Two engineers have developed an environmentally friendly lighting system that can cut energy usage by up to 30 per cent.
Henry Chung Shu-hung and Ron Hui Shu-yuen, of City University's electronic engineering department, have come up with a device which better controls the flow of current to light bulbs. By modifying a widely used device called an 'electromagnetic ballast' that controls the electric current to dim lights, the inventors say their system can be both energy efficient and environmentally friendly. 'Not only does it help reduce energy consumption, the materials used can also be recycled,' said Dr Chung.
'[Most] lighting systems that have a dimming function do not reduce energy consumption, and energy-saving technology is not necessarily environmentally friendly.'
Their system, which can control whole sets of lights both indoors and outdoors, has been installed in the city of Heshan in Guangdong. It has been monitoring about 2,000 street lamps since September. It is expected to achieve an average electricity saving of 30 per cent.
A law firm in Central is also experimenting with the new system.
Currently available electromagnetic ballasts last for up to 20 years, but they tend to use excessive energy. They are increasingly being replaced by 'electronic ballasts', which can both dim lights and save energy. But electronic ballasts last only five years at the most, and become a significant source of toxic electronic waste.