Academic Imaging Associates
Digital Imaging, Technology & Services
For Libraries, Archives, Museums & Scientific Institutions
Buhl Low Energy HID Lighting
To date, lighting fine art, rare documents, books and artifacts has been a compromise between curatorial concerns and photographic quality. Tungsten light is focusable and strong, but throws off an unacceptable amount of heat (IR). As a matter of fact, 94% of the energy released from quartz halogen lamps is HEAT. A 1000 watt tungsten lamp produces only 60 watts (6%) useable light.
Given the expense of purchasing and maintaining HMI lighting and the high amount of UV they emit, manufacturers of digital camera backs began to recommend fluorescent lighting as a viable alternative to tungsten. But that, too, has its tradeoffs. It takes 8 bulbs in a reflective fixture (we measured against Kino Flo) to supply only 166 foot-candles of light at 5 feet. The light is diffuse and cannot be focused, and the large footprint creates glare problems for those who have to work with them, not to mention high UV levels if not coated or filtered.
Now, BhuLites Low Energy Lighting HID fixtures offer a very attractive alternative to tungsten and fluorescents at an affordable price. They last 10,000 plus hours, have no appreciable UV, emit little if any heat, and actually use less electric than tungsten, fluorescent and HMI lighting.
Low Energy HID Lighting Fixtures:
- Emit negligible heat and are actually touchable after hours of illumination.
- Provide 3 times more visible and useable light than tungsten. One BuhLite 150 W fixture has almost the same output LPW (lumens per watt) as a standard 1,000W quartz lamp.
- Bulbs last 12,000 hours compared to tungsten's 750 hours.
- Provide easy focus ability.
- Use 90% less electrical energy than tungsten.
- Vastly reduce air conditioning bills.
- Provide a comfortable, natural, extremely low UV and low IR light for artwork and photographers alike.
BuhLites are the only lights which can actually pay for themselves by cutting electrical bills and lowering air conditioning requirements. In some cases, they may even be eligible for energy rebates from local utilities.
