Ten years ago, light-emitting diode (LED) luminaires began to appear in novelty items like Christmas cards and key-chain lights. Eight years ago they were gaining acceptance in the world of flashlights. Four years ago, they began illuminating American streets and parking lots.
Their first appearance on the front lines of exterior lighting was not without compromise. Manufacturers saw the potential, but in their zeal, many products were rushed to market before they were ready. Power output was limited. Most of the early designs required replacement of the entire luminaire rather than its individual components, and unit pricing was all over the map. Time and competition have leveled the playing field, dropped prices and resulted in the emergence of better products.
Jim Grayson is a senior security consultant. His career spans more than 35 years in law enforcement and security consulting. He worked for UCLA on a workplace violence study involving hospitals, schools and small retail environments and consulted with NIOSH on a retail violence prevention study. Grayson can be reached at [email protected].
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