At Last the
Government is to encourage use of low energy lighting
Last year 39TWh of energy (that’s 39 billion kWh) was used to light
commercial and public sector buildings in the UK, while around 15TWh was used
in homes -so any moves to encourage savings in this area is very welcome.
So good news that the government has announced it is considering (and
consulting on) ways to encourage homes and businesses to install low-energy
lighting and controls. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has
at last realised that a quarter of the potential energy savings to be made in
homes by 2030 could come from getting rid of incandescent lamps. Also that
lighting and controls could account for more than a third of savings in
commercial properties and nearly half in the public sector (including street lighting).
It’s what we in the lighting industry have been telling them for ages.
The potential benefits are significant. A 10 per cent reduction in
electricity demand could lead to cost savings of around £4bn in 2030, more than
compensating for the investment made upfront. That amount of energy is
comparable to that generated by five power stations in the UK.
Sadly, In the residential sector, the major barrier to adopting newer
lighting technologies like CFLs and LEDs has been partly due to lack of
awareness, but also sullen public resentment at being forced to abandon the
much loved incandescent light bulb in favour of more expensive alternatives.
Many consumers have chosen to ignore the clear long term advantages of low
energy lighting while fuming at being told what they can’t buy by
Brussels. They have, of course, missed
the point – and we must all try harder to clarify the issues and educate
consumers more effectively.
We at Megaman are already trying hard to get the message across, and so
are most intelligent players in the UK lighting market. But it would be helpful
if the consumer and national press would help too, instead of running
scaremongering articles which talk up phantom dangers and risks to the
exclusion of clear, proven advantages.
DECC has come in for a lot of criticism from energy related companies
and organisations over the past few years – hopefully it has now changed course
and will work with key players to educate the public more effectively,
encourage investment in renewables and reduce energy consumption in the face of
a proven global warming menace.
Relevant links:
DECC:
CIBSE (Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers): http://www.cibse.org/index.cfm?go=news.view&item=217
ACE (Association for the Conservation of Energy): http://www.ukace.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=699&Itemid=1
Lux Magazine:
Megaman UK:
