Familie vor dem Schlafengehen Mutter liest ihrem Kind Sohn Buch in der Nähe einer Lampe am Abend

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2024-07-04

Energy-saving lighting

Major changes have taken place on the bulb market in recent years. As the EU Commission has continued to reduce the maximum permitted power consumption and the use of hazardous substances in the relevant regulations, conventional light sources should be replaced by LEDs. This can reduce electricity consumption for household lighting by up to 90 percent and protect the environment.

The end of conventional light bulbs

The issue of banning bulbs has been with us for many years. Step by step, the production and marketing of conventional light sources has been banned. First came the incandescent bulb, commonly known as the "light bulb". This was followed by halogen bulbs, fluorescent bulbs (the so-called "neon tube") and compact fluorescent bulbs (so-called "energy-saving bulbs"). This is due to two EU directives: the Ecodesign Directive, which is intended to promote the sustainable use of energy and resources, and the RoHS Directive, which limits hazardous substances such as mercury in electrical and electronic equipment. These measures are intended to protect the environment and save energy.

Consumers are not prohibited from continuing to use their old light bulbs. If you use lights with these lights at home or still have spare bulbs, you can of course continue to use them. You can also buy remaining stocks of conventional light bulbs from retailers. However, due to their high energy consumption and the harmful substances they contain, it is advisable to replace them with LEDs as soon as possible and to choose LEDs when buying new ones. It is also important to know that old light bulbs must not be disposed of with household waste. Due to the harmful substances they contain, energy-saving and fluorescent bulbs must always be disposed of at appropriate collection points or in shops!

LEDs are the future

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The electronic semiconductor components work in a similar way to computer chips. When electricity flows through them, they emit light. LEDs are characterized by their low power consumption and long service life. They are versatile and contain no toxic substances. In order for an LED to light up, it must be installed with an electronic gearshift system.

The advantages of LEDs at a glance

Long service life

The average lifespan of LEDs is 25,000 hours. This means that most LEDs can provide uninterrupted light for over two years. With normal use of around three hours a day, that is more than 25 years. Some manufacturers even advertise a lifespan of up to 50,000 hours. It is obvious that LEDs then need to be replaced less often overall. This reduces both your costs for purchasing replacement products and the figures for manufacturing new LEDs, which has a positive effect on CO2 emissions and the environment.

Energy-efficient and cost-saving

At first glance, purchasing or switching to LEDs seems very expensive. However, the expensive purchase price pays off, because with LEDs you save up to 90% on energy compared to conventional light sources. For example, replacing a single halogen bulb with an LED will save you around €80 per year. If you extrapolate this to a service life of 5 years, for example, you will save €400. (Source: beleuchtungdirekt.de)

Don't be put off when you see the energy label on the packaging of a bulb. Even if a bulb is classified in the lower red range, it is still considered economical. This is due to the recent change in energy efficiency classes, which now range from A to G. There have been no more plus classes since September 2021. One reason for the change was that the efficiency of bulbs has improved so much in recent years that they have all ended up in the A++ range. It was not possible to differentiate or classify even more energy-efficient bulbs. With the new energy efficiency classes, the "best" bulbs are now in the C or B range – so there is still "room for improvement". Consumers can thus compare bulbs more clearly in terms of energy consumption and this creates an incentive for manufacturers to produce even more energy-efficient bulbs.

Environmentally and climate-friendly

The largest proportion of a bulb's CO2 emissions comes from the electricity it consumes during use. The low energy consumption of LEDs is therefore a decisive advantage for the environment. They also require less energy to manufacture. In addition, they contain no hazardous pollutants such as mercury and are therefore recyclable. However, please do not dispose of your LEDs in household waste, as they are classed as electrical appliances and must be disposed of as electronic waste.

Lumens, watts and co. – the most important technical data and what they mean

A whole range of criteria are specified on the packaging of bulbs and luminaires. To help you identify the right light source for you, we briefly explain the most important information here:

Lumen

Brightness is expressed in lumens (lm). A high lumen value stands for high brightness. The power specifications in watts are only important for determining energy efficiency (lumen value divided by watt value; the higher the result, the higher the efficiency). How many lumens are required in a room depends primarily on how the room is used. In the study and bathroom, it is advisable to use lights with a higher lumen value (250 to 300 lm per square meter). In rooms where the focus is on comfort (e.g. living room or bedroom), lumen values of between 100 and 150 per square meter are advisable.

Watt

Watt (W) is the unit of measurement for the power of a light source. It indicates the energy consumption. This specification is hardly relevant nowadays, as LEDs can produce good brightness even with a low wattage. You should therefore pay more attention to the lumen specification.

Kelvin

The K for Kelvin is used on the packaging to indicate the light color. It ranges from the very bright and stimulating "daylight white" with over 5300 Kelvin to the cozy "warm white" with a high proportion of red light at 2500 to 3000 Kelvin. Everything in between is considered neutral.

As light has an important influence on the functions in our body, we should pay close attention to the color of light. In the study or office, lighting solutions with a high proportion of blue light are recommended, as it promotes serotonin production and therefore concentration and receptiveness. It also stimulates the parts of the brain that ensure we stay awake. Red light, on the other hand, causes relaxation and tiredness.

Volt

The operating voltage is specified in volts (V). The standard mains voltage in Germany is 230 volts. LED bulbs with the specification 230 volts can therefore be easily connected to the mains supply.

And what about safety?

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Poorly manufactured LED bulbs can actually be quite dangerous. Inadequate insulation and live parts are the most common defects. These defects are particularly common in cheap products from online retailers. Safety suffers when materials are skimped on. Consumers can protect themselves above all by buying lights from specialist retailers and paying attention to safety signs.

In the case of compact fluorescent bulbs ("energy-saving bulbs"), the greatest danger comes from mercury. If an energy-saving bulb breaks, it is recommended that you open the windows immediately and leave the room for 15 minutes. Then, with the windows still open, sweep up the remains with a piece of cardboard and wipe up with damp paper towels. It is best to wear rubber gloves. Never use a vacuum cleaner. To clean carpets, you can use adhesive tape to pick up the residue. Only then can the vacuum cleaner be used. It is essential that you continue to ventilate. All residues and cleaning utensils should be placed in an airtight container and then taken to the nearest collection point.

When replacing the light bulb, make sure that the circuit breakers in the building installation are switched off and use a phase tester to ensure there is no voltage on the line. Otherwise, adhere precisely to the installation instructions and consult a specialist if you have any difficulties.

Exclusion of liability/disclaimer

VDE Verband der Elektrotechnik Elektronik Informationstechnik e.V. and its affiliated companies (hereinafter each “VDE”) provide non-binding information on consumer protection topics. These publications are intended solely to raise general awareness of consumer protection in relation to electrotechnical products and issues. They expressly do not constitute professional or technical advice. The information is provided the best of one's knowledge and belief without having evaluated the actual conditions at a specific location or of a specific product.

While VDE makes every reasonable effort to ensure that the information is correct and complete, it cannot assume liability nor any warranty (neither explicitly nor implicitly) for the correctness, completeness or topicality of the content of the information provided.

The information may only be applied with the understanding that VDE cannot be held liable for any direct or indirect damage or loss of any kind. The use of the information provided does not release the user from the responsibility for his/her own actions and is therefore at his/her own risk.

Product-/Model-specific manufacturer specifications must be observed.