Let's face it, who hasn't contemplated an issue like that on a chilly Tuesday night? I know it's sad, but I've been comparing different energy-saving lamps to see which is the best eco option to replace the rafts of IKEA-style halogen spotlights festooned across my new house. We moved in last month, and are practically living like mushrooms because I keep running around switching them off, conscious each one uses a monster 50 watts (versus 10 for typical energy-saving bulbs) and we've got four or more to a room. Anyway: to the lamp battle.
In my opinion, the best green alternatives to halogen bulbs are 'mini CFLs' - Mini Me versions of what we all call energy-saving bulbs. The ones I've bought (top right in the picture) use 11 watts each and cost £12.60 here. I know, pricey, but halogens die ridiculously often, and these will pay for themselves by using a fifth of the power.
Top left is the old halogen one, which the mini CFL matches for brightness. Bottom is the £11.75 LED choice I bought from UltraLEDs, which is insanely energy efficient - it only uses 2.1W, a fifth of the mini CFL - but simply isn't bright enough for my liking. If anyone finds a bright LED light with a GU10 fitting - the fitting for a lotta spotlights - please let me know. I'll be gutted, as I've just ordered a shedload of the mini CFLs, but I'd still like to hear.
One last word of warning: the LED ones won't work with dimmers. Yet.
Yes agreed. After working out that I had 9 x 50W spots in our kitchen using a crazy 450W of power in one room alone I decided to invest in some 2.2W LEDs. Have also tried 1W LED which seems to perform as well as the 2.2W. I like the type of light they produce, it is more like natural daylight, but in a kitchen where you need stong light to avoid chopping off your fingers, they don't quite cut the mustard (but do help cut the fingers...he!). In rooms that don't need to be soooo bright like bedrooms (use a directed lamp when reading!), hallways, dining rooms, I think they are great. Before electricity, people didn't light a candle big enough to light up the whole room did they!!I worked out that I would save around £40 per year in electricity by just replacing these 9 50W spots and they should last for 60 years, saving a massive £2400 over their useful life (assuming electricty costs stay the same and not including having to replace Halogens on a regular basis).
I am due to test a 3KW version soon. Will keep you posted
Posted by: Jason Hollingsworth | February 07, 2007 at 03:30 PM
sorry, I meant 3W not 3KW....now that would be bright enough!
Posted by: Jason Hollingsworth | February 07, 2007 at 03:31 PM
You mention that LED bulbs do not work with dimmers. That statement implies that the CFL will work on a dimmer.
Is that the case in your experience? My understanding was that neither CFL nor LED would work on dimmers, which is a problem for a lot of places where Halogen spots are used.
Posted by: Stephen | February 11, 2007 at 03:25 PM
I've been conducting similar experiments. We moved into a flat which has 6 x 50w GU10 halogens in the living room and 4 in the kitchen.
I tried Luxeon LEDs in those fittings but the light was too low, I ended up putting them in my office where I don't need much light when I use the computer.
I've replaced the 6 bulbs in the living room with CFLs which work fine. The only negative point is that the light isn't as warm, there's a white cast to the lighting which makes the room feel slightly colder compared to the halogens, but I can live with that when each bulb is 7W instead of 50W.
The kitchen still has halogens because it's also a room we pass through often and switch the lights on and off frequently because of this. CFLs take a short time to warm up so they don't work as well in those conditions. I'm also not sure it's good for them either. So I'm still looking for a solution there. Seeing those halogens burning 400w hurts every time.
The hall outside the bedroom now features blue leds, 2w each and not too agressive when you need to move around at night.
My landlady is quite puzzled by all this though :)
Posted by: Colin | February 12, 2007 at 12:23 PM
We stock a range of high powered LED's, which are significantly brighter than the 5mm LED's being discussed above.
In 240V GU10 we have 1 and 3W (equiv to 30W)
In 12V MR16 we stock 1,3 and an amazing 5W LED which is around 40+W of light, all of the above are available in Warm White.
As specialists in 'efficient lighting' we also have 6 different models of the energy saving GU10's, low energy R50's, R63's and R80's plus 200 or so other models. We are always happy to discuss peoples requirements and provide advice as to the best products.. look forward to hearing from you.
Posted by: Giles Boardman | February 15, 2007 at 11:14 AM
Re ultraleds. I was unfortunate enough to buy the original design which had 38 LED's in June 2006. My original findings were that the bulbs gave good light. I had nine of them in my kitchen. After approximately 1000 hours of use three had failed and all the rest give low light output much less than half and are very blue.They have all failed now. If you find like me that you want to replace your greedy GU10 bulbs with a fit and forget low energy option this may not be the way to go.
Ultaleds do not make any claims that the product lasts 50,000 hours anymore and only say it will last longer than a standard bulb they also have removed the 1 year guarantee.
The design relies on a series capacitor to drop the AC mains current combined with a bridge rectifier to feed DC to the LED string there are no components to protect the LED’s from spikes etc as the capacitor would appear as a short circuit to any spikes or HF noise do not use on a dimmer.I did not but they still did not last very long.
Ultraleds will not confirm that the new version has been improved in this respect please be warned about this product.
Posted by: Tim Howes | March 04, 2007 at 05:24 PM
Hello guys
I have recently bought some LED's for my kitchen and bathrooms, after having tried them a couple of times before. The previous models were not bright enough. These new ones are great, as bright as the lights i have replaced and only use 3 watts. the guy told me to go for the cree's over the luxeon so i did. they are pricey but the savings i am making are worth it cos i had 40 spots in total. check out their site ww.ledecolights.com I have also just invested in an eco-kettle. its brilliant, and works so quick cos you only boil as much water as you need. cheers
Posted by: Will | January 10, 2008 at 09:07 PM
Hi Green Guy,
Sorry to prove my ignorance, but is this the same type of bulb?
http://www.thelightbulb.co.uk/product/detail.php?id=3176&green=1
All I know is that I need to replace some R50 spotlights and I would like a greener alternative......
Ta
Posted by: Annette | February 03, 2008 at 10:57 AM
In response to Stephans question, CFL can be used with dimmers, but it is not advised. Dimmers can reduce the bulbs life time.
LED lighting is definately the way forward, saving a huge amount of energy, but they are not cheap enough yet to be desirable to the everyday public.
Posted by: Ace Lamps | June 27, 2008 at 01:27 PM