Low Energy Lighting

[motownmartin]

I have never been too concerned about using low energy lamps, one reason being the the cost of the lamps, another reason was the reports I heard from others that have tried them saying they were poor lighting.

Recently our energy supplier sent us some lamps free of charge, I think most people got some, anyway I thought i'd give them a go and I was quite pleased with the results, although they do take a tew minutes to reach maximum brightness.

Well how much would you save, i'm sure that you already know that these lamps use just 1/5th of the energy, so i looked at 100 watt lamp with a usage of 10 hours a day, thats a usage of 1 KW a day :shock: work out the cost yourself :shock:

Now i have all the lamps changed that we use every day and the others will be replaced gradually, i'm looking for a big decrease in my electricity costs which at the moment are £57 a Month, maybe not so shocking but I have a similar bill for the Gas and I live in a Three Bed Semi.

Do you have these lamps or do you do anything to try and keep your cost down, what about your Monthly bill, is it more or less than I pay or do you have plenty of spare cash so you don't give Two hoots.

 

[Paul Chapman]

Do you have these lamps or do you do anything to try and keep your cost down

I just sit here thinking of all those government office blocks where they keep the lights on 24 hours a day. That makes my blood boil and I feel warmer........

 

[RogerS]

Personally I loath them. I hate rummaging around in the gloom for the bog paper and as for reading while you're there, forget it. I also don't like the colour of the light (colour temperature) that they give out or their design. We stocked up on normal tungsten bulbs in advance of them being phased out. I'll do my bit to save the planet some other way.

Haven't they banned patio heaters yet? When they do, I'll believe the Govt is serious regarding global warming.

 

[motownmartin]

To be honest the global warming thingy wasn't my main concern, it was the fact that I could buy some more wood and tools with the saving :lol:
Know what you mean about the office lights though Paul, also what Roger is saying about patio heaters, what a waste

 

[Paul Chapman]

Sorry about that, Martin, just a hobby horse of mine I hate dim lights so don't particularly like the low energy ones - but my wife keeps on about using them. At the moment the main thing we are doing is avoiding turning the heating on - the wife keeps telling me to wear yet another jumper, but I have four on already :? :lol:

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Smudger]

Ah! But you're a skinny b*****r!
I'm jolly warm in just a T shirt...

 

[Smudger]

Personally I loath them. I hate rummaging around in the gloom for the bog paper and as for reading while you're there, forget it. I also don't like the colour of the light (colour temperature) that they give out or their design.

I agree with that, but I'm prepared to put up with them - but there are only a few sockets in the house where they are applicable. Kitchen, breakfast room, bathroom all have halogen spots, living room and dining room have dimmers. Just about to put fluorescents in the loft. That only leaves bedrooms, my office, hall and landing. So our attempts are limited.

 

[OLD]

I do not find them dim or slow to start and have had to reduce wattage in some rooms as there to bright .
Morrisons and Ikea for low prices.
I use the type with 3 or 4 u tubes
Dimming is a problem i had dimmable wall lights in main room so obtained two standard lamps dim by switching lamps off now

 

[motownmartin]

I do not find them dim or slow to start and have had to reduce wattage in some rooms as there to bright .
Morrisons and Ikea for low prices.
I use the type with 3 or 4 u tubes
Dimming is a problem i had dimmable wall lights in main room so obtained two standard lamps dim by switching lamps off now

I bought some from Asda for about £2 to £3 depending on what sort, but that is a lot less than they used to be, a few days later I was in Homebase and they were selling the Philips lamps for half that price.

 

[MikeG.]

Those that comment on the dim light and slow start of low-energy lamps probably had an experience of them 5 years or so ago, decided they were poor then, and have stuck to the normal filament bulbs as a result.

I would urge you all to have another go!! The technology has moved on in leaps and bounds. They now turn on instantly, get to full brightness rapidly, and produce a much better light than they used to. I have one of the old type compact flourescents in my spare bedroom, and it frustrates me endlessly! Nothing happens for 5 seconds after the switch is switched, and then the light is like a 1 battery torch. The rest of my house has more modern ones, including downlighters (erroneously known as sunken spots), and they are just excellent.

Swapping to low-energy bulbs will save you quite a lot of money, but they aren't, of course, the biggest users of electricity in your house. If we all swapped to the most efficient fridges, I believe I've heard it said that we could shut down all of the UK's nuclear power stations overnight (not that you can shut down a nuclear power station overnight........but you get my drift!!).

The next big thing in light bulbs are LEDs, which are starting to spread. They aren't the finished article yet, but they are moving on apace. Anyone who has used an old-fashioned headtorch with the big batteries and mini-filament bulb who has then gone on to try the current generation of LED headtorches powered by tiny AAA batteries that last for hour after hour after hour will know just how good these bulbs are. They run on so little current, yet produce amazing amounts of light. I believe at the moment that they are good for focussed light but can't produce generalised room lighting.........it won't be long.

Low energy buildings is "my thing", and has been for 15 years now........but I am conscious that it can be tedious for others. Please tell me if I am getting too long-winded on this and related threads.....


Mike

 

[pren]

Hi Mike.

I'd agree with you about the improvement in Low-energy bulbs from a few years ago! We also recieved the free bulbs, and they are really rather good.

I've got halogen spotlights in my bathroom, study and kitchen. I replaced these with the GU10 LED lights after discovering just how much heat they halogens throw out! :shock: I could just imagine little £ signs dripping from them :lol: The LED spots aren't effective at room-filling, as you day, but they do give very strong, directional light. My study fitting has three bulbs in it, two of which are now LED's. It does all I need it to.

Cheers.
Bryn

 

[johnjin]

Hi
Just for information, Morrisons are/were selling Phillips low energy bulbs at five for a pound a week ago. They were 60 or 75 watt equivalent size with a standard bayonet fitting.

Hope this is helpful

John

 

[RogerS]

....
Low energy buildings is "my thing", and has been for 15 years now........but I am conscious that it can be tedious for others. Please tell me if I am getting too long-winded on this and related threads.....


Mike

Definitely not! As soon as I can find the time to digest the information you posted on the other thread, I'll have loads of questions!

Do you miss the cricket?

 

[Rich]

I am lead to believe from reports in the the press (broadsheets) that the LE bulbs are very expensive to produce and very difficult to dispose of as they contain mercury and apparently this far outweighs the benefits of the low energy usage, in short, they are a contradiction in terms, I have tried them and don't find them bright enough, I am all in favour of saving energy and being "green" but I am not convinced that these bulbs are anything other than hogwash.

Rich.

 

[Digit]

http://www.euractiv.com/en/environment/ ... cle-165397

Lord let not my left hand know what my right hand is doing!

Roy.

 

[caretaker]

I work in a government building and we go through about 25 4foot tubes a month.
I have just ordered 25 low energy tubes that claim to last 10 times longer.
When they arrive I will replace a block off 25 and see how good they are and how long they last.
The tubes I take out will be re-used in other parts of the building.
The new tubes are twice the price off the old ones but hope will be a saving.
The lights are on 14 hours a day except Sunday when on 8 hours.
I will keep you posted of the out come.
Just how long will it take to change 25 tubes.

:roll:

 

[Digit]

Just how long will it take to change 25 tubes.

Probably less time than it takes someone to instruct you in the safe use of a step ladder and complete the risk assessment I'll guess! :lol:

Roy.

 

[motownmartin]

It seems that there is a 50-50 split of people that use or don't use them, I would say don't dismiss the idea of using these lamps, I once thought very negatively about them but having seen how well they have been improved I am very pleased with them.

 

[Digit]

I find that halogen lamps give a better colour which is useful for fine work. Camera repairs in my case, with lots and lots of tiny bits and pieces!

Roy.

 

[motownmartin]

I find that halogen lamps give a better colour which is useful for fine work. Camera repairs in my case, with lots and lots of tiny bits and pieces!

Roy.

I wouldn't disagree with that Roy