Halogen Downlight Alternatives In The Uk
Halogen downlights have been installed in millions of homes and businesses in the last two decades
. Interior designers at one time praised these ceiling mount lights for their contemporary style characteristics and brightness level. Recent research data and evidence is showing, however, that the safety record and energy costs associated with halogen lighting have builders and homeowners seeking better alternatives.
Two main disadvantages make traditional halogens costly and potentially dangerous for in-home use. The first is that they represent a significant fire hazard, even when properly ventilated and isolated from surrounding insulation. Existing properties that don't meet current wiring standards are particularly susceptible to the heat generated by downlights.
The second problem concerning halogens is really part of the same issue. The fact that more than ninety percent of their energy is wasted through heat contributes to their inefficiency as a light source, requiring excess electricity that costs more to produce. The original initiative to use halogen downlights for task lighting has been expanded to include multiple lights used to illuminate entire rooms.
Halogens also require the use of transformers that draw more current, generate more heat, and deplete the bulbs' efficiency even further. In effect, this adds more of a burden on the insulation surrounding the lights, which lowers its efficiency as an insulating layer as well.
While some companies have introduced insulation spacers to contain the carbon and heat build-up that is possible, they are not widely used.
There are alternatives. Energy conscious manufacturers and industry engineers have developed other bulb materials for use in downlights that use less energy, have safer characteristics, and last longer, whilst providing great lighting results.
Philips is one company on the leading edge of this technology. In February 2008, the company debuted their EssentialWhite series of luminaires at London's ARC (Architectural, Retail, and Commercial Lighting) Show, a yearly exhibition of top brand merchandise. Since then, they've developed a LUXEON bulb and an eW Downlight Powercore that are great alternatives to less-efficient halogen and CFL downlights for homes and businesses.
The eW Downlight is available in low-profile fixtures with colour and colour temperature options that suit both intimate spaces as well as hospitals and classrooms. The design is one of more than one hundred Green Flagship Products, a program the company has implemented to develop products that meet or exceed the improved environmental standards required for new construction.
Halogen downlights remain popular for retail and corporate environments where they can be controlled more easily by design and application. New technology, however, brings increasing competition from CFL and LED-based systems.
For home use, there are options to improve the value of existing halogen downlights that consumers can choose, even if they can't afford to replace the lights completely. Traditional 50-watt narrow beam bulbs can be replaced by more energy-efficient, 20W and 35W halogens or comparable CFL bulbs.
These are the sort of innovations that will carry a wider audience away from the more traditional halogen downlight in the future, creating less of an environmental impact for us all.
by: Andy Ball
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