March 15, 2004—Philips Lighting Company has unveiled an updated version of its sustainable lighting index calculator, an online tool that helps facility managers determine the mercury content, rated average life and design lumens in their lamp operations in order to reduce the environmental impact of their buildings.
The sustainable lighting index calculator allows users to enter their lamp specifications and the calculator rates their lighting operations against nationally recognized green standards like the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) program.
Philips designed the calculator to be compatible with the USGBC’s current proposal for its LEED-EB lighting specification. The calculator’s measurement uses a ratio of mercury content to lamp life multiplied by mean lumen output, ensuring that mercury content is rated against the performance of the lamp. For example, a low-mercury lamp with long life and low lumen output would reduce mercury in the lamp itself but would call for more lamps, which adds up to more mercury and greater energy consumption. This specification ensures that all three factors are considered.
The sustainable lighting index calculator, based on an early draft of LEED-EB specifications, was first introduced at last year’s National Facility Management and Technology Conference in Baltimore.
Philips will also host its educational Innovations Roadshow seminars in 20 cities this year to help end-users learn more about sustainable lighting practices.
