The growing need for lighting auditors..

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Permalink Reply by Bob Blanchette on May 25, 2012 at 4:18am

Do you expect the price of LED lights to drop significantly in the next few years? That's what I'm holding out for.. Currently CFL is the "king of the castle" since current LED's don't use much less energy yet cost 4X as much. I have seen LED displays going up at the big box stores, selection has increased considerably...

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Permalink Reply by Dennis McCarthy on May 28, 2012 at 7:39am

Bob,

 I do expect a price reduction in All areas of solid state lighting. As for your attribution of CFL s being the

king of the castle : that's not what statistics would indicate- Cfl use peaked at around 20% use with

incandescents comprising nearly 78% of lamps sold ( year after year last 5 years) LED luminiare use is

predicted to be 80% in 2020 up from 1% now- The dynamic is in favor of logical 21st century lighting not

outdated glass & gas lamps. As for selection it has been getting better - I try not to make big box sales the

benchmark indicator. The better quality products are still more typically found at a lighting - electrical supply

places- the ownership at these places usually do a better job in picking product lines, they tend to have more

acumen and understanding and are great outlets- Critical for the larger institutional buyers and intermediate

type commercial buyers- these are the types of places that can read/ intrepret LM-79s - the big boxes have

apron wearing product providers- I don't want to denigrate them let's call 'em under informed about the products

they sell. I have yet to have a conversation with a big box lighting guy who could "truly discern luminiare quality"

Maybe the sales staff I've spoken with were the exception -but I've spoke to dozens in several stores ...

 

 The big boxes have the price point thing- somewhat meaningful - until you see the comparitive quality thats

available. There are alot of great LED luminiares  available but there are alot of under performers -

Due diligence will get you the best products, it's up to individual buyers to become knowlegable and buy the

best products as needed- based on application , budget and one's ability to accept that LED luminiares keep

evolving - the ones that I would deem to be the best have are 2017 model year lamps - and have the

performance characteristics of at least the 2015 model year stuff- Sadly whats out there is alot of redone-

slightly improved 2009 model year type stuff-  Its like there are millions of imminent VCR sales - is that a good

thing, thats the problem with buying SSL in these transitional years !

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Permalink Reply by Ben Stallings on May 25, 2012 at 6:59am

Hi, Dennis.  As usual, you whet my appetite, but I want more concrete details!  Where can I learn about how to get trained as a lighting auditor?  We had one here in my town, but he moved away, leaving an opportunity.  Thanks in advance for the info.

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Permalink Reply by Dennis McCarthy on May 28, 2012 at 8:12am

Ben

 

 Hi, It's been a while since we've talked. The  training is a variable thing

for lighting auditors- The certifications that are conducive as a prequieste

would be to be either LC ( thru the NCQLP)  or being certified thru the ALA

as a CLEP - or Edmunds College in Washington st area- or at Rensalear Polytechnic

in NY state- They have certifications as well!

  As for the acumen level needed for most current work if one can do a thorough survey

that person could do a "Lighting audit"  in essence

a Certfied energy auditor with the right tools can get the job done- I believe that

Johnson controls, Honeywell etc in the biz of lighting controls have there own

accredidation programs. - Like I indicated, many of the billions of sockets will be

going to LED lighting soon - There is a definite need for people to assess and evaluate

what products are right for those specific applications.

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