Learners Design Innovative Green Lighting Solutions
Eskom invites professional and amateur designers to enter the Energy Efficient Lighting Design Competition
For the first time this year, the Eskom Energy Efficient Lighting Design Competition is open to learners at secondary schools around the country. The learners will join professional and amateur designers, engineers, students and anyone with a flair for design, a love of lighting or a passion for the planet in submitting their innovative lighting solutions to win their share of R214,000 in prize money, as well as the opportunity to be honoured with the Sparks Trophy.
The lighting design competition, held once every two years, is an invaluable channel for uncovering innovation and ideas in the burgeoning field of green lighting design. By highlighting the opportunities for energy efficient lamps and technologies, the competition has helped stimulate wider-spread acceptance of green lighting designs and systems, making it an important part of Eskom’s ongoing programmes to inculcate a culture of energy and resource consciousness among South Africans.
He adds that: “Our lobbying programme with tertiary institutions in previous years has helped put energy efficiency on the radar of the engineering, architecture, interior design, industrial and product design faculties, creating awareness among future decision-makers. The competition has already been included in the curricula of all the main universities and design faculties in the country, so this year we have decided to expand the programme to secondary schools, which involves presentations, workshops and lectures to learners, where experts share knowledge and know-how, as well as sponsorships of lamps, control gear and equipment for previously disadvantaged learners.”
Participating and being honoured in the Eskom Energy Efficient Lighting Design Competition is an accolade that previous entrants have leveraged as a launch pad into energy efficient design and development in South Africa’s increasingly eco-conscious residential sector.
“As the competition has grown in stature since the 50 entries received in 1999, so has the calibre of entries. Albeit that the standard of entries is high, experience has shown that even the simplest ideas can be the most innovative. We trust that this year’s competition will once again attract a diverse array of high-quality entries and we look forward to seeing the submissions from our learners,” says Mr Etzinger.
The competition is supported by Philips, the Radiant Group, LED Lighting SA, Voltex, Eurolux, OSRAM, the Department of Energy, the eta Awards, 49M, NEEA, NMISA, SESSA, IESSA, Technology Innovation Agency, the South African Institute of the Interior Design Professionals, Electricity and Control, Sparks Electrical News, Vector, Lighting in Design and VISI magazine.
Entries to the competition close at midnight on Friday, 31 August 2012 for the following categories and special awards:
- Category A – Residential Luminaire Design, for full-time students at tertiary institutions including universities, colleges, design centres and schools of design.
- Category B – Innovative Energy Efficient Lighting Design, for professional graphic designers, electrical engineers, product designers and researchers.
- Special Awards – Most Promising Young Designer, for secondary school learners.
- Special Awards – Most Promising Designer, to honour amateur designers.
Submissions should take the form of an energy efficient lamp design, system or product that is suitable for use in residential homes. Entry forms and full details on participating in the competition are available at www.lighting-design.co.za or contact Ruth Kolevsohn at ruth@silverroot.co.za