Products in the United States; J. Ind. Ecol. 2007, 11, 61-75.

Read more at the VaporLok Blog.