Will we be able to replace all of our current bulbs?
Manufacturers have put on the market a very complete range of products. Socket or bayonet, large or small, everything exists. It remains to choose the principle of lighting.
– Low consumption lamps (LBC), or compact fluorescent lamps, are in fact miniature neon tubes.
– Light-emitting diodes (LED) are made up of electronic circuits that produce light.
– Low consumption halogens will gradually replace current models.
What will this change on our bill?
This change is supposed to represent a tremendous saving of energy and therefore money. A French household owns an average of 22 lamps and consumes 350 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year for lighting. Old bulbs produce 95% heat for 5% light. Replacing them will divide the lighting item on the invoice by four or five. In addition, these new models last six to ten times longer, an average of 8,000 hours against 1,000 for the old ones. Although they are more expensive to buy, these bulbs pay for themselves in less than two years. Low consumption halogens, not very greedy, offer 30% energy reduction.
LEDs have a lifespan of eighteen to twenty years for even lower consumption than LBCs. They are currently two to five times more expensive than the latter and are reserved for mood lighting or small rooms, because they lack power. The technique progresses and, from September 2010, one will be able to find LEDs which will provide as much light as a 100 watt incandescent bulb.
Are they as efficient as the old ones?
LBCs have been criticized for being slow. But today, 80% of them light up within two seconds. And the light stabilizes after fifteen seconds. We get used to it, and they will improve. Likewise, they are often found to produce a cold, bluish and unpleasant light. But it’s not always the case. And the consumer has the choice between two types of lighting: “warm white”, yellow and soft enough for living rooms, and “cold white” better suited to professional use.
How to find your way around in store?
In addition to the letters “A” or “B” guaranteeing satisfactory energy savings, other details can be found on the packaging.
– The color rendering index (CRI) is important. It measures the capacity of a light source to restore the nuances of colored tones. For an optimal rendering, opt for halogens and LEDs which reach the maximum index of 100, while that of LBCs generally varies between 80 and 95.
– The label must also specify the mercury content of the LBCs, which varies between 2 and 0.5%. The ideal is to get closer to 0.5%.
– From September 2010, the label will indicate the “heat” of the lighting in Kelvin (K). Count 2,500 Kelvin for “warm” light, preferable at home, and 5,300 Kelvin for cooler lights.
– What about the provenance? Most of the products are made in China under license. They are therefore reliable. The only manufacturer in Europe, Osram operates a factory in Molsheim (Alsace).
Are these lamps dangerous for our health?
Like any electrical device, they emit an electromagnetic field. The Center for Research and Independent Information on Electromagnetic Radiation (Criirem) recommends not to stay within thirty centimeters of an LBC for a long time. This prohibits their use at a work table or bedside. But the health risk would be very low, according to the Environment and Energy Management Agency (Ademe). The emission level of AMLs available in Europe is even six to ten times lower than the threshold set by the European Union, says the Lighting Union. Not enough to panic, but prefer an LED if you move within thirty centimeters of a light source.
They contain mercury. It’s a little scary …
This is the main flaw of AML. In the event of a broken bulb, the risks are limited if precautions are taken, according to the Association santé Environnement France (Asef). You have to ventilate the room fully, wear gloves to clean and use a broom rather than the vacuum cleaner. Finally, it is imperative to recycle them by bringing them back to a collection point (supermarkets and medium-sized stores, specialized stores). More info on www.recylum.com/
Focus on the new generation
Without fail
A “warm white” bulb that consumes 16 watts, energy category A. Its mercury content is 0.5% and its lifespan of approximately 8,000 hours.
LBC Philips (standard base or bayonet), € 9.90. www.lighting.philips.com
Long duration
It operates for twenty-five years and consumes only 1 watt.
Energy category A.
Osram Parathom Standard LED, € 9.99 www.osram.fr
Subdued atmosphere
It consumes 2 watts for a lifespan of approximately 30,000 hours.
Energy class A.
Xanlite 48 LED with base, € 12.90. www.xanlite.fr
Powerful
A consumption of 75 watts and an energy category A. It does not contain mercury
and its service life is 3000 hours.
Halogen bulb
Sylvania Halospot, € 8.25.
www.havells-sylvania.com
Design
It consumes 30 watts for 10,000 hours. Energy category A.
LBC Lexman eco-energy Globe model at Leroy-Merlin, € 11.25. www.leroymerlin.f
Cheap
This bulb consumes 7 watts, it can last up to 10,000 hours. Energy class A.
LBC Ikea Sparsam, € 5.90 both. www.ikea.com
