Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/396142
BNT Studio is the official Canadian distributor for Jake Dyson Products' CSYS range. The new lighting range features heat pipe technology that ensures sustainable LED performance for over 160,000 hours of continual use. quick payback, low total cost of ownership and high-quality illumination, but we've only scratched the surface of what's possible." The cost of waiting to transition to LED lighting adds "bottom line expenses to businesses every day," as today's LED lighting products are close to or at price parity with older technologies. Suvagau sees a future where LED lights can be merged with other technologies to make life easier for everyone. "Although LEDs are poised to irreversibly change the lighting industry, it is the convergence of these digital light sources with intelligent controls that will transform the world," says Suvagau. Network attached LEDs, he suggests, could one day be used to create pathway lighting to help guide building, hospital and school visitors to their meeting location by simply reading a visitor badge or interacting with a smart phone app. But it seems that LED may not be the end of the road for energy efficient lighting. "I think the next horizon is going to be lasers in lighting. It's a whole new ball game," says Betty Lou Pacey of BL Innovative Lighting. Her company is at the forefront of this exciting new technology. Working in conjunction with the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, BL Innovative Lighting has developed optical fibres for lighting that are 98 per cent more energy efficient than an LED. "We can linearly light up a thousand feet that looks like neon, with an energy consumption of 10 watts. A similar setup for LED would take 4,000 watts," explains Pacey. The optical fibre manufactured in B.C. is much more cost-effective than LED lighting, too, though price points aren't necessarily a barrier to today's consumer. "People just want to get the look they want," notes Pacey. "Cost has become less of an issue." The high-tech product is currently being used by architects primarily for outdoor lighting features — outlining buildings, pools and fountains — but Pacey sees plentiful possibilities on the horizon. "There's more creativity in the marketplace than in years past. The applications are quite endless: houses, hotels, restaurants," Pacey marvels. "Lasers in lighting are something that's just in its infancy. It's a door that's just being opened." Nemetz (S/A) & Associates Ltd. is one company that prides itself on its ability to intertwine esthetics with energy efficiency. At Lucent Design Group, a division of Nemetz, lighting designers Jennifer Stratton, Daisy Chan, Christine Torralba and Joy Mescallado know how to transform a space from functional to spectacular. "A person may walk into a space and not specifically notice if the lighting design is effective but the experience and feeling in the space is pleasurable," says Stratton. "Excellent lighting design, enhances a room and affects the mood of a space. Lighting can also affect the way you feel but you may not realize it." The team now has the in-office capability of presenting a variety of lighting looks to clients based on variables such as landscaping, floor types, glossy or matte paint, colours and other considerations. "If you're spending a lot of money on a certain feature, perhaps a feature wall in a lobby, a mock-up should be done to ensure the desired effect is achieved," explains Stratton. "We have the ability to do that, to bring people to our office, work with their ideas and plans." With new technological and design advancements happening every day, there's no doubt about it: the future of lighting is going to be a bright one. Whatever style, technology or wattage you decide upon in your next project, Williams Engineering Canada's Atwal advises sticking with products that are tried, tested and true, with a good historical performance. "You do get what you pay for," he points out. "Look for quality manufacturers and products that have been improving. And when in doubt, speak to product representatives or designers." n Lighting oCTober 2014 /47 Innovative.indd 1 14-09-15 2:18 PM • Institutional, Commercial & Industrial Roofing • Roof Service & Maintenance FLYNN CANADA LTD. total building envelope When you work with Flynn, you can expect the best processes and the latest material and technique. We transform your vision from concept to breathtaking reality with innovative solutions – no matter how complex or technically challenging it may be. • Contract Glazing & Curtain Wall • Architectural Building Products + Green Roofs + Solar Photovoltaics For more information, please visit www.flynn.ca or e-mail info@flynn.ca