Invited talk for the IEEE Young Scientists Workshop "Photonics and Microsystems", held in June 2009 at Harz University

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Ecological problems from outdoor lighting
– and possible solutions using LED technology
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Christian Reinboth HarzOptics GmbH
Dipl.-Wi.-Inf.(FH) www.harzoptics.de
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2. ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
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Overview
●●●●●●●●●● ● What is light pollution?
●●●●●●●●●● ● LED lighting – a solution?
●●●●●●●●●● ● LED lighting – a poblem?
●●●●●●●●●● ● Other energy saving ideas

3. ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
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Lighting and the environment
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Energy demand
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4 bn KWh / year (BRD)
35 bn KWh / year (EU)
~ 21,8 mil t CO2 / year
This equates to the combined
need of Berlin, Brandenburg and
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
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Light pollution / smog
Graphic © Alexander Cremer

4. Anthropogenic climate change
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Graphics © www.globalwarmingart.com
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5. Glacier in Boulder, Colorado
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Graphics © www.globalwarmingart.com
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6. ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
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Worldwide sea level risks
Graphics © www.globalwarmingart.com

7. ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
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Destroying the night sky...
50% of all Europeans are already unable to
see the Milky Way with the naked eye
Pictures © Jeremy Stanley

8. ...all over the world
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Switzerland: 2.800 km² of settlement area destroys
the natural night sky over an area of 41.000 km²
Picture © Dark Skies Switzerland
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9. Vincent Van Gogh – Arles, 1888
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10. ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
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Light pollution in Wernigerode
Highly inefficient „ground spots“ at the Nikolaiplatz

11. ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
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Street lights are insect killers
Gas discharge lamps kill about 150 insects per night
- several billion insects per year in Germany alone
Pictures © Prof. Eisenbeis, Uni Mainz

12. AuLED lighting research project
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13. Increased energy efficiency
●●●●●●●●●● ● ~30% less energy use compared to GDL
●●●●●●●●●● ● Additional dimming can save up to 20%

14. Focused light dispersion
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●●●●●●●●●● ● Independent of mast height and distance
●●●●●●●●●● ● More focused light reduces light pollution

15. Additional advantages
●●●●●●●●●● ● Color spectrum similar to daylight
●●●●●●●●●● ● Insect-friendly light (less attraction)
●●●●●●●●●● ● Long life span (close to 50.000 hours)

16. First-rate lighting technology
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17. ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
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First live tests are underway
LED street lights in Brandenburg an der Havel
Picture © Meetingpoint Brandenburg

18. ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
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Where there is light...
LED illumination in Obergrombach (16.000 LEDs)
Pictures © Rolf Kaiser

19. How else can we save energy?
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Polymeric sidelight fibers for indirect lighting applications
(developed by tti GmbH, HarzOptics GmbH and DieMount GmbH)
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Thank you very much!
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http://www.harzoptics.com
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