In a move to promote energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact, the government has announced a ban on the sale of fluorescent lamps by the end of 2023.
Fluorescent lamps, which have been commonly used in homes, offices, and public spaces for decades, have come under scrutiny due to their high energy consumption and hazardous waste.
According to the Ministry of Energy, fluorescent lamps are responsible for a significant portion of electricity consumption in the country, contributing to high carbon emissions and air pollution. In addition, the lamps contain toxic mercury, which poses a risk to human health and the environment if not disposed of properly.
To address these concerns, the government has decided to ban the import, manufacture, and sale of fluorescent lamps from August 2023. The ban will apply to all types of fluorescent lamps, including tube lights, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), and other similar products.
The EU Commission implemented stringent eco-design standards for light sources through its EU Eco-design Regulation 2019/2020 (known as the Single Lighting Regulation SLR). In the spring of 2022, revisions were made to the EU ROHS DIRECTIVE 2011/65/EU, tightening the restrictions on mercury exceptions outlined in Annex III for light sources. Consequently, the following lamps are likely to be prohibited from being sold in the EU market soon:
- Circular T5 fluorescent lamps from February 25, 2023
- Compact fluorescent lamps with plug-in bases (CFLni) from February 25, 2023
- Linear T5 and T8 fluorescent lamps from August 25, 2023
- Halogen pins (G4, GY6.35, G9) from September 1, 2023
The new most important regulations changed for climate friendly light are:
- All light sources will be evaluated in accordance with the regulations.
- Packaging and graphics will be adapted slightly.
- All light sources will be included in the EU-wide EPREL database.
- There will be a new energy efficiency label with a new scale. A++ to E will become A to G.
- Existing products may be sold without reclassification until March 2023.
The government has urged consumers and businesses to switch to more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly alternatives, such as LED lamps, which consume significantly less energy and last longer than fluorescent lamps. LED lamps are also free from toxic substances and are easily recyclable.
Here are some of the cost-saving benefits of LED lighting systems.
- A 5-year warranty on any good quality LED products will result in a maintenance-free lighting system for the same period. Future Lighting has the right experience and knowledge, they offer the same level of warranty on any labour content should parts fail, resulting in no more call-out fees to simply change a lamp and no more expenditure on parts (excluding batteries in EML products).
- No more fluorescent lamps stored in the cleaners’ cupboards, behind the concierges’ desks or held as stock and forgotten about.
- No more additional costs to ensure these compact fluorescent lamps are disposed of in the correct, environmentally friendly way.
- Immediate reduction on consumption and electricity usage- typically, a 70W fluorescent light is replaced with a 30W LED light.
- A new EML system; giving property managers and their service and maintenance contractors an opportunity to get on top of the life-saving systems in place and to freeze the on-going estimates and invoices for EML repairs and improvements.
There is no better time, especially with the current energy costs for electricity. Implementing new lighting systems will help overcome the potential issue of limited spares [and not being able to repair failed light fittings] but also make vast savings on the block electricity costs.
Take advantage of our lighting audit process to see the incredible ROIs created from upgrading existing lighting systems to new efficient solutions.
The lighting audit is important to assess the energy, potential cost saving and carbon reduction benefit of changing from one type of lighting system to another, for example, this could be changing from fluorescent technology to LED.
As your audit surveyor, we will also identify whether there are opportunities to retrofit the existing fittings or whether it is more advantageous to simply replace the fittings altogether.
We will also identify where spaces are over-lit and where fittings can be removed to reduce the overall quantity of the lighting solution.
We can also identify the controls methodology and usage of the spaces to identify if there are advantages to automating and controlling the lighting more effectively.
It is vital for common parts in blocks of flats to implement an efficient means of control methods utilising the latest technology in the form of passive infrared/ microwave sensors. These will reduce the need for endless artificial lighting even further. These sensors detect movement within a space to activate lighting for a short period of time. This ensures that lighting is only in use when needed, rather than being simply ‘on’ during darker hours and ‘off’ during the daylight.
Passive infrared/ microwave sensors can be recommissioned to suit the longer days too. Setting them to disregard movement during daylight hours can save even more on your energy costs while maintaining a well-lit, comfortable space.
For most people, a lighting audit is primarily aimed at reducing their energy demand and thus costs, however, it’s still important that good quality lighting is maintained.
Future Lighting is dedicated to assisting our clients in their lighting upgrades, ensuring efficiency and compliance. Our audits are perfect solutions for those who wish to be in the know, and fully understand their block’s lighting solution while not having to deal with the hassle.
With the UK already on a journey towards LED technology, Future Lighting has been at the forefront, installing LED solutions in blocks of flats for many years.
If you need help with your own transition or some advice about how to go about upgrading your block, by way of lighting audit, get in contact with a member of our team today- we’ve got you covered.
Jordan Begg, Director and Head of Future Lighting and Electrical
