Sos Roofline Systems

FL lights no longer provide just a dim flicker. Yes they are the ecological choice to incandescent light bulbs, but they can also be interesting and are a favourite of current designers. So why are they a good environmental alternative, and what’s so cool about them?

Every electrician will tell you that fluorescent lights have a tendency to last four to ten times as long as normal (filament) light bulbs and use about 20% of the electricity. The trouble with normal light bulbs is that 95% of the energy they use is lost through heat and only 5% is actually utilized to light up a room.

Despite the fact that fluorescent bulbs are more costly to buy initially, they will save you cash in the long run, usually paying for themselves in under a year. And they fit in most existing light fittings, so you won’t even call for an electrician to change your fixtures.

One more direct ecological advantage is that since the light bulbs last so much longer they generate less waste for the dump as fewer are being tossed away every year. And once you’re fitting them and doing your bit, you could even feel so green and greenly aware that you take your tasks further and turn lights off when they’re not being used.

When you do need to toss away fluorescent light bulbs at that time attempt and do so responsibly. Unlike filament light bulbs, they have a tiny quantity of mercury which is environmentally harmful if they are binned, so ask your local council about recycling facilities for light bulbs and do your bit to keep them out of landfill.

Now for the fun part! Fluorescent lights are wonderful if you want to create a colour wash on the wall or against draperies. They may be recessed so that the glow seems to come magically from a concealed source and if the light shines against a reflective facade, you can create a thoroughly dramatic effect. You can also talk to your electrician about installing more than one fluorescent tube so that you have a choice of colours at your fingertips.

Fluorescent lights of course come in white but also four fundamental colours – red, yellow, green and blue. If not any of these go well with your scheme, you could put a white light behind a coloured filter of your choice or even get coloured theatrical lighting goo which can be practical to the bulb to accomplish the effect you’re after. There are even companies that advertise bulbs previously coated, offering a range of colours if you can’t face doing it yourself.

If you’re putting together a lighting plan bear in mind that fluorescent white light tends to appear cool rather than warm. FL bulbs can be incorporated into a dimmer system when of course they turn out to be less bright, but they won’t create a warm glow like a normal bulb. As well as being put onto dimmers your electrician could go one step further and incorporate them into a plan of pre-set scenes to generate several mood options for your room.

The truth is that in 2007 the US Government announced that normal light bulbs are to be barred by 2011, which should help save around 5 million tons of CO2 by US household users alone. So it makes sense to get ready now for this new era in lighting. Light bulbs in the US are now graded A-G for ecological effectiveness, so it’s easy to pick ones that do less damage and that will save you money in the mid and long term. And it doesn’t mean living in darkness – fluorescent lights have come a long way since their flickering early stages.