SuperHomes to inspire your eco makeover - with Megaman

Pioneering owners of more than 60 of the UK’s most energy efficient SuperHomes will be hosting free open days and tours between Saturday 17th March and Sunday 25th March 2012. The houses are packed with energy saving ideas and information on techniques and costs will be freely available to visitors. Most of the homes feature energy saving lamps and light bulbs supplied by Megaman.

SuperHomes are older homes that have been renovated by their owners to reduce carbon emissions by at least 60%. These are real homes owned by real people who have made a major commitment to reduce their carbon emissions. They are often accessible to the public, and at Open Days the owners share the benefits and challenges involved in making these dramatic changes.

Megaman is the principal lighting sponsor of the SuperHomes Network and Megaman-based energy saving lighting product are found throughout the properties. These include both CFL (compact fluorescent lamp) and LED (light emitting diode) solutions. All of these products are available through a nation-wide network of wholesalers, retailers and Internet suppliers. Full details at: http://www.megamanuk.com/where-to-buy/

The SuperHomes initiative is being led by The Sustainable Energy Academy (SEA), whose Chairman John Doggart,said: “Megaman UK has sponsored us right from the start and this has really helped the network grow in size and effectiveness. As a result we have a total of 115 SuperHomes covering 85% of the UK. So we’re really grateful to Megaman for supporting our long term vision.”

For more information on SuperHomes, SEA, or to book onto a tour, visit the SuperHomes website.

For more information about Megaman low energy lighting products, visit Megaman UK Ltd

WE MUST BAN MERCURY IN LOW ENERGY LAMPS!

Megaman, one of the world's largest manufacturers of energy saving light bulbs, is calling for an international ban on unsafe bulbs which contain mercury in liquid form. The entire range of lighting products from Megaman are free of liquid mercury, and consumer safety is being compromised by lax regulations which allow inferior – and potentially hazardous - products to be sold through shops and Internet retailers. Megaman is actively lobbying at the EU in Brussels and in other European countries.

The company has carried out exhaustive research into what happens when different types of low energy bulbs – known as CFLs - get broken in a confined space. While those types which use a safe form of amalgam are safe when broken, those which contain liquid mercury can release mercury vapour in concentrations which far exceed internationally agreed safety limits.

While mercury in various solid and liquid forms has to be used to make all fluorescent lights (including low energy bulbs) work properly, it does not have to be used in its most dangerous liquid form, but can be used safely in a solid amalgam form combined with other elements.

Check these links out for more information:

Megaman's full press announcement: http://www.megamanuk.com/the-news-room/product-news/article.php?article_id=1768

Technical white paper (pdf format) on use of amalgam in low energy light bulbs: http://www.megamanuk.com/pdfs/white-paper-zero-mercury.pdf

Megaman and its products in the UK: www.megamanuk.com

Megaman global organisation: http://www.megaman.cc/global/aboutus/environment_and_sustainability.php