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 Daily news from the Canaries and the islands' biggest English language newspaper on-line Are they all the same? Low energy bulbs From September 1st, the sale of standard light bulbs began to be phased out all over Europe, but how do we know which of the new low energy bulbs to buy? Are they all the same?  The consumer group OCU made a full study of 29 different light bulbs from 10 to 16 watts, which are the approximate equivalent to traditional bulbs of 60 and 75 watts, looking at price, illumination, durability etc. The best performing bulb in the study was the General Electric Mini Eco 15 Watt 6 hours retailing at between €7.54 and €9.30, followed by Eroski Ahorradora 15 Watt (6,000 hours) and Phillips Tornado 15 Watt (8,000 hours) retailing at €4.99 to €5.99 and €7.70 to €12.66 respectively. A good value for money bulb was the Eroski Ahorradora 15 Watt (3,000 hours) retailing at €2.39 to €2.99, the best at low temperatures, the above mentioned Eroski Ahorradora 15 Watt (6,000 hours, the cheapest with a good resistance to being switched on and off a number of times, Megaman Zenia 11Watt (8,000 hours) retailing at €3.25 to €6.05 and the fastest at switching on, once again the Eroski Ahorradora 15 Watt (6,000 hours. The bulb which saved the most over its lifetime was the above mentioned Philips Tornado, saving an average of 9.95 euros a year over its lifetime. The full chart can be found at http://www.ocu.org/20090924/bombillas-de-bajo-consumo-ocu-compra-maestra-neordm-338-Attach_s466964.pdf. The variation in prices found in the study not just between bulbs, but with the same bulbs and different retailers underlines the necessity of shopping around and remember, the most expensive bulb is not necessarily the best buy. OCU’s analysis shows that not all the low energy bulbs deliver what is promised that is to say, lower energy use, durability and cost effectiveness. Some do not give enough light, others last for less than 500 hours whilst others for more than 8,000 hours without a problem. Two brands in particular came out badly in the survey, globe bulbs produced under the brand name Megaman, and the pear shaped bulb, Cegasa, both of which will produce an annual increase in cost instead of a drop. There are various legends over low energy bulbs which started when the technology was very new. It is said, for example, that they take a while to light up but that depends on the quality. Whilst some of the bulbs analysed shine at 64 per cent of capacity initially until they warm up, some only reach 40 per cent, which is something that needs to be improved. It is also said that switching them on and off shortens their life, but this is untrue. They can withstand with ease over 20,000 on and off cycles. At one time the bulbs were chunky and ugly especially in the more delicate table lamps, but newer models are getting smaller every time. There are also models on the market which allow you to use dimmer switches, but they are special designs and more expensive. It is true that they contain mercury, but then so do some thermometers. It is only a small amount and with recycling simple to recuperate. Conventional bulbs are more to blame for emissions of mercury into the atmosphere because of the combustion in many electricity plants. At the end of 8,000 hours of use a conventional light bulb will have generated 5.8 milligrams of mercury into the atmosphere, compared with only 1.2 milligrams produced by an equivalent low energy bulb. Recycling is easy either at specialised plants or in some retailers. Bear in mind that all fluorescent lights emit ultraviolet rays, including low energy bulbs. If a bulb without a glass covering is situated close to the skin for over eight hours, the IV radiation is equivalent to a day in the summer sun. However if the distance is over 30 centimetres and the bulb has a covering, the radiation is insignificant. There are around a quarter of a million Europeans who suffer from hypersensitivity to light and they will have to use fluorescent lamps with care to avoid adverse skin reactions. Traditional fluorescent tubes produce light in pulses or flashes of around 100 to 120 pulsations a second. This can cause eyesight tiredness and other problems such as headaches in sensitive individuals. The new models of low energy bulbs are very different and incorporate an electronic control which eliminates this problem. The pulses are at around 40,000 times a second and thus almost imperceptible. The right bulb for the job The OCU suggest that you plan carefully which bulb to use depending on the place it is going to be and its use. Know what you have to do if it breaks or stops working. For stairs and corridors, a bulb which lights up rapidly is better and one that stands up well to being switched on and off. For sheds, garages, cellars and other areas without heating, use bulbs which perform well at low temperatures. Bulbs with a glass covering (similar in look to traditional bulbs) are the ones which should be used in the lamps closest to you and your family and those which are left switched on the longest, such as in offices, the kitchen worktop or your reading light on the bedside table. Don’t use low energy bulbs for everything. An efficient halogen can be preferable for spotlighting a decorative object for example. Low energy bulbs lose their power of illumination over the years and you may have to change them before they blow, unlike the traditional bulbs. If a bulb breaks pick up the bits with a damp cloth or sticky tape, not the vacuum cleaner and make sure the room is properly ventilated afterwards. Make sure that used and broken bulbs are properly recycled. This article appears in the print edition 604 of Island Connections
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