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For a discussion on the changes to LG3, general thoughts on lighting design and other Breaking News click here |
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For Lighting Controls and useful stuff on new technology click here - including a brand new adaptor for T5 tubes to replace both T12 and T8. |
Featured below are FluoreSave for major savings on switch start lighting and hi-bay lighting; Ecoflood ultra low energy CFL floodlights; and fantastic new LED replacements for Halogen Dichroic fittings that offer 95% energy savings!!!!! I also address the issue of waste in lighting - an increasing problem. |
Feeling SAD - click here - also if you occupy a sick building |
Why should you worry about lighting - well 58,000GWh of electricity is used every year to light the UK - almost 20% of the total electricity that is burned in this country goes on lighting - that is why you need to improve the energy effectiveness of your lighting.
| Fluoresave
We have discovered an exciting development in energy saving for switch start lighting and discharge lighting called Fluoresave. It is well established in Australia and the Far East but is just entering the UK market. There are quite a few of these available, for example, Energy Optimizer, but having done some research Fluoresave is totally reliable, proven in many UK Council sites and - lets cut to the quick - beats everyone hands down on cost. Fluoresave also costs the same irrespective of how much you are going to save and that type of honest pricing always appeals to the grippy Yorkshireman in me! As I have stated elsewhere - beware the
man selling anything that just happens to cost exactly the same as your
annual bill or offers payback just within your usual investment parameters |
So what is it? What does it do? Fluoresave is a microprocessor-controlled, energy saving unit for standard magnetic ballast fluorescent and other discharge lighting such as sodium, mercury and metal halide, which saves power consumption by up to 30%+ with an imperceptible effect on light levels. Fitted at or near the main distribution board, the Fluoresave units are easily installed into existing lighting circuits and no modification is required to the existing light fittings. Fluoresave has a proven 9 year performance and reliability record around the world, significantly cutting energy bills and delivering a payback in 1-2 years depending upon the unit price paid for power and the hours that the lighting is run. Documented cases show savings ranging from 20% to 52%. How it WorksThe Fluoresave unit supplies mains voltage for ignition. The unit allows a short time delay period for lamp warm-up to ensure stable operation of the lights, before switching to a lower energy saving voltage. Each unit comes factory set to reduce the voltage by 15% for maximum savings, however for certain types of lamps a 10% reduction may be selected. Single or multiple lighting circuits and mixed lamp types can be controlled by a single Fluoresave unit making it very versatile and economic to install. Maximum voltage, and hence energy consumption, is only required for the ignition of switch start fluorescent and high pressure sodium lamps. Once they are lit there is no need to keep the voltage at such a high level and yet all standard systems do just that. When Fluoresave switches to Energy Saving Mode, it reduces the voltage by way of a step-down on the transformer. Fluoresave does not in any way interfere with the sine wave thus it generates no harmonics. During operation, Fluoresave continuously monitors the variation in the output of the current and mains voltage. When additional lights within the circuit are switched on, Fluoresave will revert back to mains voltage for ignition and wait for the current to stabilize before returning to the Energy Saving Mode. If for any reason a fault occurs with the Fluoresave unit, it automatically cuts itself out of the circuit delivering mains power to the lighting network. The Fluoresave unit is fitted with status indicator lights to indicate when the unit is in Energy Saving Mode or to indicate any fault condition. Power savings of 30% or moreIndependent electrical auditors have tested Fluoresave in the workplace and compared power consumption before and after connection of Fluoresave . Using 39 x 40 watt fluorescent lamps, the auditors confirmed that the current required to operate the lamps was reduced by more than 35% with little discernable loss in lux levels. Here are some actual results from a recent trial installation of a 20A unit in an industrial building, lots of switch start fluorescents and very low electricity costs (only 2.92p/kWh). Before: Input Voltage 250.2V x Input Current 19.8A = 4.95396kW After: Input Voltage 214.4V x Input Current 12.2A = 2.61568kW Result: 48% Saving This building maintains lighting 24/7 and the Fluoresave paid for itself in 7 months! Experience of Fluoresave users in many buildings with varying lighting types have shown savings of 30% and more when applied to fluorescent lighting and 20% and more when used with other discharge lighting. Fluoresave will not make worthwhile savings when used with high frequency lighting or lighting controlled by an electronic ballast. In new installations where fluorescent lighting is required, Fluoresave combined with conventional magnetic ballast fluorescent lighting will show significant cost and performance advantages over high frequency fluorescent lighting, and Fluoresave generates no harmonics. Make immediate savingsGovernment, industry, business, commerce, hospitals, educational establishments and the retail sector are all high users of fluorescent and other discharge lighting. Fluoresave offers an enormous opportunity to simply and decisively reduce unnecessary energy consumption and its associated costs, sending the cost savings straight to the “bottom line”. Environmental benefitsFluoresave reduces the energy to operate fluorescent and other discharge lights, which reduces the impact on the environment. By reducing the voltage to the lamps Fluoresave reduces their running temperature, thus extending their life considerably. This has a valuable impact on lamp replacement costs and on the environmental impact of lamp disposal. The burning of fossil fuels for electrical power production generates enormous greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon and other environmentally destructive elements. The Kyoto World Greenhouse Gas Emissions Agreement requires us to reduce our carbon emissions. The beneficial effect of reducing the environmental impact of energy creation cannot be overstated. For users, Fluoresave can aid ISO 14001 compliance, improve energy ratings under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and offer carbon trading opportunities Fit a Fluoresave and see your bills come tumbling down! We can supply these units direct from the manufacturer so why pay wholesalers or contractors margins - contact us today and start making savings |
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Now here are some real energy savings. Imagine - a 26W or a 42W low energy floodlight giving as much light as a 250W sodium fitting! And, a 2x32W (64W total) that produces as much light as a 400 or even 500W sodium flood! I have recently supplied these to the Balfour Kirkpatrick Group for their Car Parks and Loading Bays - tremendous success and savings of 74%. The picture on the left is a 26W Eco-Flood from Lo-Energi Lighting, one of the British Companies at the forefront of this technology. The fittings are equipped with Philips control gear and Philips PL-C lamps so you are guaranteed quality. The body and lens are made to the highest standards from UV stabilised black polycarbonate and are rated to IP65 - fully weather-proof. All this and they save you 90-95% on running costs. Typical applications include signage, illumination of passageways, exterior storage areas, loading bay doors, access walkways and driveways, external cash dispensers, domestic security, decorative and security illumination of public buildings etc etc etc. Give me a call - 01466 751411 - to discuss these fantastic products.
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GU10 version
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LED Replacement for Halogen Dichroic Every where you go these days the low voltage (and mains voltage) Halogen Dichroic lamp is found - lovely lights - no problem with them except that they tend to be left ON for long periods contributing to nothing but your electricity bills. LED makers have recognised this and now offer a range of replacement product in MR16, GU5.3 and GU10 caps that will offer at least 90% energy saving - yes 90%. Now don't get me wrong - these are not able - yet - to give you the same light output - they are just not as bright and not as "warm" but if you can adapt then the energy savings are tremendous. The lamps pictured are 1.7W LED units that cost under £10 and can last for 50-80,000hrs (that is, over 20 years if you leave it running every day for 10 hours!). This lamp is certainly bright enough to replace a 20W Halogen. At this time, the Americans and the Chinese are working on SuperBrightLED© lamps that comes in 3W and 5W variants offering direct replacement for 35W and 50W halogen. They look at bit odd but I am sure this will change. I have just come across an LED under-canopy lighting array using LED's for garages and petrol stations - watch this space!
Watch this space or Email for more info. |
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Waste Not Want Not What exactly do you do with your spent fluorescent tubes and discharge lamps? Thankfully businesses are becoming more aware of their environmental duties and most realise that it is simply not acceptable to just dump tubes / lamps without due care. These guys can help you if this is a concern for your Company. |
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