Energy-efficient lighting has been growing in popularity over the past couple of decades. In fact, statistics show that consumer spending in the UK on energy-efficient light bulbs increased almost fourfold between 2010 and 2020.
As the world strives to be more environmentally conscious, and in the wake of the fuel and cost of living crisis, energy-efficient lighting is arguably more important now than ever before.
And that’s where Vision Lighting is here to help.
As industry leaders - plus with many years of experience in researching, developing, and manufacturing ground-breaking lighting solutions - we are perfectly positioned to tell you everything you need to know about energy-efficient lighting for both home and commercial use.
Read on to find out more.
What light fixtures are the most energy efficient?
To understand energy-efficient lighting, we must first take a look at all the lighting options you might come across, from least to most efficient, starting with traditional bulbs.
Traditional bulbs
Traditional bulbs can be split into two distinct categories: incandescent bulbs and halogen bulbs.
Traditional incandescent bulbs are globe-shaped, with a wire filament inside, which is then filled with an inert gas or made into a vacuum. The filament is heated using the electrical current until it glows, producing visible light. Incandescent bulbs are by far the least energy-efficient bulbs on the market as they waste 9 times more energy than they convert into light.
Halogen bulbs were introduced in the late 1950s and were a small step in the right direction. As the name suggests, these bulbs are instead filled with halogen gas. This means the filament can get hotter than an incandescent bulb, making these bulbs a bit more energy efficient than their predecessor.
That said, neither bulb is as energy efficient as modern light bulbs. Consequently, they are now being phased out of production, or, in some cases, banned completely.
Energy-efficient bulbs
There are two main types of energy-efficient bulbs: compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
CFLs were designed to be a direct alternative to incandescent light bulbs, and use about 25% of the energy. They use fluorescence to provide light, thanks to the electrons affecting the mercury gas inside the twisted tube.
However, there are some downsides to CFLs. Once they have run their course, due to the mercury in the bulb, they are classed as hazardous waste and so must be disposed of properly. They also still waste some energy as heat, albeit less than their alternative, and cannot be dimmed. Additionally, due to their distinctive design, they cannot be used in recessed lighting.
Luckily, LEDs can do everything that CFLs can’t. When a current flows through the semiconductor, electrons recombine with the electron holes, which causes photons to release energy as visible light thanks to a layer of phosphor.
Due to this, LEDs are incredibly energy efficient (we will talk about this in more detail a little later) and can be used in a variety of indoor and outdoor applications.
This allows the Vision Lighting team to provide a wide range of LED lighting solutions that are guaranteed to be more energy efficient, such as:
- Floodlights & signage lights
- Coloured strip lights
- Ceiling panel & wall lights
- Downlights
- Tube lights
All of which are suitable for domestic and commercial settings alike.
Why are more people turning to energy-efficient lighting?
The benefits of energy efficiency are twofold - reducing energy usage can lower your energy bills and help the environment.
In the current climate, perhaps the most important of the two is the energy-saving aspect. Fuel and energy costs have skyrocketed to an all-time high during the cost of living crisis overtaking the UK.
Swapping to energy-efficient lighting has the potential to reduce your monthly energy bills as these bulbs require less energy to illuminate your room. In doing so, using less electricity will also reduce your carbon footprint.
If carbon footprint is your main concern, you might also consider the environmental impact of your lighting after it has run its course.
According to Recycle Now, energy-efficient light bulbs can be recycled in most cases - however, traditional bulbs cannot. Many traditional bulbs will simply be thrown away into landfill - but, as mentioned before, in some cases bulbs will have to be specially disposed of due to the chemicals used that could be potentially harmful to the environment.
Energy-efficient bulbs often last significantly longer, too. This means that, whether they can be recycled or not, you will produce less waste in the long run, which is ultimately better for the environment.
Energy-efficient LED bulbs for ceiling and wall lighting
LED bulbs are arguably the most energy-efficient bulbs on the market - so much so that many lighting solutions recommend LED bulbs as standard.
Though LED light bulbs can initially be a little more costly than their counterparts, they have a higher return on investment (ROI). Let’s take a look at a few key statistics:
- LED lights are around 90% more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs.
- LED lights convert almost all their electrical energy into light. In comparison, traditional bulbs waste 90% as heat, and only 10% is converted into light.
- The majority of LED lights available have an average lifespan of 50,000 hours, with some high quality LEDs lasting upto 100,000 hours or more - whereas halogen bulbs have an average lifespan of 2,000 hours (3 months).
- LEDs can run on a low voltage - which is also what makes them suitable for tricky outdoor lighting solutions.
The lifespan of your LED bulb will, of course, be dependent on usage. If operated for an average of 12 hours per day (more in winter, less in summer) it could last up to 12 years. However, if in use for 24 hours a day (say lighting used on a commercial property, for example), then it could expect a much shorter, but still long, lifespan of 5 years.
As you can see, this all means that the cost of LED bulbs is worth it - they are safer, cheaper to run, less wasteful, and last up to 25 times longer than a traditional bulb.
Here at Vision Lighting, we have a variety of energy-efficient LED light bulbs to choose from.
GU10
A GU10 light bulb is most commonly used in spotlights - though our GU10 bulbs can also be used in wall lights, too. It has two square-shaped pins on the bottom, which are inserted into the corresponding holes on the light fitting.
Our range of GU10 bulbs is available in 3000K warm white or 4000K natural white, and varies from 5W to 6.5W models.
GLS A60
General Lighting Service, or GLS, bulbs are probably the most common light bulb, as their name suggests. Our range of GLS bulbs spans from bayonet B22 bulbs to screw-in E27 bulbs, warm white to cool white shades, and energy consumption of 6.5W to 10.5W.
These LED bulbs are perfect for wall lighting and ceiling lighting alike.
C35
Last, but not least, of our LED bulbs is the C35. These bulbs are noticeable for their candle flame-like shape, and the fact their design mimics that of a traditional bulb.
Our C35 offering is the Kanlux XLED Filement bulb with an E14 base, complete with filament internal design, and a beam angle of 320 degrees. It is available in either 2700k warm white or 4000k natural white.
How to get the most out of your lighting
Even with energy-efficient lighting, you will no doubt want to make sure you get the most out of your lighting solution - and here are a couple of top tips to help.
Understand the different types of lighting
There are three types of lighting you will want to be aware of:
- Ambient lighting: general, overall lighting level
- Task lighting: lighting focused in a specific area to allow you to carry out certain tasks
- Accent lighting: lighting that highlights particular features, artwork, signs, and so on
By understanding the difference between the three, you can ensure that you get the right kind of lighting to suit your needs and achieve the right balance in every room.
Consider colour temperature
Even white lights come in different colours, which are grouped into cool, neutral, and warm whites. Numbers 2000K to 3000K are warm whites, whereas 3000K to 4500K are natural whites and 4500K and above is cool white. The different shade of white you opt for depends on the application.
For instance, for floodlights and security lighting, a cool white might be preferable, whereas somewhere more welcoming or homely might veer more towards a warm white. Meanwhile, commercial properties might strive to find a good balance between cool professionalism and a warm welcoming vibe with natural 4000K lighting.
Innovative accessories to minimise LED energy consumption even further!
LEDs are energy-efficient lighting solutions in themselves. However, thanks to ever-evolving technologies and integrated accessories, there are a few ways you might further reduce your energy consumption.
Motion sensors
Motion sensors detect movement, which then tells the light to turn on. The light can then be programmed to automatically switch off after a certain period of time, or after no motion is detected for a set time.
The most common example has to be motion-activated outdoor floodlighting, which typically uses passive infrared sensor (PIR) detection. Instead of keeping your outdoor light illuminated at all times, the light will come on only when it detects infrared light radiating from objects, including you (or a potential intruder), before switching back off automatically.
Of course, this means that the motion sensor and light will always be switched on, waiting on standby for motion to be detected. Due to this, you may think that this will make the lighting less energy efficient.
However, motion sensor lights only use a rough average of 0.1 watts when not triggered, which is less than a light that is consistently turned on, so passive consumption will be minimal.
This means that motion sensors can reduce energy consumption slightly, especially when it comes to things like outdoor lighting.
Dimmer switches
When first introduced, dimmers used a resistor in the electrical circuit. This only let a certain amount of energy be converted into visible light, and the rest was wasted as heat. Due to this, many now have a preconception that dimmers waste electricity - but this is no longer true.
Research shows that dimmer switches really do reduce your energy consumption for a more energy-efficient lighting solution - and this has everything to do with how the updated technology works.
Modern dimmer switches turn the electric current on and off rapidly (we are talking hundreds of times per second, here) to achieve the desired brightness level. By reducing the amount of power required to light the bulb, it uses less energy and can prolong the lifespan of the bulb itself, and so can be considered more energy efficient.
That said, it is important to note that dimmer switches are only more energy efficient if you require and utilise a range of brightness levels - for example, brighter during the day and gradually dimmed before bed. On the other hand, if you are simply looking for a consistently lower brightness and find yourself never returning the light to its maximum output, you are better off just switching to a bulb of lower wattage and lower lumens.
Smart lighting
We have all been there - you’ve just got off the plane on your holidays or gone to work for the day and realised - or at least are worried - you left a light on. Well, with smart lighting, you can worry no more!
Smart lighting is connected to an app on your smartphone or device. The capabilities depend largely on the smart provider within your home, but usually include the following:
- Set timer for lights to automatically turn on and off, or dim
- Turn lights on and off from your smartphone, wherever you are
- Double-check what lights are turned on, and turn them off if needed
- Programme lights to turn on with specific colours at specific times (if your LEDs have this capability)
Though not necessarily related to its energy efficiency, smart lighting can also be used as part of a larger smart home setup, supporting integrations with music and TV streaming. Want to make it so your lights dim whenever you watch a film? Or set the right atmosphere for a romantic date night? Smart lighting can help you do this.
Find energy-efficient lighting solutions at Vision Lighting
From LED light bulbs to LED floodlights, trough lights to signage lighting, Vision Lighting has everything you need to implement an effective and efficient lighting solution that will reduce your energy consumption, lower your carbon footprint, and serve you well for many years to come.
All our LED products are suitable for commercial and domestic usage, whether you are an electrician looking to source lighting for a client or a homeowner getting started on some home improvements.
Browse our LED lighting products today, or get in touch with our expert team for more information, advice, or assistance.