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A bright idea has
got even better
Energy saving lightbulbs
:
Busted
and
myths ions
cept
miscon ergy
en
about
tbulbs
h
g
i
l
g
savin
A range of new
stylish lightbulbs
Help the environment –
and save money on bills!
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The bright way to
save energy
See energy saving
bulbs in a new light
Energy saving lightbulbs have always been a bright idea –
for your pocket and the environment. They use up to 80
per cent less electricity than a traditional bulb, but produce
the same amount of light.
In your mind’s eye think of an energy saving bulb, is it bulky
and oddly shaped? Maybe giving off a cold, harsh light?
In other words, they can help
you to save money and energy,
all in one wise purchase. And by
saving energy, you’ll be helping
to fight climate change too.
That’s the good news. Now, here’s
some more.
Technology has moved on a lot since energy
saving bulbs were first invented and so has the
way they look. In fact, whatever types of bulbs
you use to light your home, there are sure to
be stylish energy saving equivalents.
So why not switch to energy saving
bulbs today?
As you’ll see, even the best excuses no
longer apply…
“
oved
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Technolo
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e
n
e
since
on a lot
first
re
e
w
s
lb
saving bu d so has
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”
If so, be prepared to think again. There are now more good
reasons than ever to buy energy saving bulbs. Here are three
of the best.
Like traditional bulbs, they come in
all shapes and sizes
Advances in technology mean that energy
saving bulbs are now available in a wide
variety of fittings, shapes and sizes.
These range from traditionally shaped bulbs
to round and candle shaped varieties, with
small or medium screw and bayonet fittings.
The choice really is yours. Nowadays, there
are even halogen and dimmable energy
saving bulbs on the market.
And thanks to the invention of ‘soft tone’
bulbs, you can enjoy a warm glow rather
than a cold light.
They’re just as bright as traditional
bulbs, but better for the environment
Simple fact: energy saving bulbs use less
electricity than traditional bulbs to do the
same job. In turn, using less energy like
electricity means that our homes produce
less carbon dioxide, one of the main causes
of climate change.
So why not do your bit to help fight climate
change? Next time you need a bulb, buy an
energy saving one.
In fact, if every household in the UK fitted
three energy saving bulbs, in a year we would
save enough electricity to supply all the street
lighting in the UK.
…and are kinder to your pocket
Depending on how long your lights are in
use every day, just one energy saving bulb
could save you up to £7 a year. And because
it will last up to 10 times longer than a
traditional bulb, it could save you around
£60 before it needs replacing.
Fit all the lights in your house with energy
saving bulbs and you could save around
£600 over the lifetime of the bulbs.
And before you ask, these savings take into
account the higher cost of energy saving
bulbs. These days, the average price is only
£3.00 a bulb, so you’ll usually recoup the
extra outlay within a year.
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Choose Energy Saving
Recommended bulbs
So you think you know
energy saving bulbs...
When you’re shopping for energy saving bulbs, look
for the Energy Saving Recommended logo. It’s the quick
and easy way to spot the most energy efficient products
on the market.
If a bulb carries the logo,
it means it has met the strict
energy efficiency criteria set by
the Energy Saving Trust – and
has been independently tested
by an accredited test house.
As well as energy consumption, criteria for
bulbs cover; how long they should last,
quality of light, warm up time, packaging
information and safety. The criteria are
reviewed on a regular basis and standards
are constantly being raised to make sure
that energy saving bulbs keep on improving
in terms of efficiency and performance.
Product name
GE GLS
Wattage
11W
Retailer
Asda
B&Q
Wilkinson
Woolworths
Product name
GE GLS
Wattage
15W
Retailer
Asda
B&Q
Wilkinson
Product name
GE Candle
Wattage
9W
Retailer
Asda
B&Q
Wilkinson
Product name
GE GLS
Wattage
11W
Retailer
Asda
B&Q
Wilkinson
Woolworths
Product name
Philips Softone
Wattage
12W
Retailer
John Lewis
Waitrose
Morrisons
Robert Dyas
Next
Product name
Philips Mini
Softone
Wattage
8W
Retailer
John Lewis
Homebase
Waitrose
Product name
Megaman
compact classic
Wattage
11W
Retailer
Ryness
Electric Centre
Edmonson’s
Product name
Osram Dulux Economy
Wattage
5W
Retailer
Robert Dyas
CO-OP
Wattage conversion table
Traditional bulb
Energy saving bulb
When buying an Energy Saving Recommended
bulb you can be sure it will not only save
energy but also be of the highest quality.
100W
20–25W
60W
13–18W
Buy the right wattage for your needs
40W
8 –11W
If you’re replacing a traditional bulb, look
at its wattage. The chart on the right shows
you which energy saving bulb you should
buy to create the same amount of light. This
information can be found on the packaging
of your new bulb.
25W
6W
Remember: the wattage of a bulb tells
you how much power it uses – not how
much light it produces. An energy saving
bulb will only use 20 watts of power to
create the same light as a standard
100 watt bulb.
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Energy saving bulbs...
not what they used to be
Over 250 Energy Saving Recommended bulbs are now available to
suit all homes, budgets and tastes.
Product name
Osram Dulux
EL DIM
Wattage
20W
Retailer
Robert Dyas
Product name
Sylvania CF
Wattage
5W
Retailer
Screwfix Direct
Product name
GE Candle
Wattage
5W
Retailer
B&Q
Woolworths
Product name
Osram Duluxstar
Wattage
9W
Retailer
BHS
Debenhams
Dunelm Mills
Robert Dyas
Product name
Philips Genie 8yr
Wattage
8W
Retailer
Homebase
John Lewis
Somerfield
Product name
Status
Wattage
15W
Retailer
Homebase
Morrison’s
Product name
Megaman ultra
compact candle
Wattage
7W
Retailer
Ryness
Electric Centre
Edmonson’s
B&Q
Product name
Megaman ultra
compact candle
Wattage
7W
Retailer
Ryness
Electric Centre
Edmonson’s
B&Q
Product name
Osram Duluxstar
Wattage
8W
Retailer
BHS
CO-OP
Debenhams
Dunelm Mill
Robert Dyas
Screwfix Direct
Product name
Sylvania mini-lynx
fast start
Wattage
9W
Retailer
Screwfix Direct
Product name
Megaman ultra
compact candle
Wattage
5W
Retailer
Ryness
Electric Centre
Edmonson’s
B&Q
Product name
Philips ES Dichroic
Wattage
35W
Retailer
Homebase
John Lewis
Product name
GE Spiral
Wattage
11W
Retailer
Asda
Wilkinson
Woolworths
Product name
Osram Duluxstar EL
Wattage
7W
Retailer
CO-OP
Debenhams
Robert Dyas
Sainsbury’s
Dunelm Mills
Product name
Osram Decostar ES 35V
Wattage
12W
Retailer
Robert Dyas
Screwfix Direct
Please note this is not an exhaustive
list of retailers, wattages or cap types.
The bulbs available will also vary
depending on the size of the store.
For a full list of retailers please visit
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/lighting
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Don’t stay in the dark
You’re bound to still have some questions about energy saving
bulbs. Here we’ve answered some of the most common
queries – and shattered several popular myths along the way.
Doesn’t switching lights on and
off use more energy than leaving
them running?
No, switching on an energy saving bulb only
uses the same amount of power as leaving it
on for a minute or two.
Turning the bulb on and off repeatedly may
shorten its life, but normal household use
shouldn’t cause any problems. In fact,
Energy Saving Recommended bulbs are
tested through 1,000s of cycles of switching.
However, to help it last as long as possible,
it is best to leave it on for a ‘stabilising’
period of 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
And if you’re still using traditional bulbs,
remember to switch them off every time you
leave a room unoccupied. In the UK alone
we waste an incredible £140 million a year
by leaving lights on unnecessarily.
Don’t energy saving lightbulbs take
a long time to light up?
No, most modern energy saving bulbs take
little more than a few seconds to warm up
to full brightness.
This short warming up process is due to the
way they work. An electric current is passed
through gas in a tube, making the tube’s
coating glow brightly. In traditional bulbs,
the current is passed through a wire which
heats up and produces light straight away.
What makes them incredibly inefficient is
that 95 per cent of the electricity used is
lost in the production of heat.
Energy saving bulbs, by contrast, use the
same efficient technology as fluorescent
lights – but are more compact and use even
less energy.
Producing an energy saving bulb
uses more energy than making a
traditional bulb. Doesn’t that make
it inefficient?
No, because of its clever technology, an
energy saving bulb might take more energy
to make than a traditional bulb. But the
energy saved by the bulb over its lifetime far
outweighs this energy consumption.
Don’t traditional bulbs give a better
quality of light?
voltage bulbs use a transformer which takes
the voltage from the mains supply and
‘transforms’ it to the lower operating voltage
of the halogen light. This helps them to use
less energy and makes them 35 per cent
more efficient than traditional halogens.
Currently, the Energy Saving Recommended
scheme only endorses low voltage (12 volt)
bulbs: the kind that need a transformer. But
there are plans for mains voltage (240 volt)
bulbs to be endorsed soon.
Lots of my lights have dimmer
switches. Can I fit them with energy
saving bulbs?
Most energy saving bulbs aren’t fully
compatible with dimmer switch circuits at
the moment. A standard dimmer switch will
simply make the bulb flicker: annoying for
you and not good for your bulb.
The Osram Dulx El Dim is currently the only
fully dimmable energy saving bulb. However,
there are plans for more to be developed
later this year.
There are also energy saving bulbs that can
be used with ‘staged dimming’. This requires
a special sort of dimmer with three separate
settings – high, low and off.
For technical reasons, the glass used to
house energy saving lightbulbs has to be
opaque – not totally transparent. In other
words, the light quality of energy saving
bulbs can’t be directly compared with that
of clear traditional bulbs. Compare them
with soft tone traditional bulbs, though,
and you won’t see any difference.
Is the government really banning
traditional bulbs?
Are halogen bulbs more efficient
than traditional bulbs?
Don’t energy saving bulbs contain
mercury? And isn’t that bad for the
environment?
Yes, but they are not as energy efficient as
normal energy saving bulbs. So, halogen
bulbs should only be used in your existing
halogen fittings.
Halogen bulbs come in mains voltage (240
volt) and low voltage (12 volt) varieties. Low
There is a proposal for a voluntary phasing
out of traditional bulbs between now and
2011. This will give manufacturers and
retailers enough time to develop additional
products that will take their place.
Energy saving bulbs contain only tiny traces
of mercury – imagine a pellet smaller than
the tip of a biro. In the long term, energy
saving bulb technology will actually ensure
less mercury pollutes the air.
This is because burning fossil fuels like coal
is the biggest source of mercury in the air.
And as energy saving bulbs use 80 per cent
less electricity than a traditional bulb, they
mean far less mercury overall is produced.
Remember to always recycle your used
bulbs, for example at your local authority’s
recycling centre.
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Have you seen the light?
The Sheridan’s have
Get more advice on
energy efficiency
Energy conscious householder Paul Sheridan is a keen
advocate of energy saving bulbs. With a range of energy
saving bulbs in different rooms, he’s more than happy
with the light they produce.
Call your local Energy Saving Trust advice centre on
0800 512 012 for free, impartial advice on making
your home more energy efficient.
Our experts:
lampshades any more and they come in all
sorts of stylish shapes and sizes.
“Lots of people like to have four candle
lights in the middle of a room, and the old
style energy saving bulbs looked a bit funny
in their place. But nowadays, you can buy
candle shaped energy saving bulbs, and four
will use less electricity than one traditional bulb.
He’s also keenly aware of the
benefits of his bulbs. Paul said:
“Energy saving bulbs use less
energy, so are cheaper to use
and better for the environment.
“They are much better value than traditional
bulbs. An energy saving bulb might cost from
£3 to £4, but it could save you up to £7 a
year. If you add up how many bulbs you
have in your house, that’s quite a bit of
money saved.”
So, why doesn’t everyone follow Paul’s
example and kit out their homes with energy
saving bulbs? Paul said: “They probably don’t
know that there are lots of different varieties
now, so they might be worried about their
size and appearance.”
But the fact is, energy saving bulbs have
changed – for the better. Take Paul’s word
for it. “They don’t stick out of the top of
In short, the new generation of energy saving
bulbs is more than a match for traditional
bulbs. Paul Sheridan said: “They no longer
take a long time to light up and they are
smaller than they used to be. They’re about
thinking ahead – beyond purchase costs to
bigger issues like rising fuel prices and the
environment.”
“Plus, we haven’t had to change one since
we started buying them. And that’s been a
good few years now!”
• Can advise you on the most cost effective
energy saving measures that are suitable
for your home.
• Know your local area and where you can
buy energy saving products.
• Can put you in contact with local
professional installers or trades people.
• Can tell you about any available
grants or offers for energy saving
home improvements.
• Will guide you through the whole process
of taking energy saving action.
More bright ideas to
save energy
There are plenty of other simple things you can do around
the home to help you save energy.
• Turn your thermostat down by 1°C; this
could cut your heating bills by up to 10
per cent and save you around £40 per year.
• Switch your appliances off. Don’t leave
them on standby or on charge and save
around £30 per year.
• When making hot drinks only boil as
much water as you need – but remember
to always cover the element in an
electric kettle.
• Washing your clothes at 30°C instead
of at higher temperatures uses around
40 per cent less electricity.
To save even more energy other measures
you could consider include insulating cavity
walls, installing a condensing boiler and
topping up your loft insulation to 270mm
(10.5 inches).
For more ideas on how to save energy visit
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
or call 0800 512 012.
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The Energy Saving Trust
The Energy Saving Trust is one of the UK’s leading organisations set up to
address the damaging effects of climate change. We aim to cut emissions
of carbon dioxide (CO2) – the main greenhouse gas causing climate
change – by promoting the sustainable and efficient use of energy.
The Energy Saving Trust is an independent, non profit making
organisation. It provides impartial information and advice, and has a
network of advice centres in the UK specifically designed to help people
take action to save energy.
To request a version of this booklet with large print
please call 020 7222 0101.
Energy Saving Trust, 21 Dartmouth Street, London SW1H 9BP, Tel 0800 512 012, www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
EE124 © Energy Saving Trust September 2007. E&OE.
Printed on Revive Silk which contains 75% de-inked post-consumer waste and a maximum of 25% mill broke