Lighting & Environment
New Halogen Threat (IAEEL 1/98) A new generation of mains-voltage reflector lamps designed to compete with low-voltage halogen lamps promises cheaper and simpler residential luminaires.
Bringing Back the Stars (IAEEL 2/96) Sky-glow conscious lighting design is not merely aimed at preserving dark night skies. Another major consideration is that electricity and finite natural resources be used wisely, says guest author Nigel Pollard.
New HPS lamp not in Europe (IAEEL 1/95) During summer 1994, Osram-Sylvania launched a high-pressure sodium lamp in North America in which the mercury content had been cut by 97%. The lamp is intended for direct retrofit in existing luminaires, and provides a more environmentally sound alternative to the traditional HPS lamps.
0%-mercury retrofit HPS (IAEEL 1/95) It may seem like a brave move: While Osram is hesitant to introduce their low-mercury lamp on the European market, Sylvania Lighting International (SLI) - the two companies are not related -launched a direct-retrofit high-pressure sodium lamp that contains no mercury at all.
Mercury-cut increases efficiency (IAEEL 4/94) Philips recently introduced a technology that decreases the mercury content in their tri-phosphor fluorescent lamps by 80% while reducing the light depreciation of the lamps substantially.
Drastic cut in mercury (IAEEL 3/94) Osram-Sylvania in the US has managed to reduce the mercury content in its high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamp by 97%. Unlike other attempts at developing a low-mercury HPS lamp, Osram-Sylvania claims to have achieved this decrease without compromising efficacy or the quality of the light emitted from the lamp.
More on mercury (IAEEL 1/94) Although all fossil fuels contain mercury, the amounts vary considerably. The highest content is found in low-quality lignite, which contains about twenty-times as much mercury as natural gas.
Mercury: A Broader Perspective (IAEEL 3/93) Although most lamps contain mercury, efficient lighting reduces the mercury (and other pollution) released by electric power plants. Meanwhile, recovery/reuse efforts and legislation on lamp disposal are becoming important parts of the lighting landscape.
Mercury and lighting: Managing the problem (IAEEL 3/93) There are several ways to approach the problem of mercury in light sources. The most advanced lamp-collection and mercury recovery program is found in Germany, where soon 70 til 80% of all discarded lamps will be collected.