PROPOSAL FOR THE DETERMINATION OF SOLID STATE LIGHTING PRODUCTS’ NET GREEN

BENEFIT
Proponent: WILLARDO C. MESA, RECE, RME
Rizal Provincial Engineering Office
Office: +63 2 6202400
Mobile: +63 921 6613542
Email:wmesa777@yahoo.com

I. INTRODUCTION
Current and emerging technologies in lighting products involve solid state
technologies such as the Light Emitting Diode (LED). It will eventually (or at least
substantially replace) vapor lamp technologies. Mercury Vapor Lamps, are already
banned in the United States on 2008. It will be totally phased-out by the European Union
by year 2015. The ban is basically based on the toxic aspect of mercury. Incandescent
bulbs, on the other hand, are already discouraged to be used in many countries.

II. THE LIGHT EMITTING DIODES

Light Emitting Diode technology is seen to replace the incandescent and vapor
lamp technologies due to its lower power consumption and longer service life. To date,
the primary limiting factor in its use is the price. Another consideration is the different
specifications from different manufacturers which make it difficult for the engineers to
make standard designs. The difficulty of maintenance could be another factor.

III. THE PRODUCTION SIDE

Like in stage shows, the viewers are pleased by the skills of the actors, singers or
dancers. They do not mind the tedious rehearsals or the complexity of setting up the
stage, sound system, lights, etc.
Every engineer knows that solid state production (as in LED) involve much energy.
The silicon (and other semiconductor elements) requires much power to be able to attain
very high purity. If the country of manufacture has a very poor green energy mix, the LED
products may have negative Net Green Benefit. How much energy will be saved by the
LED lighting device in its service life as against those consumed during its manufacture?
Another factor to consider is how much mine tailings have been produced. Is the LED
Lighting Products worth to be used? Maybe, as the title of this paper indicate. Below is the
proposed Net Green Benefit Formula. The parameters in determining the factors are not
very well defined so as to allow the regulators to determine the values for a given LED
product.

IV. THE PROPOSED NET GREEN BENEFIT FORMULA

Ngb= (3Ep) + (3Es) + (3Em) + (0.5Vw) + (0.5Mr)

Where:

Ngb Net Green Benefit, Range 0-10, no unit

Ep Production Energy Factor, no unit
Es Saved Energy Factor in utilizing the product, no unit
Em Energy Mix Factor of the country of origin, no unit
Vw Production Wasters Volume Factor, no unit
Mr Materials Recovery Factor after service life, no unit