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| Hybrid Solar Lighting |
Energy-Saving Hybrid Solar Lighting
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Hybrid solar lighting is a relatively new technology that combines sunlight with artificial incandescent or fluorescent lighting, saving 60% or more off indoor lighting costs. Lighting alone consumes 30% of our electricity production (UCSB 2007).
With the world headed toward renewable energy, which (as of 2009) costs much more than energy from fossil fuels, we need to reduce our energy consumption while switching to renewable sources. This way, we can install fewer renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, wind turbines, and dams, but continue to enjoy the same energy-hungry devices we use now.
Since lighting is the largest consumer of electricity produced in the United States, we need to reduce the amount of energy required to light the interior of buildings (sunlight-direct).
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Hybrid solar lighting provides one way of using a reliable renewable energy source, the sun, to light the interior of buildings. Hybrid solar lighting distributes natural sunlight through the existing artificial lighting system. This gives hybrid solar lighting systems the energy-saving light production by the sun with the reliability of artificial lights.
By using sunlight, hybrid solar lighting produces less heat that artificial light bulbs, so one saves electricity on cooling costs too (solar panels power). In addition, hybrid solar lighting makes a room seem as if it is outdoors. By providing the full spectrum of visible light, hybrid solar lighting can provide treatment for the “winter blues” and depression.
Hybrid solar lighting works by collecting sunlight through a roof-mounted sunlight collecting system. The sunlight is concentrated into a 45” diameter bundle of fiber optic cables. The hybrid solar lighting system integrates with bundle of fiber optic cables with existing artificial lighting. This way, the lighting system has the option of producing artificial light at night. The amount of light is kept constant by a photosensor. When the sun begins to set, the photosensor keeps the room at a constant level of brightness by slowly turning on the lights (solutions for lighting).
A hybrid solar lighting system is optimal for businesses that are open during the day but closed at night. It saves a significant amount of energy while providing comfortable, natural light. Any businesses looking into going green; start by implementing energy saving systems such as a hybrid solar lighting system. |
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