Success Stories

Through a variety of services, the LRC’s Lighting Technology Greenhouse program helps foster the commercialization of sustainable lighting technologies. Examples include:

Aero Farm Systems LLC (www.aerofarms.com)
Novel aeroponic growing system

The LRC executed the development and construction of a novel aeroponic growing system for leafy greens that produces crops continuously throughout the year using artificial light in a totally controlled environment agriculture system.

Learn more:
AeroFarms press release

Some of the LRC’s own lighting ideas have been successfully commercialized and have inspired lighting-related companies to manufacture and market products based on LRC research. Many of these products provide substantial societal benefit. Examples include:

Scattered photon extraction (SPE®)
Improves energy efficiency of LEDs 40-60%
The LRC developed scattered photon extraction to extract backscattered light from the phosphor layer in white LEDs to increase overall light output. More recently, the LRC demonstrated that SPE optics also increase the spatial color uniformity of RGB LED systems with high overall optical efficiency.

Learn more:
Project sheet - SPE for mixed-color LEDs  PDF
Web article - Extracting more light from LEDs
Project sheet - Extracting more light from LEDs  PDF
Load-shedding ballast
Helps to avoid blackouts and the need to build new power plants and power lines
The LRC developed a prototype for a device called a “load-shedding ballast,” which can quickly and reliably shed electric load within a building’s fluorescent lighting system. In 2007, this system was demonstrated at the ConEdison headquarters in Rye, New York. OSRAM SYLVANIA is now marketing such a device based on the LRC design.

Learn more:
Project sheet - Load-shedding demonstration  PDF
Press release - LRC and OSRAM SYLVANIA demonstrate new load-shedding technology
Project sheet - Load-shedding ballast background  PDF
Project sheet - Understanding light levels for load shedding  PDF
Mesopic street lighting
Improves visibility and safety for motorists and pedestrians while reducing energy use
The LRC has been working with utilities and industry to develop a new type of street lighting system that provides better lighting in areas with low-light conditions such as typical residential roadways. These low but not quite dark (mesopic) lighting conditions are often problematic to people, especially drivers. Demonstrations of street lighting included sites in Austin, Texas; Northampton, Massachusetts; and Groton, Connecticut. As a result of LRC research, some street lighting and automotive headlamp manufacturers have created advanced lighting products.

Learn more:
Project sheet - Driver response to peripheral moving targets under mesopic light levels  PDF
Research paper - Evaluating light source efficacy under mesopic conditions using reaction times  PDF