As communities with a commitment to environmental protection,
Diex and Hörbranz (Austria) place great value on solar energy
and low power consumption for their street lighting. This
does not mean that brightness has to be compromised, however,
as brilliant street lights equipped with Golden Dragon Oval
LEDs amply demonstrate. OSRAM Opto Semiconductors has developed
special oval lenses for this application that direct the
light accurately onto the street.
Only twelve Golden Dragon Oval LEDs per street light are
sufficient to illuminate cycle paths and footpaths from
a height of 3.4 meters. They produce 60 lm each (at 350
mA) and are operated at 130 mA specifically for this application.
The LED each consumes 0.35 W (1 W in standard applications).
Their oval lens distributes the light down at an angle of
80° x 120°. This means that no light is lost sideways away
from the path as is the case with the usual circular distribution
of light from conventional street lights. Light is not spread
in all directions, which cut down on light pollution.
The manufacturer EPS Soltec
uses solar power to supply the lamps. Solar cells provide
all the energy needed, and this energy is ideal for the
light emitting diodes. The LEDs require a voltage of less
than 10 V, do not need a 230 V ac power supply and therefore
no inverters for converting the voltage.
What’s more, the LEDs
do not require secondary optics and can be integrated
in almost any luminaire design. The lighting can be adapted
to ambient light conditions through dimming, and the color
temperature can even be adapted by combining white and
yellow LEDs. Their long and especially predictable life
of around 50,000 hours reduces maintenance costs and therefore
also operating costs. Because OSRAM LEDs comply with the
RoHS directive and do not contain any lead or mercury
there are no problems disposing of them at the end of
their life.
LEDs are being used more
and more in general lighting applications. In view of
their excellent energy efficiency they will supplement
and replace more and more traditional light sources over
the coming years. In doing so, they will be making an
active contribution to climate protection by reducing
CO2 emissions.
