Lighting

Lighting accounts for 8% of a typical household’s energy bill. Cutting your lighting bill is one of the easiest ways to save energy and money.

Houses typically use a mixture of standard light fittings and downlighters or spotlight fittings. Energy efficient bulbs are available for both types of fittings.

Changing which bulbs you use and how you use them will instantly save your home energy and money.

Types of Light bulbs

There are 4 types of light bulbs available in the UK. Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs), Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), General Lights Service (GLS) and Halogen.

 

CFLs are what you typically think of as an energy efficient light bulb. CFLs are a cost-effective option for most general lighting requirements. Replacing a traditional light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) of the same brightness will save you around £3 per year, or £50 over the lifetime of the bulb.

 

 

LEDs are available to fit both types of fittings and are particularly good for replacing spotlights and dimmable lights. Though more expensive to buy initially, they are more efficient than CFLs and will save you more money in the long term. Replacing a halogen spotlight with an equivalent LED will save you around £4 each year, or £140 over the bulb’s lifetime.

 

 

 

Traditional light bulbs, also known as tungsten filament, incandescent or GLS (General Lighting Service) bulbs were invented over 100 years ago and are extremely inefficient. Only about 5 per cent of the electricity they use is converted into visible light. The filament is heated up until it glows giving off a yellowish white light. The bulbs do not last long because the filament gradually evaporates.

 

 

Halogen light bulbs also use filament technology but run at a higher temperature making them slightly more efficient than traditional light bulbs. They are mainly used in spotlight fittings. Though more efficient, they are often used in large quantities, increasing the total electricity used to light a room.

Often rooms with halogen spotlights are brighter than they need to be so you may be able to save money by installing lower output bulbs. LEDs are an excellent energy efficient alternative.

 

 

If you are looking to make changes to the lighting in your property please call us for more information or to arrange a free no obligation quotation on 01858 440070