The gradual phasing out of the incandescent lamp, along with other regulations, has changed the lighting agenda – so it’s vital today to consider lumens rather than wattage. Lauren Bourne discusses this new language in lighting and why it’s so important for installers to help propel this new measure.
For decades, choosing a new or replacement lamp has been easy – consumers would simply look at the wattage and decide which lamp would suit their specific need. However, the lighting sector has evolved dramatically in recent years. In the main, this has been attributed to the European Union’s continued drive for CO2 emission and energy reduction, with the restriction on the sale of inefficient lamps playing a vital part in this.
On 1st September 2009, arguably the most important action of the EU in terms of CO2 reduction came into place with the first instalment of the on-going phase-out of inefficient incandescent lamps. The pioneering directive (later known as DIM1) saw the final light go out for the conventional* incandescent lamp in 2012, after more than a century of lighting up the nation.
Then September 2013 saw DIM2 come into place, taking the sustainable lighting agenda to the next level. Not only does this legislation enforce further minimum performance requirements for LED lamps, but it also more clearly stipulates how product information should be displayed to ensure transparency across suppliers. This has been designed to increase transparency between energy saving lamps – particularly LEDs – while enabling end-users to make more informed choices when purchasing them.
It doesn’t end there. Further regulatory changes have included revisions to Part L of the Building Regulations, which aims to reduce energy usage by incorporating a method of calculating a building’s energy efficiency from primary energy consumption such as lighting and heating.
The new lamps revolution
The result has been the arrival of some new lamps on the block. The natural successors of the humble incandescent lamp are LED lamps or retrofittable compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). These technologies use 60 to 80% less energy than incandescent lighting and offer a greatly increased lifespan. In particular, LED lighting is widely regarded as one of the most investable clean energies of the early 21st century.
Indeed, this is positive news. In addition to the environmental credentials, the Government estimates that the incandescent ban alone will bring in an ‘average net benefit’ of £108m to the UK between 2010 and 2020 in energy savings1. In addition, a recent report by the Guardian newspaper showed that a homeowner could save up to £240 a year on their energy bill by making the switch to LED2.
There is, however, one inherent flaw. The reality is that efficient lighting technologies, such as LEDs and CFLs, are not making their desired impact with consumers who are still finding it difficult to find a like-for-like replacement in terms of lighting, brightness and ambience.
Don’t just look at wattages
The route of the problem lies in the fact that, for decades, consumers have been buying lamps based on how much energy they consume (watts) regardless of how much light they give out (lumens). However, today’s energy efficient lamps use far less electricity than standard lamps to do the same job; for example, some LEDs use 80% less energy than their predecessor while lasting up 25 times longer. In this way, wattage is no longer a reliable way of predicting a desired level of light.
As such, we must come together to educate consumers on this ‘new language in lighting’, encouraging them to compare lumens to be sure they are getting the right amount of light or level of brightness that they desire. In the same way that we measure petrol by the gallon or meat by the pound, consumers need to start measuring lighting by how much they’re getting for their money. It’s time to start thinking lumens not watts.
A lumen (lm) is a measure of the total ‘amount’ of visible light emitted by a source; the higher the number, the brighter the light. So choosing the right kind of lamp depends on the strength and the type of light required.
Generally, to replace a 60W incandescent lamp, a lamp that gives out about 800 lumens should be used. A 40W lamp can be replaced with an energy-saving lamp that emits around 450 lumens.
In addition, new legislation – such as DIM 2 – has been designed to simplify the process and make it easier for consumers to compare products like-for-like. For example, according to DIM2, a 230 lumen output LED GU10 is the equivalent of a 35W standard halogen GU10 lamp.
Big money savings too
Most leading manufacturers, such as Philips, GE and Osram, offer a wide variety of fittings, shapes and sizes, all of which have the option of warm or cool white light. Furthermore, these energy efficient alternatives offer massive energy cost saving scope – according to the Energy Saving Trust one energy saving lamp could save £2.50 a year, depending on how much the lights are used, and last around 10 times longer – meaning you could save £45 before it needs replacing.
As a general rule of thumb, however, more lumens means it’s a brighter light, fewer lumens means it’s a dimmer light. So for a homeowner seeking more ambience in their living room, a lower lumen lamp would be best suited, while areas where a constant bright light is required, such as a commercial environment, will require a higher lumen output.
Drive this new language in lighting
With leading manufacturers continuing to invest heavily in developing ground-breaking lighting technology, it is important that we don’t let this issue of misconceptions about lighting criteria hinder future growth.
The recommendation, then, is for us all to come together to propel this ‘new language in lighting’ so that consumers can enjoy the full benefits of today’s remarkable lighting technologies while wholesalers and installers, in turn, can reap the rewards of the burgeoning business of making the switch.
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