The U.S. Department of Energy’s testing program for solid-state lighting — CALiPER, which is short for Commercially Available LED Product Evaluation and Reporting — in 2012 found continued improvement in the performance of LED lighting products and saw evidence of a shift in the priorities of the manufacturers. DOE put out a summary report (link goes to PDF report) looking back at the CALiPER program’s findings in 2012 and how LEDs have changed since its testing began in 2006.
More than 500 products have been subjected to the CALiPER program’s rigorous testing over its first six years. Over that time, the testing revealed a rapid increase in efficacy which then took a step back in 2012. The report suggests this may be due to the lighting types tested, particularly the inclusion of recessed downlight wallwashers, which value optical control over efficacy, or that manufacturers may be settling on a preferred range of lumens-per-watt as an optimum balance of price and performance. The testing also has shown improvements in color quality and an increase in consistency of color rendering.
Said the report, “The improved color quality of LED products may also be contributing to the slowing trend of increased efficacy; that is, more manufacturers are emphasizing quality, rather than just energy efficiency.
“Compared to past years, increases in efficacy slowed in 2012, and other factors, like CRI, showed signs of stabilizing. However, CALiPER data also suggest that price is being reduced and the lumen output of integrated LED lamps is increasing.
“With a majority of conventional products — excluding some high-output products — now having an LED alternative, manufacturers may be focusing on reducing initial cost or on improving lighting quality rather than increasing efficacy to reduce life-cycle cost.”