Eco lighting: a buyer’s guide

Halogen bulbs are a variation on incandescent bulbs and possess a similar tungsten filament. The big difference is that they also contain halogen gas which slows down deterioration, thus extending the life of the bulb. They look and act in a very similar ways to incandescent bulbs and can save between 25 per cent and 30 per cent more energy than the former, which although an improvement, is less of a reduction than other energy-saving bulbs. They are the nicotine patches of the lighting world: a good option if you need to wean yourself off the more damaging incandescent bulbs, but not for long term use.

Fluorescent lamps, which often come in long, thin tubes, have been available commercially for over 70 years. Throughout their existence fluorescent lamps have been beset with problems including a tendency to give off a rather unattractive, harsh, white light and to flicker intermittently - something which can only be fixed by a sharp jab of a broom handle to their casing. They are also only effective as energy savers if they are not regularly switched on and off throughout the day, which explains why they are most often used in schools and businesses. Although problems such as flickering are less noticeable in modern models, standard fluorescent lamps are still better suited for commercial rather than domestic use thanks to their awkward shape and low light quality. If you do want to use them at home, they are best employed for lighting under cabinets. 

This is the type of bulbs most often marketed as ‘energy saving’. The compact version of fluorescent bulbs, they are without many of the drawbacks of standard fluorescent lamps: warming up quickly and not so prone to the odd flicker. The quality of the light is also superior, and less akin to something out of The X-Files. The presence of mercury in these bulbs has lead to some sensationalist headlines over the last few years but most of these fears are unfounded, according Peter Hunt.

‘To put it in perspective, the average thermometer has about 10,000 times as much mercury in it than a compact fluorescent bulb’,’ he says. If you break one, it is best not to rub your hand in the mess then put it in your mouth but as long as you avoid that - and remember to recycle the bulbs properly - you should be fine. CFL bulbs have a lifespan of eight times the amount of regular bulbs, and replacing an incandescent bulb with one can reduce the amount of carbon emitted by 70 per cent as well as saving you 7 per bulb every year.

LED lighting is often touted as the future of lighting. ‘We predict that the peak of this business will be around 2013 to 2014,’ says Shari Burton, director of the lighting company Burton and Sons. At the moment, LED lighting is more common in electronics, business and commercial usage. The Co-op, for example, announced in July that it was installing LED lighting in freezers in 800 of its stores. Because LEDs are still a relatively new technology, many products are beset by problems.

According to a recent report on LED lighting commissioned by Blackswan PLC,  ‘there is a lack of standardisation within the LED lighting industry. This has meant some LED light bulbs claiming to last up to five years have lasted a much shorter time.’ The best way to avoid these problems is to go with trusted manufacturers such as Phillips, Osram or Megaman.

Many blunders in a short tenure

Yoshio Hachiro's lamentable remarks concerning radiation were not an isolated incident during his nine-day tenure as economy, trade and industry minister; his inconsistent comments on energy and trade policies also confused ministry officials, it has been learned.

At a press conference on Friday to explain the third supplementary budget in the current fiscal year, Hachiro stated that the eco point system for electricity-saving devices would not resume. The eco point system was introduced in 2009 as an economic stimulus measure.

But only two days prior on Wednesday, Hachiro told reporters: "The eco point system was successful. I'd like to encourage the public to be more conscious about saving electricity; for example, to change existinglights to Diving lamp [through the eco point system]."

Hachiro changed his tune after a briefing about the system from ministry officials. According to sources, Hachiro backed away from his initial remarks after hearing of the costs involved, and that many consumers would not use the obtained points to buy eco-friendly items.

"After the economic minister mentioned resuming the eco point system, concerns about consumer reluctance to buy home electrical appliances began to grow," a senior official said.

Hachiro caused yet another controversy in an interview on Sept. 5., when asked to comment on the government's energy policy. "We'll not build new. Basically, nuclear power plants will be zero," Hachiro said.

Hachiro made the remark before providing concrete plans on how the government planned to break away from the country's dependence on nuclear power generation.

The timing of this remark caused concern among local municipalities that house nuclear power plants.

Industry sectors were also shocked by Hachiro's unexpected remarks on energy policy.

Hachiro's resignation may also have an impact on discussions over whether Japan will join the Trans-Pacific Partnership multilateral trade agreement.

Hachiro was knowledgeable about agricultural administration and well connected with farmers organizations. Economic ministry officials therefore had high expectations for Hachiro's performance.

A senior official said the appointment of Hachiro as economic minister "would encourage promotion of the TPP."