CFLs vs. Incandescent Lights in the garden

In this environmentally conscious time, the government is under pressure to improve their environmental record. By 2009-10, they aim to phase out incandescent lamps in favour of compact fluorescents lamps and hybrid lamps. However several garden lighting experts including Light on Landscape believe that there are some serious issues concerning the usage of CFLs that haven’t been explored. Here are our concerns….

Environmental & health risks
Statistics suggest lighting is a big contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and the Government believes that by using energy efficient CFLs they are helping to reduce these emissions. However CFLs contain mercury, which isn’t a problem until they break and release neurotoxins. They also contain phosphors, plastics and sundry, which are, classified hazardous waste. The majority of consumers will dispose of their “dead” CFLs in the regular domestic waste bins. This then begs the question, are we replacing a carbon-producing problem with a mercury-pollution one?

Efficiency & cost
CFLs are more efficient and cheaper than their incandescent counterparts and have a better lamp life. However the issue here is that the CFLs have a long warm up period. When you turn on the switch, you want to be able to see your outdoor environment with its best lighting straight away. Critics of CFLs also argue that they are cheaper because they are currently being subsidised to encourage its adoption. They contend that it is highly probable that the cost of CFLs will increase after the ban is effective.

Garden Lighting Design
An issue with CFLs that can often be overlooked is their effect on the aesthetics of garden lighting. CFLs will force designers to look outside the box and consider new elements in decorative luminaire design. Decorative internal elements such as beautifully cut lace work, columns and fret work will be significantly affected. This problem can be diminished by the use of frosted/diffuse glass which is a common solution to shielding an “ugly” light source or by using lamps with higher Ra values.
All lamps and garden lighting have their place; it is simply up to the designer to combine visually pleasing sources of light, to the right amounts of it, in an efficient way, while at the same time satisfying the client’s brief. When this is fulfilled, bets are on that the lighting design is rarely even noticed.

Light on Landscape is one of Australia’s leaders in garden landscape lighting and design for the residential sector. For more information, visit http://www.lightonlandscape.com.au/flash/outdoor-lighting.html

Article Source: http://www.therepozitory.com.au

www.lightonlandscape.com.au

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