Sodium is back: Cree and Lumileds unveil 1900K lamp
Cree and Lumileds have teamed up to develop an LED lamp with the characteristics of high pressure sodium lamps.
It will have the same correlated colour temperature of 1900K, a similar colour rendering index of 50 and a near-absence of blue.
The companies say the light source – dubbed 19K5 – was specifically developed to significantly reduce blue light emissions of outdoor lighting applications while still maintaining illumination and energy performance.
The 19K5 option emits a warm, amber-white light with less than 2 per cent blue content between 400nm and 500nm.
At 171 lm/W, the efficacy is better than traditional high pressure sodium, which ranged from 75 to 140 lm/W.
Powered by Lumileds’ Luxeon 3030 LEDs with NightScape Technology™, 19K5 is, says the brands, aimed at municipalities and ‘blue-light-sensitive regions’ where reducing light pollution, and its impact on people, wildlife, and the night sky, is a priority.
‘19K5 provides a thoughtful, intentional choice for communities proactively seeking to reduce blue light emissions,’ Kurt Wilcox of Cree Lighting told the Circular Lighting Report.
The LED module uses NightScape technology, which minimises the blue component of LED modules and which won a prestigious Build Back Better Platinum Award in 2023.
Blue light content is a critical factor as it has been shown to have a significant impact on the circadian rhythms and behaviours of humans, plants, and wildlife. It is increasingly the focus of attention for local authorities, municipalities, policy makers and legislators.
Some local authorities – such as Maui in Hawaii – even limit blue to under 2 per cent of new exterior light.
Phosphor-converted amber, or a 3000K white LED and an amber filter or amber optics are options, but both have significant downsides. NightScape Technology has already been available in Luxeon 3030 HE Plus and Luxeon 5050 Square LED emitters, two workhorses of the outdoor lighting industry.
• Learn more about sustainable lighting at Circular Lighting Live 2025, Recolight’s flagship conference and exhibition, on Thursday 25 September at the Minster Building in London. Free to specifiers, Circular Lighting Live 2025 will feature leading experts, specifiers and policy makers who will share their insights into forthcoming standards and legislation, emerging technologies and new business models. More info: www.circularlighting.live
