Challenges of Designing and Specifying Off-Grid LED Lighting Systems

ABSTRACT: 

Kathryn M. Conway will describe basic requirements for lighting systems that rely on "off-grid" power sources. She will encourage audience members to brainstorm how "real" lighting systems (not just temporary gadgets) could transform the lives of users worldwide.

Note: There will be door prizes and a few interesting lighting products will be given away.

CHALLENGES

1. “Gadget Gripes.” We need more high quality, durable products at reasonable prices. For now, the market seems full of off-grid lighting “gadgets” meant only for temporary use.

2. “This little light of mine”: It may shine, but can you see anything? Consumers are confused by luminance (“brightness”) versus illuminance (amount of light that reaches the surfaces you need to see). Higher lumen output is needed, especially from LED products.

3. “My light, or yours?” Real lighting requires local infrastructure systems to generate, transmit, and distribute enough power for lighting. Otherwise, users will always have to share a few portable lights… not really a functional solution for productivity or useful home/work illuminance.

• Freeplay Foundation: http://www.freeplayfoundation.org/ 

• Light Up the World Foundation: http://lutw.org/home.htm 

• Lighting Africa: www.lightingafrica.org 

• The Lumina Project, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: http://light.lbl.gov 

Osram solar charging stations, “Umeme Kwa Wote”

             http://www.osram.com/osram_com/About_Us/Society_and_the_Environment_Global_Care/Products_and_the_environment/Off-Grid_Lighting/Details/index.html 

Philips Lighting:

SunNight Solar BOGO Flashlights

Some additional manufacturers and distributors with off-grid products: Cosmos Ignite Innovations, Cyberlux, Home Depot, LEDtronics, PiSatSolar, Real Goods, Target and Walmart.

* This list is not comprehensive; inclusion does not indicate any product or company endorsement, whatsoever.

Maps of sky brightness

NASA composite image, “Earth at Night”

Maps of relative density of cellular service, radios and electricity access

ABOUT THE SPEAKER: 

Kathryn M. Conway, MS, MIES is an independent consultant with 20 years of experience working with LEDs for signaling, signage and illumination. She is Principal and Founder of LED Consulting.

DIRECTIONS: 

The church is located just west of the intersection of Rosendale/Vly Rd and Rt. 7, on the corner of Niskayuna Rd and Rt. 7. There is plenty of parking, accessible from either Rt. 7 or Niskayuna Rd. The meeting will be in the large white meeting hall next to the church. Enter through the large glass doors at the lower level. Please note that there is no smoking allowed anywhere on the church grounds.

Map to Niskayuna Reformed Church
NOTE: Valley Road = Vly Road

LUNCH: 
Lunch is provided.

RESERVATIONS:  
Please contact Lou Tomaino at schdyieee (at) yahoo.com by Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 9:00 AM to reserve. This event is free for IEEE members, $5.00 for non-members to help cover the cost of the room.

Please be courteous and cancel your reservation if you cannot attend so that we have a chance to adjust the food order and seating.

Sponsored by the Schenectady Section of the IEEE.