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Submitted by shadoweyes on Wed, 2006-08-30 19:57

Oak Ridge National Laboratory recently announced more news about a new technology. Using fiber-optics and 48 inch roof collectors, they are lighting buildings with sunlight.

The hybrid solar lighting technology uses a rooftop-mounted 48-inch diameter collector and secondary mirror that track the sun throughout the day. The collector system focuses the sunlight into 127 optical fibers connected to hybrid light fixtures equipped with diffusion rods visually similar to fluorescent light bulbs. These rods spread light in all directions. One collector powers eight to 12 hybrid light fixtures, which can illuminate about 1,000 square feet. During times of little or no sunlight, a sensor controls the intensity of the artificial lamps to maintain a constant level of illumination.

They are still in beta testing and are trying to cut the costs by one third. It will also qualify for tax credits - good policy. Nonetheless, they see massive potential for it as it reduces not only lighting cost, but air cooling cost as well. That is especially good because it makes the most sense to put these in hot, southern areas that get the most sun.

The system can save about 6,000 kilowatt hours per year in lighting and another 2,000 in reduced cooling needs for a total of 8,000 kilowatt hours annually, according to Sunlight Direct estimates. Over 10 years, for parts of the country where the utility rates are 10 cents per kilowatt hour, that can result in savings up to $8,000 per hybrid solar lighting unit. For large floor spaces - 100,000 to 200,000 square feet - this translates into energy cost savings of between $1 million and $2 million over 10 years, according to Sunlight Direct. Operation and maintenance savings could account for another $300,000 in savings over the same period.