LED lighting is well-known for its energy efficiency, but that is only one among many benefits offered by the technology.
There is now a broad range of LED products offering remarkable flexibility in terms of operation, allowing the colour and brightness of their lighting output to be adjusted. For example, LED fixtures can be designed with the optimal lighting output for a specific plant, to be used for indoor agricultural applications.
Benefits of Colour Adjustment
Most lighting used by human society is white, but its hue can range from warm yellow to cool blue tones, and each colour is better suited for specific applications. For instance, neutral or cool white light enhances visibility and is preferred for tasks requiring precision, while warm white light has a relaxing effect.
Incandescent, fluorescent and other conventional lamps have a fixed colour, and the only way to change the colour of light in a room is to replace the lamp itself. On the other hand, LED lamps can be manufactured with colour adjustment capabilities, offering the full range of white hues, while including decorative colours such as blue, green or red.
In residential settings, for example, this means a homeowner can adjust LED lighting to clear white to read a newspaper, and then warm white to watch television and relax.
Benefits of Dimming
Dimming has two main applications in lighting installations: customization and energy efficiency.
- Just like colour adjustment, dimmers let the end users adjust the characteristics of lighting according to their preferences.
- However, dimming systems can also adjust lighting output automatically in response to the availability of daylight. This form of operation is called daylight harvesting and it saves energy by minimising the use of artificial lighting.
Dimming and colour adjustment systems can be installed on a wall like conventional switches, but there are now smart lighting products that include Wi-Fi communication and intuitive smartphone apps to improve the user experience.
When dimming and colour adjustment are used in combination, there is a broad range of possibilities. For example, the user can configure light-based alarms or instruct the lighting system to interact with multimedia.
Adjustable LED Lighting and Automation
Automation can further enhance the capabilities of adjustable LED lighting, allowing the end user to configure lighting schedules and save specific settings, instead of constantly adjusting operating parameters in real time. Smart lighting solutions with Wi-Fi capabilities and a smartphone app typically include automation functions as well.
Although LED lighting offers significant energy savings, exceeding 80 percent in some cases, the technology has advantages in terms of customisation and automation as well. These functions can enhance the user experience while boosting energy savings.