DOE recognizes 28 NGL indoor and outdoor solid-state lighting products at LightFair 2015

May 5, 2015
The 2015 indoor and outdoor luminaire entries were judged based on evolving solid-state lighting technology developments, according to the NGL program’s announcement.

The 2015 indoor and outdoor luminaire entries were judged based on evolving solid-state lighting technology developments, according to the NGL program’s announcement.

At LightFair International in New York this afternoon, the US Department of Energy (DOE), the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) honored 28 commercial LED indoor and outdoor lighting products for excellence within the seventh annual Next Generation Luminaires (NGL) Solid-State Lighting Design Competition.

Image: Intense Lighting's Gravity Cylinder decorative pendant luminaire was deemed Outstanding in the Next Generation Luminaires Solid-State Lighting Design Competition in the Efficacy category for indoor lighting.

The 2015 NGL competitions have taken a departure from previous years to combine the indoor and outdoor solid-state lighting product announcements, as well as designating 12 of the selected entries as “Outstanding” in one or more evaluation categories instead of the judges assigning “Best in Class” honors as they have done previously.

Related article: Focus On: NGL Indoor Competition 2014

This year, the NGL program also reflects changes according to the evolution of solid-state lighting technology. All winning products are reported to have beat NGL’s threshold efficacy by 10–40% — with threshold levels being raised each year to keep pace with data from LED Lighting Facts and the DesignLights Consortium (DLC). Lumen maintenance scores show that more than 80% of the indoor solid-state lighting winners demonstrated lumen maintenance above L80 at 50,000 hours, and more than 50% of outdoor lighting entries demonstrated L95 at 50,000 hours. Lumen maintenance scores were based on LM80 and TM-21 data.

Related article: Focus On: NGL Outdoor Competition 2013

“It’s not an easy feat to achieve NGL recognition,” said DOE Solid-State Lighting Program manager Jim Brodrick. “The judges are a tough-minded bunch who look for every flaw imaginable and don’t issue their stamp of approval lightly.”

Indeed, the panel of 18 judges, who hail from the architectural lighting community, noted that glare was still a lingering problem with LED luminaires in nearly all categories of the program. Of course, recognized products far exceeded the performance of unrecognized solid-state lighting luminaires in terms of glare evaluation.

Image: Selux Corporation was recognized with the Outstanding designation in the Next Generation Luminaires Solid-State Lighting Design Competition in the Versatility category for its Olivio LED Sistema 2 LED pole-mounted pedestrian-scale outdoor luminaire.

Related article: DOE releases research on pedestrian-centric outdoor lighting and glare

Scores were also based on color, illuminance, light distribution, serviceability, value, dimming control, and appearance. Judges utilized specification sheets, LM-70 test reports, lumen maintenance projections, warranty statements, and marketing materials, most of which were submitted through LED Lighting Facts.

The winners were segmented thus: 20 total recognized indoor luminaires, 9 designated as Outstanding; and 8 total recognized outdoor luminaires, 3 designated as Outstanding.

Indoor – Outstanding

*All Outstanding products listed in alphabetical order by company, with judging category

Amerlux, Murro LED Wall Wash luminaire – Efficacy
Finelite, Inc., FineTune System color-tuning luminaire – User Interface
Finelite, Inc., HPR-LED 2x2 color-tuning luminaire – Serviceability
Intense Lighting, Gravity Cylinder decorative pendant luminaire (shown) – Efficacy
Juno Lighting Group, Indy L-Series LED Cylinder decorative pendant luminaire – Dimming
Louis Poulsen, LP Circle Pendant decorative pendant luminaire – Serviceability
Selux Corporation, Kju decorative pendant luminaire – Dimming
Selux Corporation, M36 LED My White color-tuning luminaire – Serviceability
USAI Lighting, Max Output Warm Glow Dimming color-tuning luminaire – Dimming

Outdoor – Outstanding

Cree, IG Series parking garage luminaires – Innovation
Landscape Forms, Inc., MultipliCITY LED Pathlight bollard – Form Factor
Selux Corporation, Olivio LED Sistema 2 LED pole-mounted pedestrian-scale luminaire (shown) – Versatility

Indoor – Recognized

*All Recognized products listed in alphabetical order by company

Amerlux, Linea 1.5 linear direct/indirect LED pendant luminaire
Amerlux, Fino Ceiling wall-washing luminaire
Digital Lumens, DLE-48 Intelligent LED high-bay industrial luminaire
Finelite, Inc., HP-2 Indirect/Direct linear pendant luminaire
Gotham by Acuity Brands Lighting, ICO 4 recessed downlight
Juno Lighting Group, Indy L-Series LED downlight
LumenWerx, Cava Curve linear LED pendant luminaire
LumenWerx, Primo recessed troffer
Philips Day-Brite, High Bay FBX industrial luminaire
Philips Ledalite, VersaForm recessed LED troffer
USAI Lighting, Cylinder series decorative pendant luminaire

Outdoor – Recognized

Hubbell Lighting, Beacon Products Viper with Beaconnect area/roadway luminaire
Hubbell Lighting, Architectural Area Lighting KicK pole-mounted pedestrian-scale luminaire
Landscape Forms, Inc., Signal pole-mounted pedestrian-scale luminaire
LED Roadway Lighting, NXT-M collector roadway luminaire
Philips Lumec, RoadFocus LED Cobra Head collector roadway luminaire

Sponsored by the DOE, IES, and IALD, NGL was launched in 2008 to recognize developments in energy-efficient commercial LED lighting. The primary goal is to foster market acceptance of LED-based solid-state lighting for general illumination.

For more information on the 2015 Next-Generation Luminaires Solid-State Lighting Design Competition, visit ngldc.org.