Noverber 19, 2009

Energy-efficient new-generation LED lighting for Halton’s chilled beams

With the rapid development of LED technology, good general lighting can now be achieved with extremely energy-efficient systems. Halton is introducing new active service beams with LED lights that are considerably more energy-efficient than earlier LED generations. The breakthrough is based on co-operation between Finland’s Easy Led Oy and OSRAM Opto Semiconductors.

Halton, which is globally respected for its chilled beams, introduced lighting as part of its chilled beam solutions early on, in the 1990s. ‘The active service beam product family is highly suitable for sustainable construction, and it has proved very popular in Europe. We have long been looking for suitable LED lighting to make it even more energy-efficient. Now we have found it,’ says Mikko Lietzen, product manager at Halton.

Easy Led Oy specialises in LED lighting, and the company has patented a power management unit that can be connected to different types of management systems. It ensures a very high lighting efficiency: over 90%. The new system is more energy-efficient and durable than today’s LED generations. The LED components integrated into Halton’s chilled beams have been manufactured by one of the world’s most renowned suppliers, OSRAM Opto Semiconductors, who can ensure high and consistent component quality. Efficient LED lights combine with the new-generation power management system to offer a powerful and disturbance-free general lighting solution with a long service life.

Energy-efficiency and well-being with LED lighting
The new generation of LEDs can be used to implement environmentally sustainable general lighting that supports well-being. LED lights do not flicker , and the light does not reflect from a monitor screen, which are improvements over traditional lighting. Good general lighting does not strain the eyes, and it improves the profitability of work.

The challenge with earlier LED lights was the lack of white lights with warm tones. The new-generation LED lights, by contrast, enable Halton to offer an extensive colour scale, from warm tones to lights with cool white tones. The standard colour temperatures are 4000K, 5600K and 6500K, but an RGB option is available also, which can be used to create 16.8 million special colour options.

LED lights enable a completely new kind of design for chilled beams. The length or width of the beams can be tailored to match the architecture of the customer's premises. The lights can be narrow, wide, straight, or curved. Also the light distribution can be adapted, via lens technology.

The greatest benefit of LED lighting in comparison to traditional lights is a considerably lower lifetime cost. The LEDs used by Halton are significantly more energy efficient as fluorescent tubes. The energy‑efficiency can be further enhanced through the use of lighting control systems.

‘In addition, LED lights do not increase the heat load of the premises, because the surface temperature of the LEDs we use is close to human body temperature. Thus they decrease the need for cooling capacity and save energy. The lifetime of the new lights is very long, up to 70,000 hours,’ comments Lietzen.   

Good, energy-efficient lighting is a part of Halton’s strategy that emphasises the quality of indoor environment and energy-efficiency. Halton helps its customers to create buildings that are sustainable for both the environment and the users. In environmental classification systems, such as BREEAM or LEED, this is manifested as higher construction quality.

More information

> Local Halton sales offices