Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs  or low energy lighting) use approximately 80% less energy than `traditional` incandescent lighting.  This is because in incandescent bulbs most energy is lost through heat as the filament and glass warms up.  Low energy lighting does not create heat and therefore saves energy.

At first you may think they are but in truth they’re not.  The average incandescent bulb lasts for approximately 1,000 hours (about 1 year of normal household usage) whereas  low energy lightbulbs have a much longer life.  You can purchase low energy lightbulbs which will last anywhere between 3 and 25 times longer which means you will save on replacement bulbs. Added to that is the annual saving of up to £9 per year from each bulb off  your electricity bill.  You will pay more for longer life bulbs but you should offset this against the savings you are making.

Because they use 80% less energy to achieve the same light output, the wattage reflects this.  As a rule of thumb, to work out the equivalent low energy bulb wattage just divide the required wattage by 5, e.g. a 100 watt incandescent bulb is equivalent to a 20 watt low energy bulb.

Just as there are many different shapes and sizes of traditional bulb, the same applies to low energy lighting.  Names that you will commonly hear are stick, spiral, mini spiral, tube, globe, quadrant and candle.  All of these come in a variety of wattages and because of their shape some are more suitable to some applications than others, e.g. you may want to use a mini spiral or candle bulb in light fittings where the bulb is visible.

Yes, generally they are available in Edison Screw, Small Edison Screw and Bayonet Cap which are suitable for most domestic use.  They are also available in more specialist fittings.  If you are unsure which fitting type you have, please call us to help to identify your required cap fitting and we will be able to you the available choice.

Yes, the technology has come a long way since the first low energy bulbs where the light output was not as good.  They also now have reduced ‘warm up’ times with most of them within a few seconds.  They are flicker free and produce high quality white light.  For technical reasons they are not available in clear glass so the light they produce is more like a ‘softone’ light.

At the moment this technology is developing and we anticipate to be able to offer these very soon.

WEEE stands for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment and is an Environmental  government iniative for  the reduction of electrical and electronic waste.  Low energy lightbulbs fall into this category and as they contain small amounts of mercury they therefore have to be disposed of in a safe way.  For more information click here (link to ‘what householders needs to know about WEEE - http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/GEHO0507BMOM-e-e.pdf)