User:Sammysco31/lighting

Lighting in Museums Lighting is an essential component for museums because museums use it to illuminate objects, offices, bathrooms, entrances, storage, and nearly every other space in a museum. As important as light is for a museum, some light can cause negative effects on objects such as paintings, textiles, leather, photographs, books and paper, or mounted specimens. Light damage is cumulative and irreversible, so museums must take special care to avoid unnecessary light damage. The spectrum of light is separated into three categories: ultraviolet light (UV), visible light, and infrared light (IR). Ultraviolet light is most damaging to objects, while infrared light produces heat which also causes damage. Museums generally use halogen or metal halide track lighting in galleries and fluorescent light in storage; however, these are not energy efficient options. Halogen lights waste energy by creating four times the amount of heat as a regular incandescent light and can become fire hazards. In a world where the use of more energy-efficient products is on the rise, museums have more opportunities than ever to cut down on the amount of electricity they use.

Lighting Options Beyond halogen and incandescent light options, museums use LEDs, CFLs, fiber optics, hybrid solar lighting and natural light.

LEDs- LED stands for light emitting diodes which are illuminated by the movement of electrons in a semi-conductor material. LEDs consume one fifth of the energy of conventional bulbs (incandescent) and last one hundred times longer and while LEDs can be more expensive than incandescent, they use less energy and are more cost effective. LEDs produce no UV light, little heat and can be used to illuminate objects. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that rapid adoption of LED lighting over the next 20 years in the United States could save about $265 billion in energy costs.

CFLs- Introduced in the 1980s, compact fluorescent light bulbs use gas that is stimulated with an electric current to produce light. CFLs use less energy than an incandescent and last six to ten times longer. CFLs contain mercury so disposing of them can be very complicated. Museums need to have special disposal methods when using CFLs.

Fiber Optics- Fiber optic lights use plastic or glass fibers to distribute light. The heat source is removed from the end of the fiber and the longer the length of the fiber, the more loss of heat at the end. Glass fibers dissipate UV light, but plastic fibers need UV filtering.

Hybrid Solar Lighting- Hybrid solar lighting combines solar power and fiber optics to channel sunlight into an enclosed space while directing infrared light into a concentrating thermo-photo-voltaic cell that converts to electricity. Sunlight is tracked by a parabolic disk and sensors maintain a constant level of illumination by supplementing sunlight with traditional electric light in special hybrid lighting fixtures. Hybrid solar lighting is more efficient than photo-voltaic cells.

Natural Light- Numerous museums use natural light instead of artificial light to illuminate spaces. However, sunlight is the most damaging form of light. Natural light can only be used in spaces that do not contain light sensitive materials such as lobbies, offices, or in museums that do not contain light sensitive objects. Museums can also use UV filters on windows to lessen the harmful effects of sunlight.

-Brise Soleil

Solais Lighting Selected for Smithsonian American Museum of Art Energy Efficient Lighting Museum Practice: Is Now the Time to Invest in LED lighting? Philips and the State Hermitage