News analysis Light bulbs
Lightbulb debate
Myth-buster
Myth: CFL bulbs are too big
Reality: The latest generations
of CFLs offered by major
manufacturers are no longer
very large. In some cases they
are slightly smaller than their
incandescent bulb equivalent.
Myth: Frequent switching reduces
the life of CFLs
Reality: Not any longer. The
current standards for ‘Energy
Recommended’ accreditation
requires more than 3,000
switching cycles per 8,000 hours
of tested life, which is many more
than would be necessary for
normal domestic use.
Myth: CFLs need to be left switched
on for more than 45 minutes
because they consume so much
energy when first switched on
Reality: There is no reason
to keep a CFL switched on
for longer than a normal
incandescent lamp, as
they do not consume any
greater energy during
start-up and run very
efficiently after two or three
seconds.
Myth: CFLs cause epileptic-type
fits and mental disturbances
Reality: They give a flicker-free,
non-stroboscopic light.
It’s great that we
the world are already going down building regulations,
the same route. China is now as they are twice Myth: The light intensity of energy
have debate because
considering it as a means to help as efficient as normal saving lamps could damage my
a lot of people are
reduce its power demands. tungsten bulbs. “There are other retina
“It’s not something that is alternatives out there,” says Baldrey, Reality: Energy-saving lamps do
badly informed. happening just in the UK; it is “CFLs are just one of them.” not present any risk to the retina.
There’s no doubt
happening across the world.” And far from believing articles Studies have examined this and
Simpson expects new LED lights like the Mail’s damages the lighting concluded that looking at energy
CFLs could be used to be available on the market in industry, he believes that it is actually saving lamps does not damage
an awful lot more by
the next 12 to 24 months, which good to stimulate debate. “It’s great the eye.
should offer even greater energy that we have debate because a lot of Source: Society of Light and Lighting
the general public savings and last longer than CFLs. people are badly informed. There’s
“What this ban will do is speed up no doubt CFLs could be used an
the alternatives to what’s currently awful lot more by the general public.” the surface as we progress through
available,” adds Simpson. Leading lighting company the biggest technological transition
what harm do campaigns like the Patrick Baldrey, president of OSRAM Ltd agrees information in the history of lighting.”
Mail’s have on the lighting industry? the Society of Light and Lighting is the key. Its retail marketing and Simpson adds: “As an industry
Simpson, who also works for (SLL), says the society supports communications manager Lee I think what we did more than 12
Phillips Lighting, says: “I don’t think the use of all types of energy-saving Dryden says: “The challenge in months ago was to anticipate what
it does, apart from perhaps giving lamps – but where appropriate. “For terms of communications that would happen when the banning
the general public the impression example, where an elderly person we all face in the industry is to process started, looking at all the
that the lighting industry has wants a hall light not on all the time positively educate the market about arguments for and against and we
railroaded this sort of thing through. but just when he wants to go to the the real truths on the performance, made sure we had all the answers.
“This is happening across Europe bathroom at 3am, a CFL may not be appearance, quality and benefits “All the answers are there; all
and across the world. Australia is appropriate.” that modern energy efficient lamps we can do is just rehearse and
one year ahead of us on this. This He points to the fact that new – be it CFLs, halogen or LED – can bring out the facts – the balanced
is a European Union initiative but houses are built with tungsten offer, to bust any out-of-date or story – to people as they ask
at least a dozen countries around halogen lights to comply with negative myths that may come to the questions.” l
www.cibsejournal.com February 2009 CIBSE Journal 19
CIBSEfeb09pp18-19 lightbulbs•.indd 19 5/2/09 14:18:25
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