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Energy Efficient Lighting
In the European Union and in many countries around the world,
traditional incandescent light bulbs are being phased out in favour of
newer, more energy efficient types of lighting.
For the consumer, the choice can be quite confusing.
Hi
Hi, hello.
I need a light bulb. A long life one, but that doesn't cost a lot, OK, one that gives a nice light.
- Certainly. - I'm not really sure ...
Let's see the types in the window.
OK. Thank you.
This is a spotlight type. It uses 20w but it's equivalent to a 100w bulb.
Right.
And then we have this type. The classic bulb shape, the traditional tear-drop.
That also uses 20w but is equivalent to 100w. Then we have a globe shape ...
Those at the back?
Yes, the very round shape, more so than the old bulbs. It uses 30w and develops 150w.
150 watts, so ...
Then finally we have the sphere, the LED ball. 10w consumption but giving almost 100w.
OK. But do you think we could have a look at all these? See how how they are? Thanks.
Certainly. We can see them lit up.
This is the 100w spot, this one here.
Can we see the light that it makes?
There. It starts like this, then gets brighter.
Right
Then we've got the globe.
There we are. It starts like this and then gets brighter.
Perfect.
Now this one, the classic teardrop shape.
Yes, very much like the shape of the traditional light bulbs.
There we are. Over time it gets brighter. It takes a second or two.
What's the best one?
This last one, the LED, is very good, because, unlike the others, it starts immediately.
Oh, right. It's full on immediately.
- That's the best. - Yes it is.
OK. What I'd like ... I'll have one of the LED - that's something new for me.
And then one of the more traditional shape.
This traditional one?
Yes, thanks a lot.
Over the last 20 years we've seen alternative types of lamp. In particular fluorescent and
LED lamps are widely available. Both types, particularly LED need some research to
develop them. Both types offer significant energy saving compared to incandescent lamps.
One new lamp and another next generation lamp. So we have two new type lamps.
What is the difference? This lamp gives us an average of about 2,000 hours
and another technology, such as LEDs, provides 20,000 hours of lamp life.
What does this mean in economic terms?
It means one lamp needs far lower maintenance than the other type.
Over time that's going to produce greater savings and the life of the replacement
is going to be more significant.
The longer the lamp lasts, the greater the energy saving.
Halogen is another type of lamp. It's less widely used and limited to special applications,
for example architectural illumination.
Instead, the big and very busy market for domestic lighting is for fluorescent bulbs.
The European Union set out a road map in 2008-9. From September 2009 it has been
progressively enforcing best energy parameters, so that by September 2012 - although not entirely -
they have banned the old incandescent light bulbs.
Today in our homes we can only use lamps that have the energy consumption of a
fluorescent lamp.
This lamp lasts two years and gives us a saving of about 30%.
This lamp lasts eight years and gives us a saving of about 80%.
This lamp lasts for twenty years and gives us a saving of about 80%.
It is estimated that these new types of lamp can also save 20% of a family's
yearly energy consumption.
Every single fluorescent bulb gives us an 80% saving over the old incandescent
filament bulb. This is because 95% of the energy used in the old incandescent bulbs
was converted into heat. So only 5% was used to light the area.
The ratio with fluorescent bulbs is almost the reverse.
This is a sensor that can be linked to the lamps, so they'll only light up at the time
when we actually need them. That will give us additional energy savings.
It can also link in to home automation (domotic) systems.