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New technology and energy efficiency concerns are changing the way we light our homes and greenhouses. The governments of many countries, including the United States, have passed laws that ban the use of most incandescents for general lighting. The T-12 fluorescent bulb is also being eliminated fore more efficient T-8 and T-5 bulbs. Starting January 1, 2012, 100-watt incandescents have been removed from the shelves. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 requires manufacturers of light bulbs that produce 310-2,600 lumens of light to increase efficiency by 25 percent or more before 2014. By 2014, 40, 60 and 75 watt will not be available. There are good reasons for this. Light output for a 100-watt incandescent is about 1,630 lumens or 17 lumens/watt. About 90 percent of the electricity supplied goes into heat and only 10 percent into light. Although they are inexpensive, their average life is only about 1,000 hours. Other types of bulbs are more electricity efficient. Tungsten-Halogen bulbs Fluorescent bulbs As of July 14, 2012, the T-12 (1.5 inch diameter) fluorescent tube will no longer be produced for commercial and industrial applications. The T-8 (1 inch diameter) will become the standard. The standard 40 watt is replaced with a 32-watt bulb. The T-5 (5/8 inches diameter) is a more recent development and provides even higher efficiency. Both use electronic ballasts. The bulbs are not interchangeable as a standard T-8 is 48 inches long and a standard T-5 is only 45.2 inches long. The fixtures are more expensive but due to the higher efficiency and longer life, the payback is fairly short. The fluorescent tube is still the standard for growth rooms where plants are grown on stacked shelves. The cool surface and linear light can provide more uniform light levels over the crop. To get higher light levels, the high output or very high output bulbs should be selected. Metal Halide and High Pressure Sodium Research has improved the performance of the bulbs used for plant growth. The Agrosun metal halide and sodium vapor bulbs have spectral enhancements that emit more red wavelengths to increase flowering and fruiting. Sun Pulse bulbs are available in several different temperature ratings (3K to 10K) for different stages of growth. These bulbs provide higher efficiency when they are used with electronic digital or HPS magnetic ballasts. LEDs (light emitting diodes)
Have a question? You can write John at jbartok@rcn.com. |
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