Lighting
The dawn of a new era for LED retrofits
Since September, mains voltage non-directional halogen retrofit lamps were phased out across the EU. Remaining stocks may still be sold but manufacturers will be unable to bring new stock onto the market. Anuj Vasu (pictured), Senior Product Line Manager, Sylvania, looks at the opportunities this creates for wholesalers.
inefficient. Compared to halogen lamps LED retrofits are up to 90% more energy efficient and last up to 12.5 times longer. Therefore in light of the EU halogen phase out, the switch from incandescent to LED presents a significant opportunity for both wholesalers and their customers.
A The EU has long been committed to fighting
climate change and in 2009 it announced plans to reduce energy use by 20% by 2020. With 39% of a commercial property’s electricity consumed by lighting and 50% of lighting deemed highly inefficient, it is easy to understand why this energy source has such an important role to play. What’s more, with energy companies predicted to drive up bills by 30% by 2030 in response to the European Commission’s drive for energy efficient operations, the case for LED has never been stronger, especially when compared with other less energy efficient solutions.
bout 90% of the energy halogen lamps produce is in the form of heat as opposed to light, making it hugely
With that in mind, in 2009 a series of EU Eco-
Design measures where introduced to gradually phase out inefficient lamps in favour of energy- efficient alternatives. Between 2009 and 2012, this saw the gradual removal of clear incandescent lamps from the market, and those previously defined as special purpose (incandescent rough service, high/low temperature and clear glass decorative filament). The use of halogen directional mains- voltage (Class B GU10, PAR, R-type) and low-voltage low performance MR16) lamps were then outlawed in 2016. With halogen directional lamps extremely popular in the wholesale channel, this presented a major change for wholesalers and their customers. While a daunting proposition, leading LED manufacturers were quick to ensure wholesalers had sufficient access to affordable alternative solutions. The latest and final deadline designed to bring the industry closer to meeting the energy strategy for 2020, came into play from the 1st September 2018. This saw mains voltage non- directional halogen retrofit lamps, in shapes including GLS, candle, ball, globes and tubular banned, marking the phasing out of almost all halogen lighting. Special application lamps, halogen capsules, linear R7s bulbs and low voltage halogen lamps such as Class B MR16, G4 and GY6.35 remain available. According to the European Commission, in 2018 the switch to energy-efficient lamps will result in total annual energy savings that match the annual electricity consumption of the whole
of Portugal (48.0 TWh of electricity). This means a saving of 15.2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions by 2025. So the potential impact of these measures is there for all to see.
Business as usual
While the halogen phase out has undoubtedly raised concerns among wholesalers, with sufficient availability to meet the impending rising demand from the market, they needn’t panic and over stock on existing products. As a result, wholesalers can maintain the same
service level they have long enjoyed with halogen solutions. What’s more, they can assure their customers that the latest LEDs, which are more affordable and readily available than ever, can not only match halogen for performance and aesthetic, but provide the return on investment and energy efficiency that traditional technologies simply cannot offer.
Be led by LED
Replacing halogen with LED is not a new development. Many wholesaler customers have already benefited from upgrading their lighting. However, LEDs still only make up 10% of the globe’s lighting systems due to the legacy of incandescent and halogen, leaving significant room for change. Over the next decade, as LED is predicted to become the predominant source of lighting, this is expected to shift. This is partly due to the forced removal of a halogen option and partly due to looming regulatory deadlines which aim to increase the sustainability of buildings and cities across the EU. In addition to being significantly more energy efficient, LEDs offer a long-term warranty to wholesalers and their customers. They also provide a considerably longer service life. For instance, the average lifespan of LED is said to be approximately 15,000 to 25,000 hours in comparison to that of halogen (2,000 hours). Therefore while many have long bemoaned the cost of LED in comparison to alternative sources, given their lower energy consumption and the fact they don’t require replacing as often,
26 | electrical wholesalerNovember 2018
www.ewnews.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64
