Efficient Lighting Strategy Launch Address
Richard Ponting
CEO Lighting Council New Zealand
17th June 2008
Lighting Council New Zealand is a business association comprising a substantial proportion of the companies that make up
the New Zealand lighting industry. All the major international brands are represented within the membership, together
with many New Zealand based manufacturers and importers. Products available from members range from small domestically
oriented lamps and fittings through to large scale industrial and stadium floodlighting equipment.
Lighting Council has been delighted to take part in the formulation of The Efficient Lighting Strategy, and is in
keeping with the industry’s stated aim of offering the best available products to the New Zealand consumer. Minister
David Parker indicated that climate change is accelerating the need for new technology changes and we are here today to
talk about the practical aspects of the imminent change that is to occur with respect to domestic lighting in New
Zealand. Future action will create changes in the Commercial, Street Lighting and Industrial markets during the next few
years.
TECHNOLOGIES
As we have heard from Mike Underhill, the well known but inefficient household lamp is being superseded by a new
generation of lamps, and, more importantly, a wider selection of lamps.
o Energy Saver halogens: The change to new generation lamps starts with the introduction of the Halogen Energy
Saver lamps such as we have on display here. These can be substituted into most fittings, including those controlled by
dimmers, and they use 30% less energy and last twice as long as traditional lamps. That means considerably lower running
costs over the life of the bulb. All the halogen lamps seen here will be the cheapest purchase option open to buyers,
not in the future, but now.
o CFLS: Another type of lamp we are here to talk about is the Compact Fluorescent Lamp or CFL Lamp. These lamp
types are typically 4 to 5 times more efficient than the lamps in use today, and have lives of up to 10 times longer. It
can be seen from the display that there is a wide choice of types and colours available for use in different
applications. These range from Garage and Laundry use where a cooler “whiter” colour will be more acceptable to a lounge
or bedroom where a “warmer” creamier colour is preferable to most people.
CFL lamps have a very slightly delayed start characteristic and take a minute or two to produce their maximum light
output – so they’re good for most uses but not well suited for places where you need light quickly or just for a short
time. For these uses, the previously mentioned Energy Saver lamps will provide the best results. Typical applications in
this category will be toilets, cupboards and storage spaces where the light will only be on for a few minutes at a time
and/or is relatively infrequently used.
Cartons for CFL lamps have appropriate marking indicating the colour and cap type – either ES or BC – to simplify
selection by the purchaser. Information will be available to help the purchaser select the power ratings of the new
lamps in comparison with the older lamps Typically energy savings 75%/80% can be expected without loss of light output.
These numbers alone indicate substantial power savings can be made, and the much longer life will also contribute to the
overall reduction in lighting costs to the user.
o LEDs: We cannot ignore the fast approaching future and possibly the most exciting development in lighting today
is the Light Emitting Diode, or LED lamp. Rapid strides have been made in the development of LEDs in the last few years,
and longer lasting and brighter versions are being announced virtually every week. There are now a number of dedicated
LED lighting products available, some examples of them are here today, which incorporate the best international LED
technology incorporated into well made internationally and locally made products ideally suited to the domestic market.
CONTROLS
Efficient lighting isn’t just about the type of light bulb you use – it’s also about being smart about how you use your
lighting. That’s where control equipment can help out.
o Transformers and dimmers. Other forms of energy saving devices are electronic control equipment in the form of
small transformers to run low voltage halogen lamps, and dimmers. Electronic transformers are becoming more and more
economic and the difference in cost between these and the less efficient traditional heavy iron core transformers is now
relatively small. Good quality dimmers can show energy savings and some, but not all, CFL lamps will work on dimmers.
Therefore compatibility between lamp and dimmer type should be ensured before use.
o Switch off! Perhaps one of the most economic means of saving power in lighting is the “OFF” switch. If lighting
is not required in occupied spaces, switch it off. If lighting is be used for extended periods as in the case of street
lighting, security or safety lighting, energy efficient light sources should be used. Automatic timer switching,
photocell control and occupancy sensing are all viable options for energy savings in these circumstances.
o Switching. New installations should be designed such that a switch only controls the lighting in a particular
single area. Multiple or large areas should have multiple switches to allow selective use of the light fittings.
The Lighting Council fully supports the aims and objectives of the Efficient Lighting Strategy, and is more than willing
to take part in the upcoming programmes to ensure electricity for lighting is used wisely and well. New Zealand is a
beautiful country with a landscape all its own, let’s keep it that way.
ends