Induction

: Induction Lighting in Swanston St, on the Melbourne Sustainable Public Lighting field trip at the ICLEI Oceania ACCELERATING NOW! Conference May 2007

Induction lamps are a relatively new technology.

Since an induction lamp has no electrodes or elements, it has a very long life. This means there may never be a lamp change or servicing during the life of the luminaire. In fact the control gear is likely to fail before the lamp.

Due to the long life, however, a fairly high maintenance factor needs to be applied. Although lumen depreciation is non-linear, it can be approximated to 7 per cent every 15,000 hours; over 60,000 hours, this is a depreciation of about 30 per cent.

Induction technologies have applications in major road street lighting, for example, along Anzac Parade in Canberra (see below), as well as in minor road street lighting. They also have potential for use in pathway lighting, flood lighting, park and car parks.

Trials and demonstrations

: A self-ballast Induction lamp fitted in a decorative pole in Darebin. Picture by Stuart Nesbitt.

Northcote car park, Darebin, Victoria, 2009
Darebin City Council is installing 12 self-ballasted induction lamps (40 watt) in a bid to trial the new technology for future use in decorative luminaires not suitable for T5 lamp replacements. The trial will occur in a local park and a minor road adjacent a car park both operated and metered by council so that accurate usage data from the lights can be determined. Council will also use consultants, Ironbark Sustainability, to monitor light levels over time. The public lighting regulator, Essential Services Commission, has recognised the credibility of similar tests in the past through the VSPLAG process.

The induction lamps, which are expected to last for 80,000 hours, will be replacing old Mercury Vapours (80 watt) and are expected to reduce energy use and greenhouse emissions by around 60%. If successful they will significantly reduce maintenance costs also. Council has chosen the car park site to simulate minor road conditions so that the future approval process by distribution businesses might be more straightforward. Other councils across Australia will benefit from the trial by having an energy efficient lighting retrofit option for decorative luminaires.
For more information contact Stuart Nesbitt at Darebin City Council, (03) 8470 8514

Melton Shire and Stockland Development Pty Ltd, Melton Shire, Victoria, 2005
This project, located at the Parks of Bellevue Hill, a 351 lot residential subdivision at Hillside, demonstrated the use of fourteen 55 watt metal halide induction lamps.

Anzac Parade, Canberra, 2001
150 watt plasma induction lamp and pole replacements were installed along Canberra’s Anzac Parade in 2001, replacing existing 250 watt mercury vapour (MV) lamps. Induction lamps were chosen in place of mercury vapour because they delivered twice the light output (one 150 watt induction lamp produces the same amount of light as two 250w MVs), used 40% less energy and were expected to last for 15-20 years, which is almost four times as long at mercury vapour lamps. In addition, the use of induction lighting reduced light pollution, which was a concern because of the proximity of Mount Stromlo Observatory.

The Sustainable Public Lighting website was created by ICLEI Oceania. Funding for this website was provided by the Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO) in the Department of Environment and Water Resources. The site is based on Sustainability Victoria's Energy Toolbox website.