Leading lights
Published: WORSHIP
The latest issue of Worship AVL Asia features an in-depth discussion about how you can use lighting fixtures that are less harmful to the environment by being much more energy-efficient. Here we return to three of our experts from the lighting industry – Francois Juliat of Robert Juliat, Jiri Baros of Robe and Phil Sargent of Selecon – who had a little more wisdom to share on this very topical subject…
Do most lighting manufacturers have a series of ‘green’ fixtures? What about your company?
Francois Juliat: We cannot speak for other lighting manufacturers but at Robert Juliat, – following on from the success of the Aledin, which has proved the market is ready for an energy-efficient LED technology within a familiar theatre package – we are currently working on the development of a complete range of LED fixtures. This will include LED Fresnels, profile spots and followspots.
Jiri Baros: Most manufacturers have separate ‘green’ products, or all their products are LED fixtures. We have our Robin range, a series of moving lights combining foresight with the very latest technologies in the ongoing quest for innovation. It’s a full range including Spot, Wash, LEDWash and Beam fixtures and the Plasma Spot and Plasma Beam units. Then we have the (separate) LED series: a line of outdoor LED products for a wide range of applications. I would especially like to point out the Robin 600 LEDWash with its amazing colour mixing, bright output, flat beam, wide zoom and only 10kg weight – with maximum power consumption of about 340VA.
Phil Sargent: Philips Selecon has many ’pro environment’ luminaires and more are being released throughout 2011. These include LED wash and spot luminaires. A very exciting recent innovation has been the PL3 LED luminaire, which is as bright as an open white 1,200W Fresnel, as bright as a 2,000W Fresnel with saturated colours and a 35,000-hour light engine life – using less than 350W to deliver these results. The PL1 is similarly transforming display lighting by offering a full colour rendering range down to very low light levels while also delivering significant energy savings.
What else can HOWs do in order to ‘go green’ with lighting?
Phil Sargent: Remember, as well as your choice of fixture other factors can reduce the impact your facility has on the environment. Every bit helps. The most energy-efficient fixture is one that is switched off when it’s not required! Consider how you operate your facility, and how you can reduce your power consumption by changing your operations. Use fixtures that have a low cost of ownership supported by warranty – for Philips Selecon fixtures, for example, it’s three years. It takes less maintenance and necessitates reduced transport costs to source those spare parts. Finally, quality of light remains paramount to ensure a positive and engaging experience for your congregation.
Francois Juliat: Using green lighting fixtures will help HOWs to embrace sustainable technology. It means reducing their impact on the environment but also educating their communities in the respect of the individual, of nature and of the environment. It will also demonstrate how they can make a very real difference by choosing to take up these new, energy saving technologies. Moreover, Robert Juliat’s green lighting fixtures are more secure, as their low heat output presents little hazard to the public or to valuable and sensitive architectural and decorative features. They’re perfect for places with limited budgets as running expenses are considerably reduced. Last but not least, with its extra long-lasting light source the Aledin LED profile does not need frequent maintenance, and can be plugged into a standard domestic power supply. This simplified installation is perfect for HOWs, where there is frequently no lighting technician on hand.
Jiri Baros: At PLASA 2010 we launched our major green initiative called ‘Think Of The Future – Consider Nature’. Robe is – and has been for several years – committed to environmental sustainability. Think Of The Future underlines this continual dedication to producing genuinely cutting-edge, energy saving products. This is not just trendy wording in catalogues and adverts, but a seriously thought-out, long term strategy.