Additional Information
Electrician in Bedford
Many of my customers have asked me about new directives and technologies which has prompted me to compile this information.
Some of the topics are:
- Phasing out of incandescent lamps
- Low Energy Lighting & New Lamp Technology
- Solar Heating and alternative energy sources
- New Building Regulations
I hope you will find the following pages useful.
Steve Kirby
Green Issues
It's all about Saving Energy
Saving energy is the main reason for most of these changes.
Low energy lighting is to be made compulsory through a new EU directive & the UK Building Regulations. Also the use of free energy from renewable sources such as Solar & Wind is becoming commonplace.
Lighting can account for as much as 20% of the average household's electricity bill. Building regulations in the UK now state that in all new homes and extensions to existing properties, 1 in 4 of all the habitable rooms must have dedicated low energy lighting.
This means that in a new 3 bedroom house with a kitchen, bathroom and two reception rooms, at least 2 of the rooms must have dedicated low energy lighting installed. The landing & hallway can be regarded as one room.
Inefficient Incandescent (GLS) Light Bulbs To Go
Over an eight year period the 'old type GLS' light bulbs will disappear from the shelves of shops within the EU. The EU directive plans a gradual withdrawal. Starting in September 2009 with light bulbs of 80 Watts or higher, as well as all frosted (non-energy saving) bulbs.
You can, of course, continue to use the light bulbs you have at home. It is only the sale of these light bulbs which will be prohibited within the EU.
By 2012, most high usage lamps will be withdrawn from sale. Some special purpose bulbs will still be allowed but will need to be specifically labelled in the future, ie fridges, ovens & traffic lights.
The equivalents are: Old Standard New Low energy
25 watt = 6 watt
40 watt = 11 watt
60 watt = 13- 18 watt
100 watt = 20-25 watt
Saving Money and Energy Facts
A 100 Watt light bulb costs around 50p to buy, while an energy-saving lamp with comparable light output (20 Watt) costs around £3. Energy-saving light bulbs last for up to 15,000 hours, while a conventional light bulb only lasts only 1,000 hours.
So you would have to buy fifteen light bulbs to achieve the service life of a single energy-saving bulb. The energy-saving bulb saves around £100 of electricity throughout its lifetime. So a 20 Watt energy-saving bulb can easily pay for itself after just one year.
In the UK we waste £140 million a year by leaving our lights switched on unnecessarily. If each house installed three energy saving bulbs, we would save enough energy to run the country's street lights for a year.
With a wide variety of styles and wattages available, it's now easier to choose the energy efficient option.
