HOW ELECTRICITY GENERATION CONTRIBUTES TO CLIMATE CHANGE / GLOBAL WARMING

The vast majority of the electricity generated in the United Kingdom comes from power stations which burn fossil fuels. When fossil fuels such as coal, oil, petrol and gas are combusted in the power station, so called "greenhouse gases", particularly carbon dioxide, are emitted into the atmosphere. These emissions are harmful, in particular contributing to the phenomena of climate change and global warming. To date, climate change has caused the average mean temperature in the United Kingdom to rise by approximately 0.5 degrees over the last century. Whilst this may sound like a very small rise, it is sufficient to adversely effect plants, animals and agriculture / horticulture. If such a rising temperature trend remains unchecked, the health and well - being of future generations will be threatened.

The rising mean temperature trend can however be stabilised by reducing the harmful emissions which primarily cause the "greenhouse" effect. Two courses of action will achieve this :

• Utilising clean, renewable, energy sources such as solar, wind and wave power and by burning eco - friendly fuels.
• Through the more efficient use of the energy, particularly electricity, that is already being generated.

You can positively and immediately contribute to achieving the latter action, simply by converting to low energy compact fluorescent lamps. For the same light output, these new hi - tech lamps use only 20% of the energy of an equivalent old style, GLS tungsten filament light bulb - and last at least 8 times longer.

100% of the light for only 20% of the electricity cost !

HOW LOW ENERGY LAMPS HELP PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT

For a given light output level, low energy compact fluorescent lamps typically utilise only 20% of the electricity of an old style, tungsten filament light bulb - they also last 8 times as long. So a 20 Watt new, hi - tech , low energy compact fluorescent lamp will provide approximately the same amount of light as a 100Watt GLS tungsten filament light bulb. This much greater energy efficiency, combined with the 8 times longer average life, makes possible several environmental and cost benefits :

• The most important benefit relates to the better utilisation of the electricity which is already being generated. Ethical Products Direct estimate that if low energy lamps were utilised by the majority of households / homes in the UK, the capacity of the existing electricity network could be spread significantly further, thus reducing the need for additional new fossil fuel burning power stations. The rough estimate suggests that for every 60, 000 homes that switched to low energy lamps - the equivalent of one new power station would be saved - the United Kingdom has approximately 20 million homes !

Such a development would deliver a massive and vital reduction in future harmful emissions of greenhouse gases - to the benefit of future generations.

• Aside from contributing to the above environmental benefits, each household which converted from using GLS tungsten filament light bulbs to low energy, compact fluorescent lamps, would save approximately £70 or more on their annual electricity bill - every year !
  

• The much longer average life of the new hi - tech, low energy lamps (typically 4 to 5 years), also produces some less obvious, but important, environmental benefits. Since replacement lamps only need to be purchased say every 5 years (or longer), during that period the amount of packaging
  and fuel used is also reduced.

• Lastly, the high energy efficiency of the compact fluorescent lamps enables them to contribute to improved home and premises security. Since they consume only 20% of the electricity compared to normal GLS tungsten light bulbs, they can be left burning longer - contributing to increased security, particularly in the case of outside or perimeter lights.
  
  

  DON'T LOW ENERGY COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMPS COST MUCH MORE TO BUY ?

  
  Frankly they do ! - mainly due to their more complex construction and electronic componentry. However these hi - tech components improve the energy efficiency and average life of the new lamps to such an extent that, over an average lamp life of 5 years, the savings in electricity will have covered the cost of the lamp purchase, typically by the end of the second year. In years 3, 4 and 5 the full benefits of the electricity savings will be enjoyed.

  
  The above calculation is based upon the current electricity cost. However, given the widespread availability of the new, low energy lamps and in recognition of the environmental and cost benefit they can deliver, on both an individual household and a wider community basis, it is considered possible that in future, energy surcharges may be applied to encourage and motivate use of the new energy efficient lamps.

  Under such a concept, households choosing to remain using the old style, energy inefficient GLS tungsten filament lamps may be charged a surcharge. This principle is similar to that which led to a surcharge being applied to leaded petrol.

  Should such surcharges arise, the economic case for purchasing low energy lamps will become even stronger.

  As such, from both a "green" environmental and economic standpoint, immediately converting to low energy, compact fluorescent lamps represents a very ethical decision, which future generations will greatly appreciate.

  WILL LOW ENERGY COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMPS FIT MY EXISTING LIGHTING POINTS AND LAMPHOLDERS ?

  
  One difference between low energy, compact fluorescent lamps and old style, GLS tungsten filament light bulbs, is that the new lamps require electronic componentry, in the form of an integral ballast and starter, these "fire" the energy efficient fluorescent process. As a result, low energy compact fluorescent lamps are often larger than GLS tungsten filament lamps.

  To reduce the practical impact of this, several designs of low energy, compact fluorescent lamps are available on the UK market :

  In some designs, the electronic components are incorporated into the lampholder, making it larger , but enabling the low energy lamp itself to be smaller. The snag in this case, is that the larger lampholder will not usually accept the standard shade ring which secures the lamp shade to the lampholder. As such, consumers purchasing this type of low energy lamp and lampholder cannot use their existing lampshades.
  
  Other low energy compact fluorescent lamps are available which can directly replace existing Bayonet Cap (BC) and Edison Screw (ES) lamps in existing lampholders. However, again because the new lamps have to incorporate the electrical componentry in the lamp cap, these are large and often expensive.
  
  Having evaluated all the above snags and limitations, Ethical Products Direct source a range of low energy, compact fluorescent lamps from Eaton MEM, which offer a superior, lower cost and more
  "future proof " solution.

  The key to the new range is a patented 3 pin BC lampholder which will only accepts low energy lamps, but will also interface with a normal shade ring and therefore allows existing lamp shades to be used with the new low energy lamps. In developing this idea, Eaton MEM were aware that the UK Building Regulations were about to be changed, such that the majority of lighting points and lampholders, in all new houses, must only be capable of using low energy lamps - not GLS tungsten filament lamps. This regulation has now been introduced and is indicative of the UK Government's commitment to improving energy efficiency, in line with their obligations as part of the European Union, following the Kyoto Environmental Summit. At some future stage, energy surcharges, similar to those applied to leaded petrol, may arise to encourage the take-up of energy efficient lighting in existing homes and buildings.

  Availability of the new 3BC lampholders also tackles an existing, practical problem which has stifled the utilisation of low energy lamps, some of which have been available for a number of years in the UK, but to date have been used on a very limited basis. Recent market research carried out with consumers indicated that, whilst many consumers had purchased some of the first generation low energy lamps, based upon their environmental benefits, very often when it came to replacing them a conventional energy inefficient, GLS tungsten filament lamp was used. Several reasons became evident - low energy lamps were not readily available locally; because low energy lamps cost more only one was purchased, so that when a replacement was needed, a special shopping trip was required. Typically in this situation, the old style, GLS tungsten filament lamp was at hand - and since it would fit the lampholder - 9 times out of 10 it was utilised. Thereafter, the use of the low energy lamps in that household effectively ceased.
  
  Three new factors should reverse this constraining trend to environmental progress. The new 3BC lampholders and their related low energy lamps are available at lower prices than previously. The greater efficiency and longer average life makes greater electricity savings possible and means that lamps do not have to be replaced typically for 4 or 5 years. Lastly and crucially - once fitted, the new 3BC lampholders will only accept low energy lamps. As such the option of using a replacement energy inefficient GLS tungsten filament light bulb no longer exists.

  Whilst to some extent, this involves an element of self - imposed compulsion, in doing so it also
  "locks - in" on - going electricity savings for the householder and for the community !

  In recognition of this and to preserve some reasonable and responsible elements of choice, and to facilitate the consumer's use of low energy lamps, Ethical Products Direct offer the several options :

• A free, no obligation quotation for your low energy lighting requirements - all consumers need to do is fill in a simple Home Survey Sheet which Ethical Products Direct will provide. Remember as part of our ethical credo, no follow - up telephone calls or doorsteps visits will be made - unless specifically requested by you.

• 3BC lampholders and lamps can be supplied by mail order to your doorstep, or be supplied via a local Customer Service Provider recruited from within the local community.

• The product range includes :

  - 3BC lampholders and 3BC low energy lamps

  - Adapters which interface with 3BC lampholders, but enable 4 pin linear "stick" type low energy lamps to be used. These can be purchased from Ethical Products Direct, or locally by the consumer, since they are widely stocked by Supermarkets, D.I .Y. stores, etc.

  - Low energy lamps which are direct "plug-in" replacements for conventional BC and for ES light bulbs, to cater for the few situations in which 3BC lampholders cannot be fitted.

• Should there be a viable demand for such a service, Ethical Products Direct, will consider providing a local conversion service whereby all the lighting points and lampholders in a household can be converted over to the 3 BC low energy format, in a single day. The service will utilise local, certified and approved Electrical Contractors, trained by Ethical Products Direct and whose quality of service will be consistently monitored. Quotations will be supplied in advance and will be strictly adhered to.

DON'T FLUORESCENT LAMPS DISTORT THE COLOUR OF THINGS ?

Years ago, such was the case. However the modern phosphors used to coat the inside of the low energy fluorescent lamps make a wide range of colour rendering achievable. The Ethical Products Direct range of low energy compact fluorescent lamps are available in Cool White (suitable for use in kitchens, bathrooms, offices, etc.) and Warm White (provides the same colour rendering as the traditional tungsten filament light bulbs).