Guide to low energy lighting

If you are interested in, but confused by, low energy lighting then this guide is for you!

There are two main types of low energy bulbs:  LED (light emitting diodes) and CFL (compact fluorescent lamps).

LEDs are widely used in computers and on car dashboards and other digital displays.  Unlike traditional bulbs and CFLs they are integral to the light and cannot easily be changed, but should last for decades.  We have an LED picture light but do not otherwise have any LED lighting.  LEDs are not widely used in residential lighting and therefore the rest of this guide is concerned with CFLs.

Traditional bulbs waste a lot of energy by turning it into heat rather than light.  CFLs work in the same way as fluorescent lights (those long strip lights): an electric current passes through gas in a tube, making the tube's coating glow brightly.  This means they use less energy and are cool to the touch, avoiding the problem of scorching shades and ceilings. 

CFLs use approximately 20 to 25% of the energy used by traditional bulbs.  For the energy saving bulbs that we stock, the equivalent traditional bulbs are as follows:

CFLs last on average between 6 and 15 years (depending on wattage, product type and usage), making them very convenient for difficult to get at locations.

For most people the environmental and cost benefits of energy saving bulbs are attractive but their concerns are whether they work as well, whether they can use them with their lights and what they will look like.

Do they work as well?

Provided you use good quality CFLs (look for the Energy Saving Recommended logo on the box) they emit a similar warm light level as traditional bulbs and will reach at least 60% of their full brightness in 60 seconds.  With the reflector spotlights we find there is a second or two's delay before the light comes on, but in practise this quickly becomes unnoticeable.

Where can they be used?

CFLs are available with small bayonet, standard bayonet and edison screw fittings, so can be used on any light with these fittings.  You do not need special lights to use CFLs.  Because some CFLs are broader than ordinary bulbs you may need to replace your candle tubes to fit the bulbs - we can supply these if needed.

Traditionally CFLs could not be used with dimmer switches but some new bulbs can now be used with them - please contact us if you'd like more information.  Low energy recessed downlighters, striplights and reflector spotbulbs are also now being manufactured and are available from us. 

If you need a halogen bulb you will not be able to use a CFL.  However lights with fittings for halogen bulbs (GU10 fittings) can be used with energy saving bulbs with GU10 fittings, which we can also supply. 

All our lights can be used with CFLs and we are in the process of adding our recommendations on energy saving options to the description of each light.

You can buy lights which only take pin based (as opposed to bayonet or edison screw) CFLs.  These may be required by building regulations in new builds and we have a range of these lights (for example our low energy cottage wall light and outdoor ship's light).  However if you are just replacing your lights or your bulbs you will not need these pin fittings. 

What will they look like?

The latest generation of CFLs are no longer very large and are available in the classic bulb shapes, including candle and golf ball.  The CFL is a coiled strip within an outer 'bulb shape' coating.

We stock candle bulbs in 7w (equivalent to 35w) and 9w (equivalent to 45w) sizes.  Both can be used with clip on candle shades that would be limited to 40w with ordinary bulbs. 

The 7w bulbs can be used with our standard candle tubes (which are generally 28mm in diameter) and shades.  The 9w bulbs are longer and therefore the plastic base of the bulb is visible below the shade.  To cover this we recommend using taller, 42mm diameter candle tubes.  You therefore have a choice between narrow candle tubes with a lower light output or broader candle tubes with a higher light output.  A few of our lights (eg the Ribbon wall light) cannot be used with  the 42mm candle tubes as the candle tubes are broader than the base of the fittings.  Where this is the case we recommend the 7w candle bulb as the energy saving option.

If you need any friendly advice on any aspect of low energy lighting please give us a call.