Lighting technology has come a long way in the past few decades and many businesses have taken advantage. They are enjoying lower energy bills and have reduced their carbon footprint.
However, there are some lighting myths still doing the rounds that mean some businesses haven’t made the switch. That aren’t enjoying the savings yet.
Our advisors still hear many of these old stories being told about lighting based on people’s early experiences with the first fluorescent tubes and early innovations in light emitting diode (LED) lamps.
These myths can often lead to wrong choices being made by people who specify and use lighting. So here, we quickly explore the four common lighting myths that our advisors hear, so that you can make your decisions based on fact.
Myth 1 – “It’s more efficient to leave lights on than turn them off for short periods”
Top of the list is the pervasive myth that it’s more efficient to leave lights in a room if you’re going to be returning a short time later. It’s an old myth that we thought had run its course – but during one of our recent webinars 43% of attendees still thought it was more efficient to leave lights on. Spoiler alert, it is not.
It’s hard to pin down the exact origins of this one. It’s probably to do with the introduction of the fluorescent tube, early models of which suffered lifespan issues when exposed to frequent on/off cycles. Fluorescent lamps require a sequence of events involving the application of high voltage and heat to establish the light generating process. This short burst of energy may seem like a large ‘investment’, but contributes very little to the running cost of the fluorescent tube.
It means that if you leave it on when you don’t need it, you are simply wasting energy and money. Switch it off.
The wear and tear associated with turning modern fluorescent tubes off and on again is minimal. Unless you are hitting the switch every five minutes, you will be better off financially to only use lights when you need them.
Myth 2 – “Don’t replace old inefficient lamps until they have expired”
Another great myth is that having bought low energy lamps, you should keep them in a cupboard until your traditional bulbs fail so that you maximise your investment in the original bulbs.
In reality, a traditional lamp probably cost about a pound. However, when in use, it can consume over four times as much electricity as a more energy efficient replacement. The cost of running one traditional 60W filament bulb for eight hours a day and seven days a week will be around 50p/week. A low energy equivalent will cost 8p.
So, if you were to believe this myth and make the decision to persist with your old lamps, it would cost you almost £2/month per lamp, which is about twice the price you paid for each one in the first place.
The long and short of it – if you have bought low energy lamps, fit them as soon as you can.
Myth 3 – “LEDs look cold and blinding”
LED technology is progressing rapidly, and modern lamps include diffusers and reflectors that ‘soften’ lamp output to make it less dazzling and most have a colour rendering index (CRI) comparable to fluorescent lamps. Lamps with a warmer colour temperature are available where desired.
LEDs are the most long lasting and energy efficient lamp technology available. However, early LED lamps produced a focused beam of light which, while powerful, allowed for poor colour rendering and lacked ‘warmth’.
LED technology has progressed a lot since those early days though. There have been many advances in energy efficiency and in the way that light is presented.
Modern lamps include diffusers and reflectors which soften lamp output to make it less dazzling and have a colour rendering index (CRI) comparable to fluorescent lamps. In addition, lamps with a warmer colour temperature are available where desired.
If in doubt, speak to a supplier and ask for some samples so you can see moderns LEDs in action for yourself.
Myth 4 – “Replacing fittings is too expensive, so I have to stick with my current lights”
It’s a common misconception that changing lamp technology requires you to pull out all your current fittings and replace them with new ones. In reality, this can now usually be avoided.
Most incandescent filament, 240V halogen and compact fluorescent lamps will have an LED equivalent. These can be installed without alterations to the fitting and, where necessary, there are retrofit kits to replace T12 and T8 fluorescent tubes with more efficient T5s or LED strip lights. Always consult a suitably qualified electrician before using retrofit kits to make sure it is safe to do so.
Make the switch
If these myths have stopped you from making the switch to LEDs, you have been missing out on some good savings. It might be time take another look.
If you are a Scottish SME, Business Energy Scotland is here to provide you with free and impartial support and access to funding to help your workplace advantage of all the latest lighting technology.
We have a team of experienced advisors that has already helped hundreds of organisations across Scotland improve their lighting and reduce associated energy costs. Some examples include:
- The Water of Leith Visitor Centre in Edinburgh has almost halved its energy bill
- Kelvinside Electronics in Kilsyth is already saving over £8,750 a year
- Cambuslang-based BookSource has slashed its annual bill by over £16,000
- Scottish retailers, The Village Store and Goldenacre Mini Market, have saved by upgrading their lighting
Get support today and we’ll write a detailed report showing you how much you could save too.
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