Efficient Fiber-Optic Lighting Systems

An Ohio-based company, Fiberstars (Nasdaq: FBST) has developed a way to combine lightbulbs with fiber-optics to create lighting systems that consume far less energy than traditional fluorescent or incandescent bulbs. EFO’s (efficient fiber optics) unique non-imaging optics transfer light efficiently from the source to EFO Opticore® fiber. One 70 watt EFO lamp delivers the candlepower of eight 50 watt MR16 EXN Halogen lamps—replacing a total of 400 watts. Fiber optics also do not contain mercury like fluorescents. The Declaration of Independence and Magna Carta are lit by Fiberstars systems because the light source does not emit ultraviolet rays or heat.

Fiberstars' makes EFO-ICE (for commercial refrigerated lighting) fiber optic lighting system for refrigerated supermarket display cases that saves an average of $139 per door annually by reducing electrical consumption for refrigeration and lighting, and by simplifying maintenance. Results of tests showed that Fiberstars EFO-ICE required 1/3 to 1/5 the energy of fluorescent lighting while providing comparable luminance. In refrigeration application it can save one watt of HVAC in every three watts of lighting saved because there is no heat in the light.

Its original product EFO essentially revolves around taming metal halide lights. Metal halide lamps are extremely efficient, capable of putting out 90 lumens per watt of energy. (A lumen is a measure of emitted visible light.) A typical incandescent bulb might produce 15 lumens per watt or less; most of the energy in lightbulbs actually gets converted into heat.

It has mostly sold its EFO  lighting systems for use in niche applications, in part because fiber costs more. Las Vegas hotels have bought them to beam special effects onto ceilings and walls.

CNet via Treehugger

Comments

[Engineer-Poet]

1/3 to 1/5 the energy of fluorescent lighting?  I was under the impression that fluorescents were ~30% efficient.  If so, such levels of improvement are flatly impossible (unless sunlight is used to feed the fibers and is designated "free energy").

[donb]

The "efficiencies" sited are comparing "task lighting" to general illumination. It is always more efficient to put light only where you are working. This is nothing new. But it is usually not very pleasant to walk into a room that is dark except for the spots where you might be working.

However, it does make a lot of sense for refrigeration cases to have the light source external (keeping most of the heat outside) and then piping the light into the refrigerated area.

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[Clive Nicholas]

Anyone helpful, I have been given a light which is fluorescent but which I am not familiar with. It seems to have piping for hard gas as a medium. I have some images of it online at: - www.clivenicholas.com
Any advise welcome as I cannot identify it to find an instructional manual. I have tied before, whereupon I discovered that such items were taken off the market as the plastic cover could heat up if the appliance be left on continuously. Thanks Clive Nicholas.

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[Fiber Optic Guru]

thank you for your info about Fiber-Optic lighting system~I will add this post to my fiber optic related site~:)

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[fibre optic lighting]

It's always good if the lighting systems are efficient. Means it's cheaper and works better.

[Trey Hopson]

That part about the system being able to save energy sounds convincing! This will surely save a lot of money in the long run, but I'm just curious about the initial costs of the fiber optic lighting systems.

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