DarkoLighting Celebra

DarkoLighting fue seleccionado luego de un largo proceso para el suministro de luminarias del proyecto Celebra. El proyecto de iluminación fue realizado por la Arq. Eli Sirling

Celebra es un proyecto de vanguardia dentro de Zona America que se destaca por la sustentabilidad y la utilizacion de energias renovables y LEDs entre otras cosas. Celebra se encuentra asimismo en proceso de certificación LEED Green Bulding.

El sueño de todo arquitecto es proponer una gran idea y lograrla sin limitaciones en cuanto a su creatividad.

Llevado a cabo por los Arquitectos Carlos Ott y Carlos Ponce de Leon, el Edificio Celebra supone un hito arquitectónico de la más alta calidad internacional y una expresión de las nuevas tendencias mundiales en soluciones tecnológicas y constructivas, requeridas por muchas de las empresas para instalarse en el país.

Con más de 10.000m2 de espacio empresarial concebido según estándares del más alto nivel de calidad y los máximos cuidados al medio ambiente, Celebra, sin lugar a dudas, será un paso importante en la complementación de un Parque de Negocios y Tecnología con elevados índices de competitividad, regionales e internacionales.

Tanto por la tecnología constructiva empleada, los materiales, las soluciones al manejo racional de la energía, el uso adecuado del predio y de su entorno inmediato, el tratamiento especial del agua potable y la minimización en el consumo de combustibles fósiles*, el edificio Celebra se convertirá en un ícono de innovación en el campo de los edificios verdes en el Uruguay.

La Sustentabilidad y algunos de sus factores:

• Paneles fotovoltaicos situados sobre parte de los estacionamientos vehiculares para lograr una reducción significativa en la cantidad de energía que se utiliza desde la red pública
• La electricidad adicional generada será usada para la iluminación propia del estacionamiento, con capacidad para
• Iluminación de tipo LED de alta eficiencia en el edificio y su entorno.
325 vehículo 

Mas información en  http://web.zonamerica.com/es/about/celebra/

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Las lámparas LED ya llegan a hogares de clase media

Están de moda, consumen menos y duran más. Fabricantes y vendedores dicen que la quita de subsidios a la luz, entre otros motivos, multiplicó por cinco su venta. Y esperan que crezca aún más. Son caras, pero ofrecen mejor relación costo-beneficio.

Aparecieron hace más de medio siglo en las pantallas de calculadoras y relojes digitales. Poco después mutaron en esas lucecitas coloridas que titilan en carteles , computadoras y todo tipo de aparatos. Hoy ya iluminan televisores, monumentos, hoteles, negocios y oficinas. Y ahora, eficientes e imparables , empiezan a invadir los hogares de una clase media ávida de soluciones paraenfrentar la quita de subsidios al consumo de electricidad. Con la promesa de un ahorro de hasta el 80% en la factura de luz, las principales empresas del sector prevén terminar el año habiendo quintuplicado sus ventas de lámparas LED. Y si hasta hace poco la demanda se limitaba a gobiernos y empresas, hoy las compras de LED para el hogar ya son una realidad, mayormente en los barrios que ya sufren los aumentos.

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Controlling LEDs Part 8 - What is the minimum or maximum number of LED fixtures/lamps that can be connected to one dimmer?

What is the minimum or maximum number of LED fixtures/lamps that can be connected to one dimmer?

A common problem with LED system operation involves overloading the driver. LED drivers are rated for a maximum load (in volts, amps, and/or watts) that must not be exceeded. Similarly, some LED drivers may not perform well if too little load is put on them.

The number of lamps able to be installed on a single phase control dimmer may seem like an easy question to answer. However, it is not as simple as looking at your 600-watt dimmer and dividing 600 by the 15-watt LED lamp you have selected to determine that 60 lamps can be used on a circuit. You may only be able to use 100 watts of the LED load on a dimmer rated for 600 watts. While the LED lamp may only draw 10 watts continuously, it may have a start-up inrush current or repetitive current during every half-cycle that makes it appear much worse. That 15 watt LED lamp will appear to the dimmer as a 100 watt incandescent load, so if you use more than 90 watts of that LED, you will overload the dimmer.

Neglecting this transient current can put significant stress on the dimmer and can cause premature product failure or undesired system performance (such as excessive acoustic noise). This transient electrical stress may limit the maximum number of lamps you can install on one dimmer. The average stress that has been observed is the equivalent of a 100W incandescent, even for LED loads that are less than 20W. 

A minimum number of fixtures may be required to operate a dimmer because of the 25-watt to 40-watt minimum load that most incandescent dimmers require to operate correctly under all conditions. When using incandescent bulbs, the minimum load requirement was easily met with usually only a single bulb. However, with LEDs, four or more loads may be needed on a dimmer in order to meet the required minimum load.

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Controlling LEDs Part 6 - What is the dimming range of the product?

Incandescent lamps dim to below one percent perceived light, which looks like an orange filament glow. The dimming range of an LED lamp or fixture can vary greatly from one device to another.
Some may dim to a minimum level of only 50 percent, while a different product may dim to one percent. Additionally, manufacturers will quote measured light numbers, but consumers are familiar with perceived light. 

What is the difference?


Measured light output is the quantifiable value of light measured by a light meter or similar device. This is the dimming percentage indicated on LED product specification sheets.


Perceived light is the amount of light that your eye interprets because of pupil dilation. The eye’s pupil dilates at lower light levels, causing the amount of light to be perceived higher than measured (e.g., 20 percent measured light equals 45 percent perceived light). The equation for determining perceived light is to take the square root of the measured light percentage (e.g. √0.2 = 0.45). You need to select the dimming range of your fixture or lamp that will be suitable for your application. A product that dims to 20 percent measured light (45 percent perceived) wouldn’t make sense in a media room, but may be the energy-saving solution necessary for an office. If an LED fixture or lamp spec sheet does not state the dimming range, you should contact the manufacturer for that important piece of information.

It is important to know that the dimming range of a product is based solely on the driver. The integral driver will determine the dimmability of a screw-in LED retrofit lamp and an external driver will determine the dimmability of an LED fixture. Each dimmer may have varying features that will affect your ability to trim out flicker if it exists and minimum load requirements, but it will not affect the dimmability of a product. The driver will determine the low-end light level and the performance. Finally, be aware that the dimming  range of a single product may vary based on what control is used.

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Controlling LEDs Part 5 - What type of LED product am I using: an LED lamp or LED fixture?

LEDs are low-voltage devices. Therefore, additional electronic components are typically required to convert the line-voltage power to a low voltage for the LEDs. These electronics may also interpret control signals, and dim the LEDs accordingly. These devices are referred to as LED drivers.

LED luminaires come in two distinct types: the LED bulb (also called an LEDi or retrofit lamp) and the LED fixture.

LED bulbs have Edison-base sockets and are meant to replace standard incandescent or screw-in CFL bulbs. The bases of these bulbs have integral drivers that determine if they are dimmable, and if so, what the dimming performance is.

LED fixtures can vary from cove lights to down lights and usually have an external driver. Some fixture manufacturers offer different driver options on the same fixture to support different control technologies or applications (such as dimmable vs. non-dimmable).

There are two different types of drivers. LED drivers may be constant voltage types (usually 10V, 12V and 24V) or constant current types (350mA, 700mA and 1A).

Just as their names would suggest, a constant current driver provides a constant current, such as 700mA, to a pre-made LED array that is designed to operate at or below that current level. This is great for a down light, sconce or other LED fixtures that use only one light source per driver (much like a fluorescent lamp with its associated ballast). Note that some drivers support multiple currents, making them more flexible when designing a fixture.

A constant voltage driver provides a constant voltage to one or more LED arrays connected in parallel. A constant voltage driver is used in areas where you may have a variable amount of fixtures, such as a cove or under-cabinet light. These are similar, or sometimes identical, to electronic or magnetic low voltage power supplies (such as those used with MR16 lamps) and often have 12V and 24V outputs.

These two types of drivers are NOT interchangeable, and it is the design of the LED array that determines which driver is appropriate. Often this is application-based, but it is still the configuration of the LEDs that determines if a constant current or a constant voltage driver is needed. Some drivers are manufactured to operate specific LED devices or arrays, while others can operate most commonly available LEDs. Additionally, the long-life benefits of LEDs would be reduced if the driver was not designed for an equally long life.

The instantaneous response of LEDs to changing current makes them highly susceptible to flicker, especially compared to incandescent sources. One of the most important LED driver features to understand is the quality of the DC output voltage of the driver. Finally, be cautioned that remote mounting of the driver could result in potential voltage drops, power losses, or noise susceptibility on the DC wiring that must be properly accounted for.

Extracted from "Controlling LEDs" Copyright 01/2011 Lutron Electronics Co. Inc. P/N 367-2035 REV. B

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Controlling LEDs Part 4 - Five questions when trying to dim an LED product?

Before you commit yourself or your customer to investing in LED technology you need to understand its limitations, especially when it comes to dimming control compatibility. Many LED luminaire manufacturers are new to the lighting industry and are not familiar with the multitude of control types and the corresponding product design requirements that accompany them. This has resulted in “dimmable” products that do not work as claimed, that never turn off completely, or that flicker. These are major problems that need to be addressed so that consumers do not associate all LEDs with poor performance and become averse to using them. High-performing LED products do exist, but you need to ask the right questions to make sure you have chosen one of those products appropriately.

Answering the following five questions will allow you to align your expectations with the potential
performance of your selected LED dimming system.

1. What type of LED product am I using: an LED lamp or LED fixture?
2. What is the dimming range of the product?
3. What is the dimming performance of the product?
4. What is the minimum or maximum number of fixtures/lamps that can be connected to one dimmer?
5. On what type of control does the LED product operate?

The following articles detail what you need to know to answer these questions.

Stay tuned...

Extracted from "Controlling LEDs" Copyright 01/2011 Lutron Electronics Co. Inc. P/N 367-2035 REV. B

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Un edificio de “energía positiva”

“De Bonne Energie” es una construcción de Grenoble, Francia, cuya particularidad es la de ser un edificio de “energía positiva”, es decir, que produce más energía de la que consume.

Este edificio de 1.600 m2 alberga oficinas que poseen una demanda de energía menor que la producción de sus placas fotovoltaicas.Se utilizaron dos “claves” para lograr esta maravilla: Reducción de la necesidad de energía y generación energética mediante placas fotovoltaicas.

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Controlling LEDs Part 3 - Why Dim LEDs?

Similar to fluorescent, incandescent and other conventional light sources, dimming LEDs saves energy at a roughly 1:1 ratio. This means that if you dim LEDs down to 50% of their light output you will save nearly 50% of your energy usage. So not only do you save by using a more efficient source, you save even more energy by dimming LEDs.

Dimming LEDs also makes them run cooler, which should extend the life of the electronic components of the driver, as well as the phosphor on the LEDs. This will extend their life, doubling or tripling the LEDs lumen maintenance. Research is ongoing to better quantify the relationship of dimming LEDs and lifetime extension.


Dimming any lamp, be it incandescent, CFL or LED enhances ambiance, so whether you are in a restaurant, theater or presentation space, you can create the environment that the lighting designer intended.

Dimming offers many other benefits, including:

• Space Flexibility 
• Dimming control systems provide for space flexibility so that what may be an office space today could easily be converted into a call center tomorrow, or a gymnasium can be used as a theater or cafeteria just by adjusting the control of your lighting. Your home and your workplace should be designed to complement your needs. As your needs change throughout the day, your lighting should adapt as well; bright to read a book, but dim for computer use. Whether you are at home or at work, lighting control can create a comfortable atmosphere to support your activities throughout the day.
• Enhanced Safety 
• Lighting controls can enhance the safety and security of your home. You can control both interior and exterior lights from the car as you approach your driveway to ensure optimal visibility and can even connect to security systems to turn on lights in case of an emergency.
• Increased Productivity 
• Lighting control also increases productivity allowing the user to select the level he/she needs to reduce eye strain and fatigue so that they can work at peak performance for more of the day, or so students can concentrate better and learn more at home or at school. 

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Controlling LEDs Part 2 - Advantages and Limitations of LEDs for General Illumination

LEDs Advantages for General Illumination

• High Efficacy (Lumens per Watt) LED-based lighting fixtures can achieve efficacies ranging from 25 LPW to over 80 LPW, compared to an incandescent efficacy of 5-10 LPW.
• Longevity LEDs can achieve useful lifetimes ranging from 25,000 hours to up to 100,000 hours, compared to ~1000 hours for an incandescent. 
• LEDs do not contain hazardous materials as compared to mercury vapor in CFLi bulbs.

LEDs Limitations for General Illumination

• Higher cost High Brightness LEDs, necessary for general illumination, are expensive. They also require electronic drivers to convert conventional AC voltage to discrete DC voltages for the LED arrays.
• Limited Applications Due to the relatively young technology and timeline for wide acceptance, LED-based lighting fixtures are not always available for every application or aesthetic requirement. 
• Controls compatibility Due to the wide range of LED-based lighting product types, not all LED lamps are dimmable, and the ones that can be dimmed may be limited in dimming performance and system compatibility. 

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Controlling LEDs Part 1

Ten years ago, many people didn’t even know what an LED was. Today, they’re the new hot item on the shelves – and everyone wants to use them. Often, designers do not know how to control LEDs or they have had negative experiences working with them. This articles will provide a brief overview of what an LED is and how to use LEDs for general illumination applications and the advantages and limitations of doing so. It will also go into detail about why you should consider dimming LEDs and what questions need to be answered in order to dim LEDs properly to meet your expectations. The overall goal of this article is to make you more comfortable with using LEDs
on your projects.


What is an LED?


A Light Emitting Diode (LED) is an electronic device that produces light when an electrical current is passed through it. The wavelength (or color) of light that is emitted is dependent on the materials from which the LED is made. LEDs are available in many colors, including red, blue, amber, green, and near-UV colors, with lumen outputs ranging from 10 lumens to 200 lumens. The LEDs used predominantly in general illumination applications are “Phosphor Converted Blue” LEDs, which are blue LEDs that have a layer of yellow phosphor placed over the LED. The phosphor absorbs some of the blue light, and emits yellow light. When the unabsorbed blue light mixes with the yellow light it creates what your eye perceives as “white” light.

IMAGE OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF LEDS.

From Controlling_LEDs by LUTRON

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La iluminación más sostenible es la luz del sol

La iluminación más sostenible es la luz del sol

26 de marzo de 2011

La UPC School organiza la conferencia del Lighting Designer Kevan Shawn sobre sostenibilidad e iluminación. Kevan Shaw: “La iluminación más sostenible es la luz del sol”.

¿Estamos preparados para asumir los cambios que supone adoptar una iluminación sostenible? Esta es la pregunta que planteó Kevan Shaw, prestigioso lighting designer y fundador del estudio Kevan Shaw Lighting Design (KSLD), en la conferencia que con el título "Lighting Sustainability as a Design Goal”, ofreció dentro del ciclo Lighting Design que organiza la UPC School con la colaboración de Artemide, empresa líder del sector de la iluminación. En su charla analizó las estrategias necesarias para conseguir la eficiencia energética en el campo de la iluminación de espacios arquitectónicos.

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Continuous-row lighting system and LED for storage and administrative buildings from Zumtobel

Continuous-row lighting system and LED for storage and administrative buildings from Zumtobel

The premises of the Alexander Bürkle Group, an electrical wholesaler, have been expanded. A newly built 2,600 m² warehouse and an adjacent administrative building were fitted with state-of-the-art building services in order to make the most of all available options to ensure environmentally sound as well as economically efficient operation. This also includes the installation of a Zumtobel lighting system in the new storage and office buildings. Thanks to an innovative lighting concept, energy consumption can be reduced while lighting quality is maintained at a consistently high level.

The LED-only lighting system installed in the new offices, including a special solution of Zumtobel’s Crayon LED downlight, emphasises the highly innovative approach of the lighting concept, which is also reflected in comparative analyses: “With the newly installed LED system, the 
reduction in CO2 emitted corresponds to the absorption of 73 trees. With a view to our participation in the ECOFIT programme provided by the city of Freiburg, this was a very important economical aspect for us”, explains Martin Rombach, product manager of Alexander Bürkle GmbH & Co.KG.

Efficient, flexible and low-maintenance, without any compromise in terms of quality – these were the requirements set by the Freiburgbased electrical wholesaler for constructing the new storage and administrative buildings. “Our goal was to achieve high-quality, low-cost illumination in the warehouse. For the new offices, we focused above all on a balanced room lighting concept in line with the present spirit of the time. This is why we opted for the LEDonly lighting system, whose lighting effect and efficiency seemed to be tailor-made just for us”, adds Martin Rombach.

This goes to show that LED solutions are no longer used for purely decorative purposes, but have finally arrived in functional illumination. 

Thanks to innovative LED technology, the Crayon 12W LED downlight is able to achieve the level of a 50W halogen lamp or an 18W compact fluorescent lamp. This allows to replace, without major effort, conventional downlights with more efficient and more durable LED luminaires. The uniform general lighting provided by Crayon, together with its colour stability and excellent energy efficiency, makes the Zumtobel LED downlight a product of choice, especially in public areas. The architecture of the new administrative building proved to be ideal for utilising the benefits of the LED downlight. The concept and design of the new building, as well as turn-key execution, was provided by Freyler, a specialist in industrial architecture based in
Kenzingen.

The three-storey office building with a total floor space of 1,500 m² adjoins the warehouse above the goods-in area and is covered by a high-quality aluminium façade. The office spaces were implemented without any supporting elements, thus allowing for flexible room use. In line with the modern building structure, Zumtobel developed an equally modern office lighting concept based on a special product solution of the Crayon LED downlight: fitted with 48W, 122 square Crayon LED downlights, in the special size of 625 mm, were mounted flush with the ceiling, which ensures flexibility in the use of rooms. The warm light colour of 4000 K not only creates pleasant and uniform ambient lighting; it also boasts a long service life, provides for colour-stable lighting, is maintenance-free and dimmable. “In terms of efficiency and quality, Zumtobel’s LED downlights are an excellent alternative to conventional downlights. A prime example of how modern office lighting can be implemented with LEDs only”, explains Arno Burgert, electrical consultant in charge.

For the purpose of functional and resource saving architecture, numerous skylights have been installed in the warehouse, allowing a maximum of daylight into the room. Artificial lighting is deliberately used only where the level of daylight is insufficient to obtain the required illuminance level.

For ambient lighting in the warehouse, the clients opted for Zumtobel’s tried-and-tested Tecton continuous-row lighting system. The modular continuous-row system provides optimum lighting for industrial premises, ensuring an illuminance level of 300 lx in conformity with relevant standards. It can be expanded in a flexible way, and reflectors and emergency luminaires can be added. In addition, Crayon LED downlights with IP 44 protection were installed in the wet areas. The light is precisely directed to where it is needed without any scattering losses, ensuring a well-lit environment with high visual comfort for the staff members.

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