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OSRAM SYLVANIA LED MODULE WILL REDUCE CARBON FOOTPRINT
Grant Enables Lighting Leader to Develop More Energy-Efficient LED Solutions

Danvers, Mass. (March 14, 2008) – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced that it will provide up to $20.6 million for a total of 13 projects aimed at advancing solid-state lighting (SSL) research and product development. OSRAM SYLVANIA’s high performance LED down-lighting system proposal was among the 13 projects selected.  Through programs such as this, the North American lighting leader intends to continue its efforts to reduce the amount of carbon emissions by creating the industry’s most sustainable LED lighting solutions. 

This grant provides OSRAM SYLVANIA the ability to continue to focus on answering the world’s demand for energy by developing an extremely efficient integrated down-lighting system that minimizes thermal, optical and electronic losses while achieving a luminous steady state output of 1300 lumens with a high quality of light.  The LED down-light system is expected to provide useable light for over 50,000 hours, which far succeeds the average life of standard incandescent (1,500 hours), halogen (3,000 hours) and compact fluorescent (12,000 hours) lighting technologies.

Initially, this project will be an ideal down-lighting system replacement for commercial building industry with future aspirations for residential applications.  Energy consumption for lighting in U.S. commercial and residential buildings is estimated to be about 22 percent of the total electricity generated.  Since this LED down-lighting system will use around 19 watts, the amount of electricity being produced, used and wasted will reduce greatly.  OSRAM SYLVANIA will be helping to transform existing light sources in buildings to more efficient and less energy consuming systems. 

By switching the existing down-light sources from traditional incandescent technology to this proposed LED system, a 500 room hotel that uses six (6) downlights in each of their rooms will save 687,989 kWh of electricity in just one year.  The system could reduce the carbon emissions by saving an estimated 1,056, 062 pounds of CO2 annually.   This is also equivalent to taking 60 cars off the road. 

“We continue to develop innovative ways to help our customers save energy and reduce air pollution; at SYLVANIA, commitment to our environment is a priority,” said Jennifer Dolin, OSRAM SYLVANIA environmental marketing manager.
 
Completion of this project is expected to be in mid-year 2010.   Three challenges the development team face are: Thermal Design, Optical coupling and modeling, Electrical development.  OSRAM SYLVANIA scientists must solve the problem of removing heat from the emitter chip and reducing thermal resistance to keep LED device at a low operating temperature.  They must also overcome the troubles of exacting LED photons and directing them to the task.  To seal success, the scientists must develop electrical drivers that are more compact, reliable and efficient as well as low in cost and have performance longevity. 

“We’re trying to help the global energy crisis by providing better energy-efficient solutions,” explains Dr. Angela Hohl-AbiChedid, OSRAM SYLVANIA LED Systems R&D Manager.  “This project will take a completely synergized company effort to achieve maximum effectiveness.