Things you should know about energy-efficient lighting
Eight misconceptions at a glance
Energy-saving lamps shed a pleasant light, consume as much as 80 percent less energy and can be simply screwed into the light fixture just like a regular incandescent lamp thanks to their common base sizes. What's more, they are now available in all shapes, sizes and wattages. The advantages of environmentally-sound lighting are undeniable. Nevertheless, a number of deep-seated misconceptions persist.
OSRAM offers the world's largest range of energy-efficient lamps.
Energy-efficient lamps ….
1. … are far more expensive than incandescent lamps?
Compared with compact fluorescent lamps, the initial purchase of an incandescent lamp is of course cheaper. But the cost of purchase pays off in less than a year on account of the significantly lower electricity consumption. For instance: a 100 W incandescent lamp costs just under EUR 1, while a compact fluorescent lamp with a comparable luminosity (22 W) costs EUR 7. However, energy-saving lamps can last for up to 20,000 hours, while incandescent lamps only last for 1,000 hours. So you would have to buy 20 incandescent lamps in order to achieve the same service life of one single compact fluorescent lamp. And in addition to the longer life, a four-person household saves a total of EUR 92.40 within a single year by switching to energy-saving lamps.The Halogen Energy Saversare also more expensive to initially purchase than conventional incandescent lamps, but the extra cost is compensated for by a service life that is twice as long and energy-savings of up to 30 percent. When switching to energy-efficient halogen lighting, for instance, a four-person household saves EUR 34.65 per year. The greatest energy-saving can be achieved with the LED lamps of OSRAM's Parathom range. With energy-savings of over 80 percent, the purchase price of such a lamp pays off after 60 months. And over the total service life of the lamp of 25 years, savings of EUR 153 can be jmade with just a single lamp.
2. … take too long until they produce a bright light?
Halogen Energy Saversand the products in the LED Parathom range achieve their full luminosity directly after being switched on. Thanks to the newly patented "Quick Light" technology, the warm-up time of an OSRAM energy-saving lamp has been halved in comparison with conventional energy-saving lamps.
3. … can't be dimmed?
All Halogen Energy Saver products are steplessly dimmable. Additionally, OSRAM also offers a steplessly dimmable compact fluorescent lamp (Dulux Intelligent DIM). Other manufacturers have also developed dimmable energy-saving lamps in recent years, but many of these are not steplessly dimmable. It is important to bear in mind that normal compact fluorescent lamps that do not have a special notice on the packaging cannot be operated with dimmer switches.
4. … only produce a cold light?
Energy-efficient lighting from OSRAM is available in various light colors. Precisely which light is produced depends on the respective color temperature, which is measured in Kelvin. Of course, all energy-efficient OSRAM products are also available in the familiar warm white color of the incandescent lamp. Special types are also available in various color temperatures, from "daylight" and "warm white", all the way to the new light color "warm comfort light". However, anyone still be unsatisfied with the light of the compact fluorescent lamps can instead choose a Halogen Energy Saver. These generate a warm light that is absolutely comparable with the light of a conventional incandescent lamp. For those who would prefer a little color in their light, the best choice would be amongst the innovative products of the LED Parathom range. These are available not only in cool or warm white, but also in color.
5. …should be left on, rather than continually switched on and off?
The energy-efficient lamps from OSRAM have no problem coping with the switching cycles of a conventional household. This causes no impairment to their service life. Only continuous switching on and off could shorten the service life of a compact fluorescent lamp. If this is the case, i.e. in the stairwell of an apartment building, OSRAM offers the perfect solution with its Dulux Intelligent Facility. This lamp has been developed specifically for locations where the light is frequently switched on and off, and is therefore extremely resilient to switching.
6. …do not fit in all light fixtures?
Energy-efficient lighting is not only available in the familiar tube shape, but also in bulb, candle and reflector form. When OSRAM developed the first energy-saving lamp with integrated electronic control gear that could be used to replace an incandescent lamp 24 years ago, it was tubular and relatively long and wide. Today, ESLs are available in various sizes and shapes. Thanks to the established E14/E27 base sizes, incandescent lamps can be replaced with energy-efficient lighting products in no time at all, be it energy-efficient halogenlamps, compact fluorescent lamps or LED lighting.
7. …are not available as LED lights?
LED lamps that can be used to replace incandescent lamps are unbeatable with an energy-saving of more than 80 percent and are already commercially available in warm or cool white and in color. Indeed, a white Parathom lamp can already be used to replace a 40 W incandescent lamp.
8. …are not suitable for outdoor lighting?
Of course cash and energy savings are not confined to the realm of indoor lighting. OSRAM offers LED lamps for outdoor lighting that can light up the way to the garage with full luminosity, even in rain and snow.
ABOUT OSRAM
OSRAM is part of the Industry sector of Siemens and one of the two leading lighting manufacturers in the world.Sales for the OSRAM group worldwide in the year ending September 30, 2008 totaled 4.6 billion euros, 88 percent of which came from outside Germany.OSRAM is a high-tech company in the lighting industry.Over 60 percent of sales come from energy-efficient products.This global player employs more than 43,500 people worldwide, supplies customers in some 150 countries and has 46 production facilities in 17 countries.
Press contact:
OSRAM
Nadine Kleinert
Tel: +49-89-6213-3769
Fax: +49-89-6213-3457
Email: n.kleinert@osram.com