International. Just over a year ago, the Department of Education of Nova Scotia, Canada, recommended that local schools begin purchasing Casio projectors equipped with LED/hybrid lamps instead of mercury-based projection lamps. Schools responded to this by swapping 50% of projectors purchased last year for lampless models (LampFree), a percentage that is expected to increase to 60% throughout 2012.
"We clearly see the benefits of a device that has the same brightness, technology and can be integrated into our school classrooms in the same way as the rest of the projectors, but without requiring lamp changes or filter cleaning and reduces the environmental impact with its use," explains Wayne Hamilton, who leads the Technology Committee and does much of the Nova Scotia Department of Education's research on the city of Halifax.
The biggest advantage of LampFree projectors can be summarized in: saving money. According to Hamilton, under this year's contract, Nova Scotia schools will pay about 40% more for a Casio LED/hybrid laser projector, than for a similar one with a lamp. However, he also explains that, according to his projections, the total cost of repairs and technical service over the life of the projector will be 35% to 40% lower. "We expect to save up to 50% within the next six to seven years," Hamilton adds, "but 35% is a very conservative estimate."
Usually, what we find in the case of a ceiling-mounted projector, we replace the bulb once or twice, and if it's a portable unit, it's probably changed three times over its lifetime. If the cost of a replacement lamp – which represents more than 30% of a projector's capital cost – if you buy three replacements, you would have spent the same on lamps as you paid for the original full unit."
One of the reasons nova Scotia schools – like most school systems – don't buy more replacement lamps is because as projectors age, buying a lamp compared to buying a new projector is a bad investment.
An important point to consider for Nova Scotia schools is the environmental impact of using lamp projectors compared to projectors with LED technology. "Every time we build or renovate a school, we are required to acquire a LEED certification," Hamilton explains. "This year we have received Gold certification, which is the highest standard within LEED.
For 2010-2011, the Department of Education negotiated the acquisition of Casio XJ-A130 and XJ-M140 Slim projectors, the original hybrid LED/laser projectors, and this year they have switched to the newer ZJ-M140 Signature model.
