UV4GOOD Highlights Emerging Trends in Measuring Germicidal UV Light Efficiency - UV Solutions Magazine
UV4GOOD, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the safe and effective use of germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) technology, is highlighting new industry insights on how the efficiency of UV light sources is evaluated across disinfection applications.
The organization recently shared a featured article published in UV Solutions Magazine that explores evolving methods for measuring the performance of germicidal ultraviolet light sources as UV technologies continue to diversify. The article, “Trends in Evaluation and Measurement of Efficiency of Germicidal Ultraviolet Light Sources,” examines how efficiency metrics are adapting to support informed decision-making in water, air, and surface disinfection.
Read the full article here:
https://uvsolutionsmag.com/featured/2025/trends-in-evaluation-and-measurement-of-efficiency-of-germicidal-ultraviolet-light-sources/
A Changing UV Technology Landscape
Traditional low-pressure mercury lamps have long been the standard for germicidal applications due to their reliable output and efficiency at established germicidal wavelengths. Today, however, newer technologies—including ultraviolet LEDs, excimer lamps, and pulsed light sources—are expanding the range of available options and introducing greater complexity in performance evaluation.
As the featured article outlines, comparing UV sources now requires a multi-dimensional approach that considers factors such as:
Wall-plug efficiency, or how effectively electrical input is converted into usable UV output
Fluence and fluence-response relationships, which describe how delivered UV energy impacts microbial inactivation
Electrical energy per order, a system-level metric that reflects the energy required to achieve a defined level of pathogen reduction
These metrics provide a more accurate representation of real-world performance and help guide appropriate technology selection across different applications.
The Importance of Measurement and Ongoing Verification
UV4GOOD emphasizes that accurate measurement does not stop at system design or installation. Ongoing monitoring, validation, and quality assurance are essential to ensure UV systems continue to perform as intended over time—particularly in critical environments such as healthcare, water treatment, food safety, and public infrastructure.
As UV technologies continue to advance, standardized evaluation methods and transparent reporting will play a key role in supporting confidence, safety, and effectiveness across the industry.
Supporting Education and Responsible UV Adoption
By amplifying research and industry dialogue around UV efficiency and measurement, UV4GOOD continues its mission to educate stakeholders and promote responsible adoption of ultraviolet technologies. Clear performance metrics enable better system design, improved energy efficiency, and more reliable public health outcomes.
As measurement practices evolve alongside UV innovation, UV4GOOD remains committed to helping ensure that ultraviolet technology is applied thoughtfully, effectively, and for the greatest possible benefit.
