LED light on demand | Swiss Cleantech Report

LED light sources have revolutionised the lighting market. Their widespread use has significantly reduced energy consumption. In office and administrative buildings, hotels and schools everywhere, LED tubes have replaced the old fluorescent tubes. They are used to light rooms, corridors, stairwells and car parks – often even when there are no people around.

Patrik Deuss, who was studying energy and environmental technology at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) at the time, saw the latter as a terrible waste. Consequently, he and a fellow student set about developing a control system for LED tubes that only switches the lamps on when people are nearby. What’s special about it is that the LED tubes are not switched on and off via a central motion detector: instead, every single tube has its own radar sensor. This individual control allows electricity consumption to be reduced by another 50 to 70 per cent. An additional advantage is that the tubes can be inserted directly into existing sockets.

In 2017, Patrik Deuss set up LEDCity AG to market his invention. Two years later, the start-up firm was already profitable. Recently, it has recorded sales growth of 80 to 100 percent each year, while the number of employees has risen to 45. In addition to Switzerland, branches have also been opened in Spain and Germany. Due to the comparatively high energy prices in these two countries, there is considerable incentive to save electricity there. The higher purchase costs for the intelligent LED tubes are quickly recouped through savings in electricity bills. LEDCity is using Spain as a test market for further expansion because of its very different culture and regulations.

The added value of the LED lighting system is further increased by additional functions. CO₂ and temperature sensors detect the quality of the indoor air. Daylight control means that the LED lights in office rooms can be automatically dimmed according to the amount of sunlight entering the space. And it is not just lighting applications that are possible: for example, the movement data from the radar sensors can be used to better plan the deployment of cleaning teams.