Fiber Optic Solar Lighting Roundup

Sunlight is the standard for lighting. It's what our eyes are adapted to, it's absolutely free, and it is the light we are most comfortable with. Inside buildings, we've gotten used to having artificial lighting, but spaces with daylight are always nicer.

A range of companies are now producing systems for capturing sunlight and transmitting it into the interior of a building with fiber optic cables, where it is used to illuminate spaces that cannot benefit from direct daylighting through windows. Today we feature three companies with fundamentally similar systems. Each uses a rooftop collector (though each has its own approach for this) to gather sunlight and a fiber optic cable bundle to carry the light into the building.

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bjork In Sweden, Parans connects their rooftop collector to the most stylish of the interior fixtures. The Bjork fixture is named for the birch tree, and the light it provides is likened to light filtering through birch leaves.

Sunlight Direct produces a Hybrid Solar Lighting system that pairs a fiber optic system with a fluorescent light fixture. A rooftop reflector concentrates enough light that one collector can supply light to eight luminaire fixtures. By monitoring the light being supplied, the system can maintain a constant light level when outdoor lighting conditions are changing.

solarlight4 In Japan, the Himawari uses an array of lenses to concentrate the light onto the fibers. Like the Sunlight Direct system, the Himawari system tracks the sun via on-board sensors in clear weather, or relies on an internal clock when the weather is overcast.

Himawari has units ranging in capacity from a small unit with a single terminal to their largest array which can serve 33 interior fixtures. The Himawari system uses ceiling mounted "lighting appliances" which look much like standard monopoint heads or conventional downlights.

All of these filter UV and IR light before the light that is transmitted. This makes these systems ideal for use in art galleries and for applications where delicate and light and heat sensitive materials are present. These systems require a small amount of power in order to operate the tracking mechanism, but this is far lower than the power needed to provide a similar amount of electric illumination, even from high efficiency sources.

There are some drawbacks and limitations with these systems, however. The systems are generally constrained by the length of the fiber optic cable, which, at present, is roughly 45 feet (15m) from the collector. While the manufacturers don't directly discuss it in their literature, keeping the reflector or the enclosing bubble clean and clear would be vital for maintaining the light quality from these systems.

Nonetheless, these are all promising systems that are beginning to see some use. Sunlight Direct expects their HSL system will cost approximately $10,000 (US) in 2007, but as production increases, the cost for these systems should come down.

Despite their high installation costs, the lighting provided by these systems is almost free. Each one requires only a few watts of power for the sensors and the tracking motor that keeps it aligned with the sun, yet can provide illumination for as much as 1000 square feet.

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via: cocolico and Greenbuilding Digest

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More Sustainable = Great! But 'more huma
written by Andrew Pettit, September 21, 2006

This is fantastic. Anything that moves us more towards a sustainable way of life is a step in the right direction, particularly if it targets the retail industry and addresses a frightening trend of putting capitalism before the health of our planet and its inhabitants.

ONE THING THOUGH (it's a big one):
The video mentions "making the light more human." Excuse me? Did you say 'more human'?! The human-centric view many hold of this world is astounding. Light would be more natural - i.e., less noticeably manipulated by tech-intervention - but calling it 'more human' reminds me of the familiar notion that everything belongs to and exists for us (as humans). That thought is, quite simply, nutty. Our planet is an ecosystem: everything is equally important and intertwined; pull on one aspect of the web and everything feels it. We are no more special nor entitled than any other part of the ecosystem; albeit we have the ability to choose our impact/manipulate variables. That may lead some clever folk to realizing we have a moral responsibility to take care as best we can. I sure hope so.

-2

...
written by Scott P, September 21, 2006

Yes...But buildings and lighting for buildings exist for humans...not for monkeys or caterpillars.

Making a light used by a human more agreeable to a human sounds like a pretty reasonable goal.

nothing new
written by karlman, September 21, 2006

I first saw a story on this approximately 10 years ago. It was on that TV show called "Beyond 2000" (now called "Beyond Tomorrow"). Too bad it hasn't become more widely used (and more affordable).

Great idea
written by SP, September 21, 2006

Yet another component of a perfect, sustainably high standard of living is invented. Yes, everything does exist for us humans. Might makes right, in fact. However, it is in our interest to take care of our environment and to make it sustainable for ourselves and the creatures/plants we enjoy. The world has no meaning without thinking creatures to give it meaning, always remember that. The world exists for us and we are indeed more worthy to use it than less sentient creatures. Nonetheless, we have been very nearsighted in the past 100+ years but now small components are coming out which, if combined with eugenic policies and governments which have as a goal the perpetuation and preservation of desirable traits, we may yet survive and continue to thrive on this beautiful world.

-2

Bad Attitude
written by AMS, September 23, 2006

@SP: I dont agree with your thinking an attitude there.
The whole world is an ecosystem as stated in one of the posts above. We; just like other creatures are part of of this ecosystem.
Also, since buildings and lights are for us humans, it would be appropriate to make things more human-centric. But one should no where this "human-centric" line is to be drawn.

great
written by marco, October 18, 2006

I think it's gorgeous! Pretty smart idea, especially if we think the energy save we can reach!

...
written by sneezy, November 07, 2006

this is very cool. i would like to know how much energy is lost in production of the fiber cables.

...
written by Jim Willoughby, December 26, 2006

Is there any product that I could put into a sail of a boat to create some type of electrical energy

In a home?
written by Jason Nooner, February 07, 2007

I would love to build this in my home. It could reduce the light consumption alot more in the home that the office just because the home is a smaller space. A few skylights and south facing windows and I'm confident no power lights would be needed to light the home other than on very overcast days. but I have less than 55 of thise a year here where I live.

No Title....
written by hendry, April 12, 2007

good......this is new inovation

use for indoor farming?
written by MH, April 29, 2007

I've seen several academic proposals for vertical indoor farming bouncing around, but while the advantages of such systems are obvious they all fail (in my eyes) to address how they will provide the appropriate wavelengths and levels of light to plants with roofs over them. Fiber optic solar transmission would be one solution. Does anyone know how many lumens can be captured and transmitted for a given system without loss to make this feasible? Plants need a lot of light after all.

Night Time
written by Anthony, May 15, 2007

What happens at night, is there standard lighting systems.

Night Time 2
written by Brian Holgate, December 21, 2007

I agree with Anthony. Why is it there is no mention of night lighing. Considering half the day is spent as with no light. Hense the name night time. What happens then. Do I need another lighting system all together. I would like to not have to buy and install 2 seperate units!!

tga
written by mohsen, January 06, 2008

i have 7 floors building.can i use the HSL system for all floors?homany collectores need for lighting of all floores?cost?

Fiber Optics Have Many of the Same Uses
written by Dmac, February 13, 2008

I own a Fiber optics website. I also install and keep up on the many uses of the fiber optic cable and lighting.
The fiber optic end light cable can be great for lighting. You can use one Light box to Light as Much as one large Office space less than a 100 x 100 feet.
There are also many other uses for these and Led Lights.
We are seeing many uses for the led lighting also I cam across this awesome sight www.GoingGreenLighting.com
They use less watts per office space. Like 90% less energy per fixture or bulb. Big Upfront cost but no maintenance and long bulb life help meter each other out.
My website is www.fiberoptixin.com

sales
written by margie altman, April 04, 2008

please have a sales person call me asap!!

Fiber Optic Cabling
written by sezer, April 13, 2008

Fiber Optic Cabling -Technical Support- Information Web Site - - http://fiberoptic-cable.blogspot.com

Himawari's light is FREE, with their Sol
written by Chris, September 16, 2008

Himawari has been around since the 70's, I've been trying to find these since I saw them on a tv show in the late 80's.

Anyway, some of the Himawari models are solar panel powered. So it actually costs nothing to use. smilies/grin.gif

where can I buy systems like that?
written by Per Hornbech, October 31, 2008

Hi everybody

I am engineer in a energy company, and I may have som money for cutting energy consumation in our offices. I would like to know where it is possible to buy a system like that.

Regards
Per

...
written by too much overhead, December 13, 2008

All of these companies are offering systems that are crazy expensive and totally over-engineered. Not to mention that the only US venture's website portrays a start up that reeks of managerial incompetence to rival GM. The idea is a simple one, and its most useful incarnation will certainly be stumbled upon if people are not afraid to experiment in the garages(think gates jobs wozniak) The key here is distributed engineering, not just distributed light production.

owner
written by tom, January 15, 2009

is there any way to install for less 10.000.

retired telco manager / development mind
written by John E. Sears, February 11, 2009

I too am intrigued by the solar and fiber for the home lighting systems. Am currently piecing together a hopefully mild pricing scheme for a moderate home lighting and heating system. In the infant stages presently.

ceo / Director
written by g.ramamoorthy, February 18, 2009

Sir,
We are chennai based INDIA solar power solutions and domestic solar power solutions providers, our
customer need to install FIBER OPTIC SOLAR LIGHTING
room size 15 X 17 kindly send details (its an office) you have any indian agent let me know his
address.

Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
for SOLAR PRODUCTS INDIA
G.RAMAMOORTHY

'The Rock'
written by Dwayne Johnson, March 16, 2009

If ya smellllllllll-l-l-lll.........(cool eyebrow movements) what the Rock is cooking

oil field warehouse and services pvt ltd
written by S. A P Venkatesh, April 29, 2009

Hey I am looking for solar energy power source for our office and warehouse building alternate to normal electrical power as part of our eco friendly program. But we could not find a proper company who could do that service for us, in India please approach with details.

oil field warehouse and services
written by S. A P Venkatesh, April 29, 2009

contact: 00919390332941
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Positive technology
written by JJ, May 20, 2009

The total entropy seems to be positive for this technology. However, the items needed for its success are: creative designs, innovation in materials and fabrication, cost effective manufacturing, and smart marketing. This is a feasible technology with a valid science, and that is something we do not see much often in these days of rat race to commercialization of non-viable technologies. For more entroplus thinking, please see http://www.entroplus.com

sunlight losing rates
written by Thomas, July 04, 2009

whether someone can introduce the sunlight losing rate thru the optic fiber cable in long distane 100 ft to 300ft of these makers; Himawari. Parans, Sunlight Direct

Need to buy your products including sun catcher
written by Nadipuram. Koustubhan, July 24, 2009

We are located in the USA and currently building a 4 storied residential building in Bangalore indai and wsant to inerduce fiber optic lighting system in the building and make it a model in the area nd for Bangalore to show to the public the cost savings and advanges of cool lighting system. to accomplish our dreasm we would like to buy your product along with sun catcheer and other accessories. pl send us prices for typical residentil fixtureand cost Sun catcher we want to buy and let us know as we can do this and later we want to be your sales rep for Bangalore India. Pl respond.

Thanks very much.

Koustubhan

Administrator
written by Cherry Lam, August 07, 2009

We are seeking for one Solar fiber lightware as exhibit for one science center. May I have your more project catalogue, quotation with delivery up to Hong Kong.