Energy Saving Tips

What Can I do?

For existing installations, simply changing your existing incandescent light bulbs to energy efficient fluorescent bulbs is the quickest and simplest way to cut your energy use. If you are planning a new build or a new lighting scheme, installing energy efficient fittings will save you money and save the enviroment.

Encourage all members of your household to turn off lights every time they leave the room.

Where possible install two-way switching for staircases, halls and rooms with more than one door. Push button time switches and sensor lights are ideal for stairways and garages.

Here are some tips:

• Turn off lights in areas not being used.

• Open curtains in the morning, rather than turning on the light.

• Paint rooms in light colours, as this aids reflection of available light.

• Use desk or standard lamps where most light is needed, so less lighting is required in the rest of the room.

• Halogen desk lamps are more efficient than incandescent ones, as they consume only 25-35% of the energy and last 2-4 times longer than an incandescent lamp while giving the same light output.

• Clean lamps and fittings - over time, dirt build up reduces light output.

• Use fluorescent tubes, they use a quarter of the electricity consumed by ordinary bulbs and last around eight times longer.

• Light dimmers save you money and can extend the life of incandescent lamps.

• For security lighting, install time, motion or light sensing switches.

What are LEDs?

LEDs (light emmiting diodes) have been around for a while commonly used in electronic equipment & indicator lamps. Although with the devopment in technology in the last few years they have grown into a fantastic doloution for a energy concius consumer. Some of the key features are:

• Long Life up to 100,000 hours

• Low heat consumtion

• Zero ultr violet light emmited

• Availible in White, Red, Green, Blue , Yellow & Colour Changing

• Small size allows smaller light fixture design

LEDs can be used in many applications in both a commercial & domestic setting for more advice please submit an enquiry.

Why Fluorescent?

By installing fluorescent bulbs in rooms you use regularly you could reduce the amount of energy you use for lighting by up to 80 percent. Although more expensive to buy than incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescents more than pay for themselves in reduced energy costs.

Compact fluorescents can last around ten thousand hours up to eight times longer than incandescent bulbs. Fluorescent lamps use about one fifth of the energy used by incandescent bulbs. Due to government regulations soon to be enforced there is no time like the presend to do you part and swith to energy efficient lighting.

The Power of Bulbs

Lamp or bulb power is measured in watts. One thousand watts equals one kilowatt. A kilowatt-hour is equal to 1000 watts used for 1 hour. Bulbs operate within a set range of watts. The maximum wattage defines the bulb: 40, 60, 75 or 100 watt for typical incandescents. Fluorescent lights are also measured in watts, but they're so energy efficient that you'll get much better light output and longer lamp life, and still use less wattage. For example, a common 75-watt incandescent bulb has an average lamp life of 750 hours, compared to between 2,000 and 6,000 for halogens and 7,500 to 20,000 for fluorescents. Be careful with halogens, however: They must be used correctly or can be a fire hazard.

Making the Best of Light and Energy

When you hear about the efficiency of a fixture, it refers to the percentage of light that actually leaves through the bulbs. In an inefficient fixture, energy is wasted because the light is absorbed by the fixture itself or emitted into the ceiling cavity. It's critical that you choose a lamp that is compatible with your fixture and that you direct the light correctly. Doing these two things will maximize the energy efficiency of the fixture.

Efficient:

CFL's are four times more efficient and last up to 10 times longer than incandescents. A 22 watt CFL has about the same light output as a 100 watt incandescent. CFL's use 50 - 80% less energy than incandescents.

Less Expensive: Although initially more expensive, you save money in the long run because CFL's use 1/3 the electricity and last up to 10 times as long as incandescents. A single 18 watt CFL used in place of a 75 watt incandescent will save about 570 kWh over its lifetime. At 8 cents per kWh, that equates to a $45 savings.

High-Quality Light: Newer CFL's give a warm, inviting light instead of the "cool white" light of older fluorescents. They use rare earth phosphors for excellent colour and warmth. New electronically ballasted CFL's don't flicker or hum.

Versatile: CFL's can be applied nearly anywhere that incandescent lights are used. Energy-efficient CFL's can be used in recessed fixtures, table lamps, track lighting, ceiling fixtures and porch lights. 3-way CFL's are also now available for lamps with 3-way settings.

Simple Cost Analysis:

Comparison 50W GU10 Halogen Downlight Vs 11W GU10 Megaman Downlight. HOW MUCH WILL YOU SAVE?

* Based on 11 cents per unit of electricity
** Based on 158kWh
*** Based on 750kWh