I would like to totally endorse everything that Mark Wood-Robinson says about GLS lamps (BSj 05/07). I have been making similar observations since this ill-conceived announcement was made.

GLS lamps will always have appropriate uses. A more sensible government might have just added a “carbon” tax to all GLS lamps. Furthermore, what about the energy required to dispose of CFLs and where do we dispose of domestic CFLs? It is against EU regulations to put them in landfill sites, but I have yet to see any proper provision for their disposal.

This merely confirms that whoever took the decision to phase out GLS lamps knows very little about the subject.

Mark quite rightly points out the little exploited but extremely important fact that a slight reduction in voltage gives an exponential increase in life for the GLS. I would add that using a “soft start” by winding up the voltage with a dimmer at switch-on also significantly increases life.

Dr Neil Sturrock

Source

Building Sustainable Design