Filters can also be added to the light source to provide a variety of colorful effects. Sulfur lamps from Fusion Lighting Inc. have been touted as the light source of the future for RSL because they are more compact, more efficient, and last longer than metal halide sources. The lamp, which generates light through the use of microwaves that excite atoms of sulfur, argon, and other gases, has been used with light pipes in applications including a manufacturing plant and an aircraft hangar. But the light has temporarily been withdrawn from the market for redesign. Light from a smaller source can be more accurately directed into the optical fiber.
Sunlight holds significant potential for boosting the value of remote-source lighting systems.
Studies have shown that daylighting may reduce energy costs, improve productivity, and create health benefits. The most common approach to the use of sunlight in a remote-source configuration is with the use of daylight pipes. Daylight pipes feature reflective tubes that carry light from the roof of a building into living or working spaces. Originally developed for residential applications, daylight pipes are also being used in commercial and industrial spaces. A refinement of the standard daylight-pipe configuration features a tracking reflector that follows the sun.