MAKING THE SWITCH TO EFFICIENT LIGHTING

THE PROBLEM

Lighting from electricity accounts for nearly 20 per cent of global energy consumption and six per cent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Unless policies are implemented immediately to address this issue, overall energy consumption for lighting will have grown by 60 per cent by 2030 with dramatic consequences for climate change. The phase-out of inefficient incandescent lamps provides one of the most cost-effective way to reduce carbon emissions.

THE SOLUTION

The UNEP “en.lighten” initiative supports countries in implementing policies and concrete measures that will accelerate market transformation to efficient lighting technologies. A target date for the global phase-out of all inefficient lighting has been set for the end of 2016.
In order to mobilize efforts to make the global transition to efficient lighting a reality, UNEP has convened government representatives and international lighting experts from over 40 organizations representing 30 countries, to provide guidance on the development and implementation of successful national efficient lighting strategies.

THE IMPACTS

The replacement of all inefficient lighting in the world would cut global electricity consumption by five per cent, as much electricity as that consumed by India and Mexico combined. This global effort would yield annual initial cost savings of US$110 billion and would also achieve annual carbon dioxide reductions of 490 metric tons, equivalent to the combined annual carbon dioxide emissions of Italy and Denmark or to the emissions produced by more than 122 million cars.
As part of the en.lighten initiative, UNEP has published the findings of 150 country lighting assessments and a new global policy map on efficient lighting. The Country Lighting Assessments highlight the energy, financial and CO2 savings potential of efficient lighting. It also published the global policy map for efficient lighting that provides an overview of efficient lighting policies and successes, specifically in the residential sector.

SUPPORT

en.lighten initiative is a proven example of a successful public private partnership. It was created between UNEP and OSRAM AG, Philips Lighting and the National Lighting Test Centre of China, with the support of the Global Environment Facility.

WEBSITE

• www.enlighten-initiative.org

SUCCESS STORY

Lighting in Chile accounts for 12 per cent of total electricity consumption. The en.lighten initiative is working with Chile to develop a National Efficient Lighting Strategy that will save US$485 million annually in reduced electricity bills; electricity savings equivalent to the output of four mid-sized power plants; and reduced carbon emissions equivalent to taking 300,000 cars off the road. As a result of this partnership, Chile will also establish appropriate legislation and a collection and recycling system for spent lamps that may contain mercury.

Source : Re-blogged from http://www.unep.org

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How To Save Money On Your Household Lighiting With LED and CFL lamps

An average household dedicates about 10% of its energy budget to lighting. Switching to energy-efficient lighting is one of the fastest ways to cut your energy bills. Timers and motion sensors save you even more money by reducing the amount of time lights are on but not being used.

Indoor Lighting

You have many choices in energy-efficient lighting. The most popular light bulbs available are halogen incandescents, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Although they can initially cost more than traditional incandescent bulbs, over their lifetime they save you money, because they use less energy.

Energy-Saving (also called Halogen) Incandescent Lighting

Energy-saving, or halogen, incandescent light bulbs are about 25% more efficient and can last up to three times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. They are available in a wide range of shapes and colors, and can be used with dimmers.

CFL Bulbs. ENERGY STAR®-qualified CFLs use about 75% less energy and last up to 10 times longer than traditional incandescents.

CFL bulbs last about 10 times longer and use about one-fourth the energy of traditional incandescent bulbs. A typical CFL can pay for itself in energy savings in less than 9 months and continue to save you money each month.

You can buy CFLs that offer the same brightness and colors as traditional incandescent bulbs. Some CFLs are encased in a cover to further diffuse the light and provide a similar shape to traditional incandescent bulbs.

CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury and require special handling if they are broken. CFLs should be recycled at the end of their lifespan. Many retailers recycle CFLs for free. Visit epa.gov/cfl for cleanup and safe disposal steps.
LED Lighting

LEDs: A New Kind of Light. LED bulbs offer similar light quality to traditional incandescents, last 25 times as long, and use even less energy than CFLs. Choose ENERGY STAR-qualified LEDs for the highest quality and energy savings.

LED bulbs are rapidly expanding in household use. ENERGY STAR-qualified LEDs use only about 20%-25% of the energy and last up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. They come in a variety of colors, and some are dimmable or offer convenient features such as daylight and motion sensors.

In addition to standard screw-in bulbs, you'll find LEDs in applications such as recessed downlights, desk lamps, kitchen undercabinet lighting, and outdoor area lights.

Indoor Lighting Tips

    Replacing 15 inefficient incandescent bulbs in your home with energy-saving bulbs could save you about $50 per year. For the greatest savings, replace your old incandescent bulbs with ENERGY STAR-qualified bulbs.

    Visit ENERGY STAR to find the right light bulbs for your fixtures. They are available in sizes and shapes to fit in almost any fixture and provide the greatest savings in fixtures that are on for a long time each day.

    When remodeling, look for recessed light fixtures or "cans" which are rated for contact with insulation and are air tight (ICAT rated).

    When replacing incandescent bulbs from recessed light fixtures, use energy-efficient bulbs that are rated for that purpose. For example, the heat buildup in downlights will significantly shorten the life of spiral CFLs.

    Consider purchasing ENERGY STAR-qualified fixtures. They are available in many styles, distribute light more efficiently and evenly than standard fixtures, and some offer convenient features such as dimming.

    Controls such as timers and photocells save electricity by turning lights off when not in use. Dimmers save electricity when used to lower light levels. Be sure to select products that are compatible with the energy-efficient bulbs you want to use.

    Keep your curtains or shades open to use daylighting instead of turning on lights. For more privacy, use light-colored, loose-weave curtains to allow daylight into the room. Also, decorate with lighter colors that reflect daylight.

Outdoor Lighting

Many homeowners use outdoor lighting for decoration and security. A variety of products are available from low-voltage pathway lighting to motion-detector floodlights.

LEDs work well indoors and outdoors because of their durability and performance in cold environments. Look for LED products such as pathway lights, step lights, and porch lights for outdoor use. You can also find solar powered outdoor lighting.
Outdoor Lighting Tips

    Because outdoor lights are usually left on a long time, using CFLs or LEDs in these fixtures will save a lot of energy. Most bare spiral CFLs can be used in enclosed fixtures that protect them from the weather.
    CFLs and LEDs are available as flood lights. These models have been tested to withstand the rain and snow so they can be used in exposed fixtures.

    Look for ENERGY STAR-qualified fixtures that are designed for outdoor use and come with features like automatic daylight shut-off and motion sensors.

The Advantages & Benefits of LED Lighting

LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, are a form of solid-state lighting that is extremely efficient and long-lasting. While incandescent and fluorescent lights consist of filaments in glass bulbs or bulbs that contain gases, LEDs consist of small capsules or lenses in which tiny chips are placed on heat-conducting material.

Size and Efficiency

LEDs measure from 3 to 8 mm long and can be used singly or as part of an array. The small size and low profile of LEDs allow them to be used in spaces that are too small for other lightbulbs. In addition, because LEDs give off light in a specific direction, they are more efficient in application than incandescent and fluorescent bulbs, which waste energy by emitting light in all directions



Long Life

The life of a high-power white LED is projected to be from 35,000 to 50,000 hours, compared to 750 to 2,000 hours for an incandescent bulb, 8,000 to 10,000 hours for a compact fluorescent and 20,000 to 30,000 hours for a linear fluorescent bulb. LED lifetimes are rated differently than conventional lights, which go out when the filament breaks. Typical lifetime is defined as the average number of hours until light falls to 70 percent of initial brightness, in lumens. LEDs typically just fade gradually.

Lower Temperatures

Conventional lightbulbs waste most of their energy as heat. For example, an incandescent bulb gives off 90 percent of its energy as heat, while a compact fluorescent bulb wastes 80 percent as heat (see References 4). LEDs remain cool. In addition, since they contain no glass components, they are not vulnerable to vibration or breakage like conventional bulbs. LEDs are thus better suited for use in areas like sports facilities and high-crime locations.

EnergyStar LEDs

Poorly designed LEDs may not be long-lasting or efficient. LEDs that are EnergyStar-qualified should provide stable light output over their projected lifetime. The light should be of excellent color, with a brightness at least as great as conventional light sources and efficiency at least as great as fluorescent lighting. The LEDs should also light up instantly when turned on, should not flicker when dimmed and should not consume any power when turned off.

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LED Lighting For The Future

All the rave now in lighting are the new environmentally friendly LED lights.

They are brighter, whiter, cheaper to run and they even produce less heat than their energy draining counterparts. Despite these great benefits though, they still cost a lot. Although, I have seen a considerable drop in the pricing of these magnificent lights in recent times.

At first that may seem very expensive, but when you tally up the benefits of these lights, it becomes evident that you’re getting much more than environmentally friendly and pocket friendly lighting. For instance, here are a list of benefits which I can see from using LED lights:

• Less energy consumption – Lower Electricity Bills for you and that fuzzy feeling that you’re reducing your impact on the environment.
• Pure white light produced – So you have the choice of working under a great looking light.
• Less heat production – Reduced risk of fire danger and less strain on Air Conditioning.
• Brighter for less wattage – So you can have blindingly bright light at a fraction of the power of more dull bulbs.
• Longer life – Meaning you won’t have to waste time and money replacing dud light bulb.

With benefits like those, I’m amazed why people aren’t taking LED lights more seriously. Perhaps government subsidies and consumer awareness will be key in order to switch people over to this fascinating technology. Afterall, the more demand that’s out there for these lights – the cheaper it is (and more environmentally friendly) for us all!

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