By IANS
New Delhi : New trends and innovations in the Indian lighting industry to save energy and improve illumination aesthetic will be on show at an international expo here Friday to Saturday.
The sixth Light India International Exhibition and Conference (LII 2008) at the Pragati maidan in the capital is dubbed as one of the largest events focussed on lighting in Southeast Asia.
LII is organised by the Indian Society of Lighting Engineers.
Companies from Italy, Australia, Germany, China, the US, South Korea, the Netherlands, Japan, New Zealand, Portugal and the Czech Republic will exhibit their products at the expo.
“The Indian lighting industry is galloping at a rate of 15 percent every year and has a total turnover of approximately Rs.6,000 crore (Rs.60 billion) annually,” H.S. Mamak, president emeritus of the Indian Society of Lighting Engineers, told the IANS.
“Over a period of time, the main focus of the exhibition has been saving energy as energy consumption in lights accounts for nearly 20 percent of the total electricity generated. Any saving that one can effect in the industry becomes a national cause.”
Since 1991, the main draw of the exhibition has been compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), Mamak said. These saved 80 percent energy with the same light output as the ordinary bulb in the early 90s.
“This time, the high point will be the light emitting diodes (LEDs), an improvement on CFLs. It saves up to 90 percent energy and is in use globally. In India, the spotlight of the exhibition will be on the introduction and use of LEDs.”
LEDs are a versatile lighting source that provides 100,000 lighting hours and are 100 times more powerful than fluorescent bulbs.
Another area of focus will be “city landscaping, beautification and outdoor lighting”.
Explaining the evolution of city lights, Mamak said they have changed from blue of the mercury vapour lamps of the 1990s to yellow of the sodium vapour lamps, in vogue till 2005, and the present white of the metal halide lamps that light up the streets of New Delhi.
“The exhibition will unveil new generation street lights.”
Besides, LII 2008 will also demonstrate the use of electronic controllers – remote computer-operated light switches that can be installed on personal computers and used by residents of green buildings.
“Remote light switches ensures optimum use of energy by conserving it to the maximum.”
Light engineers will also display how to “marry daylight with artificial light for the maximum effect”.
This conference, said the organisers, will provide a platform for discussion on the latest developments and an opportunity to interact with 20 of the world’s leading light experts.
It will feature six workshops on energy conservation, outdoor lighting (city beautification, street and monument lighting), infrastructure lighting (airports, highways, railways), retail and hospitality lighting and LED electronics and controls.