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

Improve Your Lighting while saving energy!

Think LEDs!

Did you know that LED lamps not only save huge amounts of electricity, but last far longer than conventional lights too?

For example the latest 7 Watt Megaman mains voltage LED Reflector lamp produces the light equivalent of a traditional 35 Watt halogen spotlight. These lamps also have a rated life of around 20,000 hours, far exceeding both conventional (incandescent) and halogen lamps.

Based on over 10 years of research and development, these lamps are direct plug-in replacements for halogen spots in terms of both colour temperature and intensity, but with energy savings of up to 80%.They are available as direct replacements for GU10, Par 16, Par 20, Par 30 and AR111 type halogen lamps.

The average cost of ownership shows a payback in under 4000 hours operation, making a change from traditional halogen spotlights to LED Reflectors now very affordable and sensible for the environment.

The new Megaman range represents a major breakthrough in LED lighting, as it solves a number of key issues that have so far limited the take-up of these light sources in consumer applications. The result is that energy consumption and heat generation have been minimised, while maximising operational life and delivering three times more light output than other LEDs for the same wattage. I think these are going to be very popular replacements for halogen bulbs.

Low Energy Lighting Questions?

- Just watch the videos!

You will have noticed significant media and Internet comment during the past year or so, highlighting the fact that many ordinary light bulbs– that’s the traditional incandescent types – have now been withdrawn from general sale in the UK.

This has raised a number of issues, including the way in which the switch over from incandescent to low energy light bulbs was handled by the Government, health & safety concerns, recycling challenges, the perceived economics of using the new types, and complaints about both performance and light quality.

In order to clarify the facts of what is clearly a complex scenario, we’ve produced a collection of five short videos which have now been posted on YouTube. They feature interviews with Adrian Kitching, Megaman Uk’s Sales Director. He explains simply how common misconceptions have complicated the current situation, and what the true facts are.

If you’ve got unanwered questions about compact fluorescent lamps – that’s CFLs or low energy light bulbs – I’m sure you’ll get the answers by watching these compelling clips. Here are the YouTube links….

· The Switch over from incandescent to low energy light bulbs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROvUoN-OmhU

· Health & Safety Issues of low energy light bulbs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k0iMzyOh0E

· Not all low energy light bulbs are dim, slow and unattractive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvh8c9XFWhk&feature=related

· How low energy light bulbs can save you money
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqwVZKatVJE

· Recycling low energy light bulbs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PllAVh9I8kM

Size and Shape is Everything!

If you thought that low-energy light bulbs only came in chunky globe shapes or strange spirals, think again!

Take a look at the Decorative Range, from Megaman. They match most conventional lightbulbs for size and shape, but offer energy savings of up to 80% and an operational life of around 15,000 hours - making them the perfect replacement for short-lived energy-guzzling incandescent types.

The range consists of three types: the Classic Series – consisting of compact ‘golf ball’ and “ping pong ball” types, the Candle Series, offering a perfect choice of replacements for all traditional candle shaped bulbs, and the Reflector Series. These incorporate the very latest in lamp tube technology, and are direct replacements for mains halogens and compact spotlamps with GU10 and screw-in base fittings.

All these low energy bulbs use the latest in lamp technology to maximise lumen efficiency, reduce heat and prolong life. The lamps each contain less than 3mg of mercury, in a safe amalgam form, claimed to be an industry first, and they are also built with recyclable solder-less bases which are rustproof, user friendly and environmentally responsible.

They are available from electrical wholesalers, lighting shops and various Internet suppliers throughout the UK and Ireland, as well as major DIY retailers like B&Q. Local suppliers and stockists can be found at : http://www.megamanuk.com/

So no more excuses - you can always find a direct equivalent to old fashioned incandescent bulbs!

Low Energy Lighting - The Way to go

Traditional filament bulbs have been around since the late 1800s, and have become a cosy, reliable background item to which we give little thought. However, the world has changed a lot since Victorian times and is now facing some difficult environmental challenges. The UK government, (like many other governments around the world) has recognised this, and is imposing restrictions on how we use energy supplies. So now we have the CFL - or low energy light bulb.

It wasn’t so very long ago that the low energy light bulbs hit the market, and were pretty crude by today’s standards. Many were bulky and oddly shaped, some gave off a cold, harsh light, and others took a while to warm up to full light output. Unfortunately, many people have based their opinions and experiences on the older models which were around just three or four years ago. Despite some of these preconceptions, there have been some spectacular product advances since then.

Like traditional bulbs, low energy versions now come in all shapes and sizes. They range from traditionally shaped bulbs to round, golf ball and candle shaped varieties, with small or medium screw and bayonet fittings. There are even halogen replacement and dimmable energy saving bulbs on the market and thanks to further developments in CFL technology, consumers can enjoy a warm glow rather than a cold light. The newest types are no longer larger than traditional bulbs, and in some cases are smaller, being designed to fit into even the most compact light fittings.

In an ordinary light bulb, the current is passed through a wire which heats up, producing instant light. This makes them incredibly inefficient, as 95 per cent of the electricity used is lost in the production of heat. Remember, the wattage of a bulb tells you how much power it uses, not how much light it produces, so in comparison, an energy saving bulb will only use 20 watts of power to create the same light as a standard 100 watt bulb.

Regarding warm-up times and brightness, most modern low energy bulbs take little more than a few seconds to reach full light output and nowadays are just as bright as normal bulbs. This short warming up process is due to the way they work, rather like flourescent tubes. In an “in-and-out” situation like an airing cupboard or pantry, where an instant switch-on is required, consumers could always instal an available energy saving alternative such as low voltage halogens or LED-based lamps.

For technical reasons, the glass used to house energy saving light bulbs has to be opaque, not totally transparent as in some traditional light bulbs. In other words, the light quality of energy saving bulbs can’t be directly compared with that of clear incandescents. For a direct, valid comparison, they need to be viewed alongside soft tone incandescent bulbs. Do this, and you will not see any difference. Traditional bulbs can also appear to be brighter as they emit light from just one certain point, whereas low energy bulbs use a longer glass tube to product all-round illumination. This does not mean that the light intensity produced is any less – and there have been laboratory measurements to prove it.

Then there’s the question of cost. At the moment prices vary enormously, but it’s safe to say that prices are coming down fast and are now extremely competitive. With the extra savings on energy, and a longer product life, an average householder will usually recoup the extra outlay within a year. Over a longer period the savings can be substantial.

It is true that producing an energy saving bulb does use more energy than making a traditional bulb, because of its advanced technology. However, the energy saved by using the bulb over its lifetime, and the resultant reduction in noxious exhausts from coal fire power stations which generate electricity, far outweigh this extra energy consumption during the manufacturing process.

Question: Are they dangerous?

Energy saving bulbs do contain tiny traces of mercury – imagine a pellet smaller than the ball at the tip of a ball point pen. Let’s put that into perspective. An average low energy bulb will contain much less than five milligrams of mercury, and in Megaman products it is in a very safe amalgam form anyway. A mercury thermometer will contain about 500 milligrams of mercury while almost 14 milligrams get emitted at a power plant to power an incandescent light bulb. Standard fluorescent strip light tubes, which contain larger amounts of mercury than CFLs, have been widely used for in commercial and public environments for decades without any problems.

Crucially in the long term, this technology will actually ensure less mercury pollutes the atmosphere we breathe. This is because burning fossil fuel such as coal is currently the biggest source of mercury in the air. It is worth noting that a common coal fired power plant will create more mercury pollution in providing power to a single low energy light bulb than is contained within the lamp itself. And unlike the tiny amount of mercury contained within the bulb, the mercury pollution created by a power plant cannot be recycled.