NEEN FACTSHEET
ENERGY EFFICIENCY:
EFFICIENT LIGHTING
Lighting contributes significantly to business energy use and operating costs.
Increasing energy prices highlight the need to reduce the cost of lighting.
This fact sheet covers common types of lighting and will guide you in the
right direction to identify energy efficiency lighting initiatives.
WHY DOES LIGHTING MATTER?
QUICK WINS
Good lighting does more than just illuminate an area; it
can help to reduce running costs, improve the working
environment, improve safety, improve aesthetics and reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.
•
Turn lights off - Turn lights off if you are away from a room
for more than ten minutes and ensure employees turn off all
lights outside of business hours and on weekends.
•
Use light coloured paint on ceilings and internal walls This will minimise the amount of lighting required in the first
place.
•
Maximise natural light and ventilation - Natural light is
free and the most energy efficient lighting source. Remove
objects that are blocking windows to ensure you maximise
optimal lighting. Consider installing skylights or skylight
panels.
•
Timers, sensors and motion control - Use programmable
timers, daylight sensors or movement sensors to control
outdoor and security lighting.
•
Dust lights - Up 50% of light reduction on fixtures and lamps
can be caused by dust. Establish a cleaning schedule of the
lights to ensure they all operate at an optimum level.
We work with a number of organisations - from offices, churches
and schools right through to sporting facilities - to improve
their lighting efficiency. This fact sheet covers typical energy
efficiency initiatives that can generate monetary savings and
enable faith based community organisations to reduce their
environmental footprint.
ENERGY SAVINGS THROUGH
LIGHTING
There are two general types of upgrades: a retrofit and an
entire luminaire replacement. A retrofit changes only part of
an existing luminaire system, such as lamp or control gear.
The other option is to replace the entire luminaire (lamp and
fitting) with a new luminaire.
The decision will depend on a number of factors. Generally,
retrofitting requires less upfront capital and can be easily
installed, but installing a new luminaire is often more cost
effective in buildings that contain older equipment. Full
replacement can also be economical where improvements
in technology have led to reductions in price.
National Energy Efficiency Network
COMMON TYPES OF LIGHTING
Below are some of the most common types of lights found in
buildings. This information is from the comprehensive NSW
OEH Energy Efficient Lighting Technology Report.
Incandescent Incandescent lamps are the least expensive and
were the most commonly available lamps in the past, however
they are also the least efficient and Australian retailers are now
banned from selling this type of light globe. Incandescent lamps
create light by resistance to the flow of electricity through finely
coiled wires that become hot enough to glow. About 90% of the
energy used by an incandescent lamp becomes heat, and only
10% becomes light.
Linear fluorescent lamps Linear fluorescent lighting is
commonly used in walkways, offices, school buildings and
other covered spaces. The most common designations for
linear fluorescent lighting include T-5, T-8 and T-12. The T
indicates the shape of the lamp tube (T for tubular), and the
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•
corresponding number indicates the tube diameter in eighths
of an inch. Compared to a T-12 lamp and ballast, the T-8
fluorescent lamp provides about 15% more lumens per watt,
and the ballasts are 40% more efficient. T5 fittings are around
30% more efficient than T8 fittings. It should be noted that
T8 tubes can be used directly in T12 luminaire fittings, but T5
tubes would either require the installation of a different fitting
altogether or can be installed into T12 or T8 luminaires using a
retrofit adaptor kit.
CASE STUDY – ADELAIDE CITY
COUNCIL’S OFFICE LIGHTING
REFURBISHMENT
Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) CFLs can be direct
replacements for incandescent bulbs because they require
no wiring changes. They typically use 75% less energy than
incandescent bulbs and last approximately 10 times longer.
CFLs will normally not operate below -17°C and require about
1 minute to reach full light output. CFLs are best suited for
facilities where lights stay on for extended periods, although
using them where lights are switched on and off regularly will
still show far greater benefits than less efficient light globes
such as incandescent or halogen globes.
The entire Adelaide City Council building received a lighting
upgrade in 2002. Five floors of the administrative centre
received an energy efficiency upgrade in 2002, which
included an overhaul of the lighting system.
This building was the first in Adelaide to incorporate T5
fluorescent tubes, now standard in best practice office
lighting design. Reflectors were also upgraded and a control
system including dimmers and movement sensors was
installed.
High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps HID lamps include Metal
Halide (MH) and High Pressure Sodium Vapour (HPSV) lamps.
These are typically easy to install and maintain, and are well
suited for high bay applications (ceilings higher than 3.5m).
However, they require a few minutes to warm up before they
reach full light output, so they are not ideal for short-cycle
lighting such as offices.
Light Emitting Diodes (LED) LEDs are up to five times more
efficient than incandescent lighting and long-lasting, with
ratings up to 100,000 hours. LEDs emit directional lighting
rather than the 360-degree illumination provided by other
bulbs. They are available in a range of different styles and
applications as a result of huge technology advancement over
recent years.
The result for these floors was a significant reduction in
lighting power density, from 24 W/m2 to around 6W/m2. The
lighting upgrade alone saves an estimated $38,000 and 200
tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.
On level six, the predominant luminaire was a recessed
fluorescent (2 x 36W T8), each consuming 82W. These were
replaced with 136 LED Panels which reduced the power
consumption per lighting point to 42W.
By achieving energy savings in excess of 50%, the Council
has saved $4,400 pa at current energy prices. With these
savings and lower demand on air conditioning, more
comfortable lighting levels, and lower maintenance, Adelaide
City Council was able to meet their 2012 carbon emissions
goal and become the first 100% LED office floor in Adelaide.
Halogen lamps Tungsten-halogen (or just halogen) lamps are a
type of high-pressure incandescent lamp that is more energyefficient than a regular incandescent lamp. Halogen lamps
operate at very high temperatures and use less energy by
recycling heat to keep the filament hot with less electricity.
LIGHTING UPGRADES
The following examples require capital investment and could be
undertaken as part of a site-wide lighting upgrade.
•
Fit reflectors - Install light fittings with reflectors that direct
light to specified areas and do not absorb too much light,
creating improved efficiency by up to 40%.
•
Install ballasts - Around 20% of the total energy used in
fluorescent systems is lost in heat from the ballast. By
installing low loss ballasts for fluorescent lighting, savings
can be made in energy costs.
•
Install energy efficient lighting systems - Induction high
bay lights can replace metal halide high bay lights, and
incandescent globes can be replaced by CCFLs.
National Energy Efficiency Network
Globe Replacement - Perhaps the easiest and frequently
the cheapest upgrade is to simply take out the old
inefficient globe, and replace it with a more efficient
globe. Examples of this are replacing Incandescent for
CFL globes, or replacing Halogen downlights for LED
equivalents.
USEFUL LINKS
Energy Efficient Lighting Guide
Australian Government information on energy efficient lighting
http://www.industry.gov.au/Energy/EnergyEfficiency/Lighting/
Pages/default.aspx
Sustainability Victoria
The Energy Efficiency best practice guide to lighting
http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/services-and-advice/
households/energy-efficiency/at-home/lighting
NSW Office of Environment and Heritage The Energy
Efficient Lighting Technology Report outlines energy saving
solutions to increase the efficiency of common types of
lighting http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/business/
lighting.htm
Adelaide City Council
Information on Adelaide’s City Switch Program http://www.
adelaidecitycouncil.com/planning-development/sustainableadelaide/energy/cityswitch/
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June 2014
Why do we need to properly dispose of lightbulbs?
Australian standards mandate that compact fluorescents
CFLs contain no more than 5mg of mercury and a fluorescent
tube cannot contain more than 15mg. The risk of mercury
poisoning, even when a CFL or fluorescent tube is broken
indoors, is extremely low.
It is the accumulation of mercury in landfill across Australia
that is a cause for concern across the wider environment.
Currently it is estimated that 95% of mercury-containing
lamps are sent to landfill in Australia. Mercury in landfill
converts to the toxic methylmercury and spreads through the
wider environment through air, water and soil.
Compact Fluorescent Lamps
Fluorescent U Tubes
FluoroCycle is a scheme that aims to increase the recycling
of lamps that contain mercury and reduce the amount
of mercury entering the environment. To achieve this,
FluoroCycle provides a national, voluntary scheme which
businesses, government agencies and other organisations
can join as Signatories. The scheme gives public recognition
to Signatories for their commitment to recycling.
Linear Fluorescent Lamps
Mercury Vapour Lamps
Please visit the FluoroCycle website to learn more or to
apply online, www.fluorocycle.org.au.
Metal Halide Lamps
High Pressure Sodium/ Ceramic Arc
* As required by mandatory Australian Standards
Lamp Fact Sheet courtesy of Flurocycle
www.fluorocycle.org.au/
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
NEEN – NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY NETWORK
NEEN is a national initiative
to promote open learning
and collaboration amongst
faith-based and not-for-profit
community organisations, with
the aim of increasing energy
efficiency and establishing a
positive energy future for
the sector.
WHAT MAKES THE NEEN
INITIATIVE SO POWERFUL?
NEEN provides small to medium
sized community organisations
with the resources to reduce
energy consumption and the
opportunity to connect and
collaborate on a range of
initiatives that foster a resilient,
sustainable future for the not-forprofit sector and the communities
they serve.
AN OPEN INVITATION
No matter where you are on
your journey to achieve your
sustainability goals, you’re
welcome to join the NEEN
community. Make the connection
and discover a better energy
future for your organisation.
Acknowledgements
This project was funded by the Australian Government – Dept of Industry – Energy
Efficiency Information Grant Program. The Level 1 Energy audits and opportunities
assessments were carried out by Energetics on behalf of the NEEN program.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this document is of a general nature only and does
not constitute personal financial product advice. In preparing the advice no account
was taken of the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person.
Therefore, before making any decision, readers should seek professional advice
from a professional adviser to help you consider the appropriateness of the advice
with regard to your particular objectives, financial situation and needs.
Government Disclaimer
This Activity received funding from the Department of Industry as part of the
Energy Efficiency Information Grants Program. The views expressed herein are not
necessarily the views of the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Commonwealth
does not accept responsibility for any information or advice contained herein.
Discover, Inspire, Engage, Transform
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National Energy Efficiency Network
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June 2014