Can I still buy old style lamps (bulbs)?
Yes you can. EEC regulations are phasing out old style lamps because they use far more electricity than the new type. This will prevent the manufacture of these lamps but it will not stop wholesalers and retailers selling off their existing stock, nor will it stop the end user using such lamps whilst stocks last.
Do I need to buy the same wattage as I did before?
The wattage indicates the amount of electricity that is used to power the lamp. Lower wattage means lower electricity usage and hence lower running costs but it does not mean you get less light. The new lamps have a lower wattage for the same brightness as old lamps which results in much lower running costs of at least 20% and up to 90% depending on lamp type. In addition the carbon usage is far less hence the environmental benefits
Do the new lamps take time to warm up?
When environmentally friendly lamps were first introduced they did take quite a while to warm up and this caused lots of people to resist the changeover. This situation has now changed dramatically and the lamps now give 80% immediate light and full light after 2 minutes.
Are they as bright as the old lamps?
As long as you buy the correct product they are as bright. Brightness is measured in lumens and as from September 1st 2010 the Eco-design Directive for Energy-using Products (EuP) will mean lighting becomes labelled in terms of lumens, instead of electrical watts. The lumen is a measure of the light produced, whereas watt measures the power put in. At Noble Express we are able to advise you the lumens of all our lamps.
Are they better value for money?
This is the really big advantage of Environmentally Friendly Lamps. Whilst they cost more initially the actual cost in use is far lower for two reasons. Firstly they typically last 5 or 10 times as long as a conventional lamp and secondly they use far less power and are therefore are much cheaper to run. Quite simply, replacing traditional lamps with new environmentally friendly lamps will save you money.
Which cap fitting do I need?
The cap fittings that have been historically in use are all available on environmentally friendly lamps. If you are unsure on any aspect of this please consult page 307 of the Noble Express Winter 2010 catalogue or Ring us on 01604 813403 for more information or email us at enquiries@noblexp.co.uk.
Is it possible to have our premises surveyed prior to switching over to Environmentally Friendly Lamps?
Yes this is a service that we can offer. Normally there is an initial charge for this but it is refundable against the cost of new lamps, subject to the size of the initial order. Ring us on 01604 813403 for more information or email us at enquiries@noblexp.co.uk.
Below we have pictured a small number of environmentally friendly lamps from the extensive range that is now available from Noble Express. Further down we have some further background reading from an article by Sean Davies written for the Institute of Design and Technology.
If you have any further questions or wish to place an order for lamps or any other item please call the Noble Express sales office on 01604 813403 or place your order directly online at www.noblexp.co.uk
Excerpt from Article for The Instute of Design & Technology written by Sean Davies
'Lighting accounts for approximately 20 per cent of global electricity usage, so these advances mean a dramatic reduction in carbon emissions, and new innovations will only improve the efficiency and quality of lighting,' he said.
Dim view
However there has been confusion over how new products compare to old in terms of brightness, which many experts believe could be impeding their uptake. This is partly due to brightness being based on the electrical power input, or wattage. When incandescent bulbs were all pervasive, 100W equated to a particular light output, which people became used to, so it became a meaningful measure.
With various new light sources being developed and incandescent bulbs being phased out, this is no longer useful. A similar light output can be achieved from a 60W incandescent bulb as a 16W compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), the CFL just uses a quarter of the energy.
'As we move towards LED lighting and other new sources, which produce light in different ways, it makes sense to label light according to its lumen output, so we can clearly compare different technologies,' he says.
'This will make consumer choices, both on brightness and energy efficiency clearer. It will also facilitate the introduction of new energy-efficient products to market, as consumers will have a meaningful way of comparing new products with old. This will help reduce emissions from lighting and have positive impact on the innovative UK lighting business.'
Lumen is not a product that all consumers will be immediately familiar. The measure of brightness, the lumen, measures the luminous intensity of light emitted in all directions, taking into account the varying sensitivity of the human eye to different wavelengths, or colours, of light. It is defined in terms of the SI unit of light the candela, which measures power emitted by a light source in a particular direction. By multiplying the candela by the directions in which it is projected, a unit known as the steradian, the luminous intensity can be calculated, giving the total light emitted in all directions - the lumen.
Dr Paul Miller, Higher Research Scientist at The National Physical Labatory is confident that this change would not increase consumer confusion. 'There are those who argue that changing the system will be confusing for those used to watts, and that the lumen is something we can't relate to,' he explains. 'Naturally there will be an adjustment period, but the lumen offers sufficient advantages to make this worthwhile.
'First, it will provide a clear comparable system for understanding brightness and energy usage of all different light sources, and helping consumers make an informed decision about their purchase. Secondly, while people adjust to using lumens, the labelling will continue to use watts as a secondary measure, so people will still be able to use the system they are used to if they want.'
'Thirdly, the lumen measures light output, which is presumably easier for the man on the street to comprehend than the electrical input. So we anticipate people will quickly adapt to lumens, as they did some time ago to watts.'
As for the manufacturers they already measure their products in lumens, so current products are likely to continue to be manufactured as they are. However the new rules will make it easier to bring new products to market.
'Following the introduction of the new labelling it is likely that there will be a growing understanding of the lumen as a unit of measurement,' Miller adds. 'This will allow straightforward comparisons of brightness against energy usage, so customers can identify the most efficient bulbs without compromising light levels. This will help lighting manufacturers introduce new energy-efficient products, as customers will be able to make clear comparisons with existing products and informed purchasing decisions.
'However, there will be an understandable reluctance amongst some, who want to stick with what they know. To make this change work and reap the benefits it will bring to the introduction of new products, the lighting industry, along with consumer groups and retailers, need to make sure they clearly communicate - through packaging, marketing and the media - what the lumen is and why it is important.'
If you have any further questions or wish to place an order for lamps or any other item please call the Noble Express sales office on 01604 813403 or place your order directly online at www.noblexp.co.uk
