Lighting up the carbon neutral path

The path towards achieving zero-carbon homes was never going to be straightforward, but when various parties start pulling in different directions, the challenge is made that much more difficult.

Unfortunately, that is the situation we are in when it comes to finding a lighting solution that contributes to carbon neutrality. Without such a solution the entire process will fail.

Thankfully, things have not progressed far enough to make this scenario more than a slight possibility, but there are short to medium-term issues that need to be resolved in order to avoid it.

Looking at the current picture, there are three main groups of people who have an influence on the way lighting will need to change in order to achieve carbon neutrality: the government, the end-user and the electrical industry.

First, in order to achieve its own targets, the government has focused on the positive impact of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and decided that the way forward is to stop the sale of all standard tungsten lamps by 2011. By doing this it intends to dramatically cut energy use for lighting, and hence take a step towards reaching its zero-carbon goal.

Second, the end-user the regular homeowner wants to play their part in helping to reduce energy consumption, but wants to do so while still having quality lighting solutions that are controllable and conducive to a domestic setting.

Finally, the electrical industry has taken stock and concluded that technologies incorporating ‘smarts’ – electrical devices with in-built intelligence – have a major role in achieving the zero-carbon target, both in terms of lighting and other energy uses, while still providing the lifestyle and comfort the user aspires to.

Looking purely at lighting, a major element in the debate is focused on types of lamp. Current legislation may favour CFLs, and they certainly have the potential to offer significant energy savings over standard tungsten lamps, especially for existing installations.

Unfortunately, one major issue with today’s crop of CFLs is that they are not generally dimmable, which precludes their use in systems delivering variable lighting schemes, especially ‘smarts’ ones. There is a handful of dimmable CFLs now available, but they are expensive and limited to a few lamp types.

Alternatives to CFLs do exist – infrared-coated halogen lamps are one option. Although they do not provide the same energy saving as standalone CFLs, as part of a ‘smarts’ system the halogen lamps have the potential to provide far greater savings.

In addition, this type of set-up would be beneficial to the user, but it cannot be considered at the moment as it does not qualify under the current Building Regulations for dwellings as an energy-saving solution.

Over the past 50 years, the majority of lighting provision in both new-build and refurbished dwellings has not varied greatly and, to date, energy-saving lighting technology in the home has focused on achieving savings using existing wiring and light fittings. This is not sustainable because tungsten bulbs will soon be impossible to source – a situation that will have a major impact on existing housing stock.

For example, there are many homes with dimmable lighting systems that use tungsten lamps, but replacement CFLs will more than likely not be compatible with them. Also, current CFLs will not physically fit into some of the lighting fittings used.

Positively for all involved, there is a number of examples of systems that deliver good-quality lighting solutions that will contribute to carbon neutrality – the modern commercial building environment alone provides several.

In such environments, fluorescent lamps are used in conjunction with ‘smarts’ to deliver systems that are not only user-dimmable, but also make use of sensors that monitor rooms and adjust the level and/or number of lights switched on, according to preprogrammed requirements. As a result, lighting levels are set in areas where needed, but automatically reduced and/or switched off when not required.

To make this type of system suitable for domestic use, the approach to lighting schemes must change. Key to this would be accepting increased initial installation costs, but when you consider that such lighting systems would provide energy savings, flexibility and lifestyle lighting sought by users, and meet the regulatory requirements, surely this cost would be worth it?

Another good example of a workable lighting solution can be found in the US. The building code in California has for many years accepted that energy reduction can be delivered both from more efficient fittings and automatic energy-saving devices. The code states that lighting “shall either be high-efficacy or shall be controlled by a vacancy sensor or dimmer”.

What this means in practical terms is that the lighting control systems are part of the overall domestic system, which controls all aspects of energy use and is a major contributor in achieving zero carbon.

At present, the industry is already experiencing issues in the residential sector as customers and installers come face to face with some of the changes. While these problems are sometimes caused by the non-compatibility of technologies, they are quite often the result of poorly designed or poor-quality devices, be they lamps or lighting transformers.

Such issues need to be addressed quickly, because as control systems and lighting fittings become part of a ‘smarts’ system, the use of correctly chosen, quality lamps will become critical.

‘Smarts’ solutions require lamps to be changed. Currently the end-user would be able to replace the specified, optimum-performance lamp with a cheaper alternative, which at best would reduce the quality of the lighting and, at worst, damage the circuitry. The reason is that a wide cross-section of energy-saving lamps can be fitted into different light fittings.

In order to arrive at a solution that meets the needs of all parties, not only does everyone need to work together, but the way in which domestic lighting systems are viewed needs to be readdressed. Domestic lighting systems need to be viewed as an integral part of any home and its energy provision, and guidelines are needed for their optimum use.

Homeowners should be provided with comprehensive information as to the type and quality of lamps that need to be purchased as replacements in order to maintain the compatibility and quality of lighting.

The path towards achieving carbon-neutral homes was never going to be an easy one, but it will be an achievable journey as long as everyone pulls in the same direction.

For more details on Legrand’s smart homes solutions see www.legrand.co.uk or call 0845 606 4333.