Light Bulb World – New LED Dimmable Lighting for Historic Buildings

Aug. 23, 2013 - PRLog -- The problems associated with renovating historic buildings to comply with energy efficiency measures are well known with owners and restorers alike. Some buildings may also be required to comply with Section L of the UK Building Regulations, which relates to the Conservation of Fuel and Power in building design, by demonstrating the least possible electricity use.

The owners of historic buildings face a dilemma; on the one hand owners want to make their properties as energy efficient as possible. Whereas on the other hand, they need to retain the very character and appearance that makes it special in the first place.

Until now the options for sympathetic lighting have been limited and expensive to install. The answer has finally come in the shape of LED dimmable lighting. The newest versions of these energy saving bulbs can save a significant amount of money on electricity bills and they also offer optimal light to enhance the aesthetics of older properties and their contents.

It is estimated that each bulb could save over £70 a year in electricity bills when compared to using traditional incandescent bulb, but up until recently, each bulb was very expensive to buy. However today’s prices represent a staggering nine-fold reduction in some cases, meaning that people are now able to achieve significant savings on their bills.

The question for many is whether the new LED dimmable lighting is up to the job.  Can it provide suitable lighting to complement the aesthetics of historical buildings? The problem had previously been the somewhat eerie greenish light emitted by other types of energy saving bulbs. Once switched on, they were notorious for emitting that odd, gloomy glow whilst they ‘warmed up’. And a greenish or bluish ghoulish glow was certainly never well suited to historic homes - or non-residential buildings. Finding bulbs for the incredibly varied types of fittings in older buildings could also prove a headache. Finally, many were concerned about safety, particularly in areas visited or used by children. Additionally, the old style energy efficient bulbs typically contained mercury, so when a bulb was broken, it could literally mean the accidental release of a small amount of an extremely dangerous substance directly into that environment.

The new light from the new dimmable LED bulbs appears the moment they are switched on, emitting truer, crisper shades of white. Built in refractive lenses help to ensure the light is diffused in a suitable, even pattern. They can be used in dimmer switches, and best of all, the new LED technology produces a crisp white light, much nearer to halogen bulbs. This means far superior colour rendition, an absolute must for anyone wanting to display art work or original period features. Whether intended for use in a lovingly restored fourteenth century barn, housing a private or public collection, or for use in a converted loft crafted from former industrial space, they offer clear advantages over both incandescent lighting and old fashioned energy saving bulbs.  The National Trust has lead the way, replacing some 40,000 bulbs across more than 500 historic properties. The aim is to save over £400,000 in bills each year and save over 2,000 tons of carbon adding to the greenhouse gas problem facing the planet today.

To find out more about the new, affordable energy efficient bulbs for older properties and historic buildings, visit www.lightbulbworld.co.uk