The future of office lighting will demand a reduction in energy use and costs and this can be achieved with lower background levels and efficient low energy task lighting.
With a strong belief in achieving this, together with Ulrike Brandi we have developed Zebede – a 21st century ‘anglepoise’. Zebede is a task light which has been specially designed for use at desks and computer work stations.
Zebede has a distinctive “Z” which consists of three slim aluminium bars measuring only 7 x 50 mm. Two friction-torque hinges connect the bars and allow the light to be moved in the vertical and horizontal planes. By simply moving the top bar hinges the Zebede offers a variety of configurations in shape and distance between the light source and the desktop. Inserted into the Z top bar are three rows of seven individual LEDs integrated with a satin acrylic panel. The middle row contains cool white LEDs whilst warm white LEDs are positioned in the outer rows. Both cold and warm LEDs can be switched and dimmed separately.
The combination of light sources gives variable colour temperature and is an innovative application in task lighting. In every dimming configuration high quality light distribution is achieved to suit the user’s preference of colour and illuminance from an almost candle light effect through to brilliant white. Zebede can memorise individual preferences.
At maximum output the task light operates extremely energy-efficiently in relation to its brightness. At a distance of 500 mm between the worktop and the LED a maximum illuminance of 1500 lux is achieved over an A1 area with consumption at just 10 watts.
No maintenance is required, and with an average LED life of 50,000 hours plus the Zebede lamps last more than 20 years. One hundred prototypes in silver and in black have been made by Hamburg Licht . The design has been registered in Europe.