Eco Renovation-Lighting

Eco renovation lighting projects will be an essential part of your eco renovation project. Conventional filament bulbs may still be available, but should be replaced with CFL bulbs immediately.

Eco Renovation-Lighting Projects

Many people use spotlights. These are an enormous hit on your electricity bill. Having eight spotlights can easily cost the same per hour as running a washing machine.

LED or CFL Bulbs?

LED lights are the way of the future, though you need a lot more than you might think. A LED GU10 bulb, the sort used in recessed ceiling light fittings will only give you about a quarter of the light you will get from a CFL GU10 bulb.

If you are using recessed ceiling fittings with LED GU10 bulbs you will need to have a light about ever 2 feet, so in a 12 foot by 12 foot room you will need 25 light fittings. Leave two feet between the first light fitting and the wall, then a 5 x 5 grid of recessed light fittings. Consider having them switched in two zones. Alternate lights on one switch and the rest on a second switch is another option.

LED lights are directional. Each LED GU10 fitting will give light beneath it. The light does not spread out at all. LED fittings are perfect for an office, where you want to avoid glare on a computer screen.

LED Spotlights are a new development and one that promises the style advantages of spotlights without their horrendous running costs. Consider these in your kitchen and hallway to spotlight pictures. LED lights are better in bathrooms, where lights are only on for a short time.

CFL GU10 bulbs give more light than LED GU10 bulbs, but still less than a conventional filament GU10 bulb. CFL GU10 bulbs are usually slow to warm up to their full lighting potential.

Consider which low energy bulb type suits each application. LED bulbs work great as under cabinet lighting, down onto a countertop. They are also great fitted inside cupboards, giving instant light when you need it.

Every room should have at least one low energy solution in any eco renovation lighting project. In living rooms consider using lamps with CFL bulbs as an alternative to spotlights. In kitchens you should seriously consider banishing the conventional spotlight fitting because of its high energy costs.

The best solution for area lighting in a kitchen is probably conventional strip lighting, fluorescent tubes. These give a diffuse, yet bright light. If you prefer to avoid conventional strip light fittings, then look at circular fluorescent tubes, but bear in mind that you will need more single circular tubes to give you the same light as conventional 4 foot double strip light fittings.

For outside floodlights you should look for high output CFL bulbs rather than conventional floodlights. The difference is not noticeable, except when your electricity bill comes around.

Consider using automatic passive infra-red detectors (PIRs) to switch lights on and off, at least in bathrooms and on stairs. This will save you a lot of stress trying to persuade younger family members to switch off lights.