The U.S. Department of Energy has released a CALiPER 2012 Year in Review report that summarizes recent testing results and provides an overview of multi-year trends. The report is available for download.
Since its inception in 2006, the CALiPER program has tested more than 500 products, revealing a variety of performance trends, holding manufacturers accountable for claims, and identifying concerns that limit adoption. The 150 products reported on in 2012 included downlight retrofit units, floodlights, BR30/R30 lamps, AR111/PAR36 lamps, wallwashers, linear pendants, and PAR38 lamps—and many common observations can be made across the product types. Although increases in efficacy slowed, and other factors, like CRI, showed signs of stabilizing, CALiPER data suggest that price is being reduced and the lumen output of integrated LED lamps is increasing. In general, while LED products have come a long way, advances in efficacy, quality, control features, and cost effectiveness should continue.
The DOE Solid-State Lighting CALiPER program supports testing of a wide array of SSL products available for general illumination, and allows its test results to be distributed in the public interest for non-commercial, educational purposes only.
