Record Number Of Entries For EELDC

Power utility Eskom this year received a record number of 567 entries from designers for its Energy Efficient Lighting Design competition (EELDC), which closed for entries on July 30.

The biennial competition aimed at encouraging the integration of energy efficient lighting in architectural, engineering, and interior design. Professionals and students too up the challenge to integrate energy efficient lighting sources with novel design solutions.

Each entrant assembled a working lighting fixture, designed specifically for energy efficient light bulbs.

"We are delighted by the large number of high quality entries that offer exciting new options and creative design solutions for energy efficient lighting in the future. This competition also encouraged and inspired designers, architects and engineers to integrate energy efficiency in their work for the rest of their careers," said Eskom EELDC steering committee member Barry Bredenkamp.

Many designers used natural fibres, coarse textures and beads in luminaires with an ethnic or environmental theme, while others opted for high-tech lamps using wire, metal, granite and glass.

Some bold designs incorporate energy efficient lighting as part of a coffee table or chair. Designers used compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in their designs, making full use of the versatility offered by a variety of shapes, colours, sizes and warmths of CFLs and LEDs that are now commercially available.

In addition to designing and building the working prototype, entrants had to prepare a budget, submit a sketch and a photograph for each entry, and also had to comply with strict safety and quality standards.
The final judging of participants would take place at Radiant Lighting in Johannesburg on September 21, where semi-finalists would have to present their lamps to a panel of judges. Regional judging expos would take place nation wide during August and September.

Students designed lighting fixtures for residential use, and the winning student would receive R30 000, with R20 000 for the runner-up, and R10 000 for the third place winner. There was also a cash prize of R10 000 for the institution where the winning student is enrolled. Ten most promising previously disadvantaged designers will win R1 000 each.

Professionals competed in the Innovative Energy Efficient Lighting Design category and the winner would receive R30 000.