An extensive European wide user survey (1100 workers) was done to fully understand the market demands for better lighting. The results confirm the requirement for an easy to use, customizable lighting system, which results in the development of a so-called Personal Table Light (PTL). The PTL achieves exceptional lighting for vision and health at the workplace and is fully personalised by the user via a desktop application.
Visual performance is perfectly supported as both vertical and horizontal workspace surfaces are lit separately, and illuminance levels are controlled along with light colour temperatures, and light distributions. Furthermore, the PTL effectively supplements missing daylight and thus exerts non-visual effects on mood, alertness, performance and night-time sleep. Equipped with single-point LED controls and a highly innovative sensor technology that recognises the actual activity of the user, lighting scenes adjust discreetly and automatically according to the changing working tasks. Additionally, environmental quality is assessed continuously by ambient temperature, humidity, air pressure, volatile organic compounds, and sound level sensors.
The technological acceptance and usability of the developed workplace lighting solution (PTL) has been proven in a field study, and the expected non-visual effects of the PTL have been investigated in laboratory studies with test persons. E.g. to reach the necessary daily light dose special “light showers” have been applicated to the workers and the acute effects have been measured.
A new pilot production for individualized luminaires has been developed, integrating a configurator which allows the customization of the luminaires (400.000 on-line variations). An added manufacturing method by 3D-printing has been integrated with a 3D-modelling procedure for the morphing of polygonal geometries of bio-inspired shapes.
To minimize the ecological footprint of LED lights from the extraction of raw materials to the production, the use and finally the disposal, a comprehensive life cycle assessment was conducted in the project. Aiming a circular economy, increased maintenance, reuse and reprocessing must be taken into account right from the product design stage, while avoiding waste and environmental pollution.
In summary, it can be said that for the raw material balance (abiotic resource depletion), the metals used for electronics and LED-boards and their recycling rates are mainly decisive (rare earths, as well as gold, silver, copper, nickel, lead and aluminum and their by-metals). A resource shortage is threatening in the case of gold and silver and the rare earths, and regarding rare earths a monopoly, too. As far as the toxicity of the materials used is concerned, the mining of rare earths (toxic sludges) and uncontrolled contamination with copper, iron, lead, nickel and silver are crucial.
For all other environmental burdens such as CO2 pollution (global warming), primary energy consumption, soil acidification and eutrophication, the operation of the luminaires itself (energy consumption) is responsible for about 98%.
The Personal Table Light (PTL) has been awarded with a Best Product Award 2020 at the LpS Digital 2020 (see
https://www.led-professional.com/business/lps-digital-awards-and-announcements(opens in new window)). Patents have been filed for the optics (Lens light tile, Batwing) and for the PTL. Recommendations and Guides have been documented in numerous public deliverables (Stakeholder & Technology Acceptance Report, User insights briefing report, Environmental Assessment Report, Product and process eco-design guidelines, Final technology and market acceptance report, Standardization Information).
