Saving energy on lighting
Saving energy on lighting
Q. How much energy can be saved through using new low energy lamps?
A. A 100 watt tungsten lamp is equivalent to a 20 to 25 watt low- energy compact fluorescent lamp. These not only use less energy, but also have a much longer life. You can expect to get a life of 8,000 hours from a 100 watt-equivalent lamp compared to 1000 hours from a conventional tungsten bulb.
Another type of low energy lamp is the LED (light emitting diode). There are many types of LED lamp that will replace tungsten lamps. For example a 50 watt GU10, a tungsten halogen lamp used commonly in spotlights, can be replaced with a 3 watt LED. The 50 watt GU10 would have a lamp life of about 2,500 hours, whereas the LED would last for more than 30,000 hours.
It is important to note, however that the lower wattage of LED lamps may not give the same amount of light as you would get with a 50 watt GU10 and can give off a very cool blue light.
Q. Can I install lighting controls to turn my outside lights off and on?
A. Photocells or timers can be fitted. The photocell works by switching the lights on when it becomes dark and off again when it is light. A timer allows you to choose when you want the lights to switch on and off. Both will prevent lights being left on when they are not needed. For listed buildings you would need to be careful about fixing the photocell to the structure. If possible buy lights that incorporate a photocell so a separate one would not be necessary.
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