France CITADEL project to test indoor LED lighting

The French CITADEL project by the French scientific and technical construction center (CSTB: the French Center for Building Science and Technology) initiative, the center is a large French academic lighting laboratory and PHILPS lighting of the French company, recently, the project has already been formed, using optimization to research and promote LED lighting in the construction industry.

Because the project is suitable for the specific needs of construction and tenants, the project aims to fully describe the characteristics of LED lighting products. CSTB current and electromagnetic Department of lighting minister Christophe Martinsons said the project is expected to define a new standard to measure the visual comfort and color rendering characteristics of LED.

The three year project (beginning in February 9th) budget is $1 million 500 thousand, and by the French environment and Energy Agency (ADEME:French Environment and Energy Management) to raise funds. Part of the project was inspired by the U.S. Department of energy CALIPER project.

The project will determine the aging methods (climate and durability) to assess the actual life expectancy of LED lighting products. Durability will be studied by life cycle analysis and total cost of ownership.

Laboratory measurements will be carried out by using several types of metrology, microanalysis, and aging settings. The project also includes numerical simulation, focus groups, economic accounting and a complete set of environmental analysis.

The project was developed by the French consortium building science and Technology Center (CSTB); electronic and Information Technology Laboratory (CEA-LETI); the French national test (LNE) (with the National Institute of standards and Technology (NIST) equivalent); Institute of architectural engineering and public works; Laplasse (LAPLACE), a large laboratory (electrical engineering the University of Toulouse and the French National Academy of Sciences (CNRS)); and PHILPS lighting.

CITADEL is a part of "project Cluster Lumi re innovation project, France lighting group headquartered in the city of lyon.