Don’t wait for the phase out, switch and save today with LED alternatives!

In order to reduce C02 emissions, the European regulation is being enforced to stop the manufacture of inefficient directional halogen lamps.

From September 1st 2016, manufacturers will no longer produce:

• Halogen lamps directional from
  C & D classes
• Related products are PAR, R50/R63/R80
• MR11 (low volt with below 4,000h)
• MR16 main volt: low volt with below 4,000h

Switch to LED alternatives to save energy, reduce C02 and save money. Novel Energy Lighting offers a full range of LED lamps, tubes, and fittings from various top quality brands. To see all our products please visit us at: www.novelenergylighting.com, or call us 0208-540-8287, email: sales@novelenergylighting.com

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Since old fashioned incandescent and halogen bulbs are being banned by governments around the world, most home owners have had to consider low energy alternatives.

The favourite choice now is LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs, which are currently leading the field in terms of energy savings, product life and ease of use.

But how many of us understand the ways in which LED bulbs are different to incandescent models, and how to ensure that when we upgrade our lighting we actually make the right choices?

Let’s start with some basic facts about LED bulbs.

Basically, they offer a number of significant advantages to the obsolete incandescent types:

1. Major power saving: LEDs use approximately five times less energy as incandescent bulbs. As an example, you can replace an old 40W reading light bulb with an 8W LED. And since LEDs offer a more focused light, the energy savings could be up to 90%, and you can therefore have a lower-wattage bulb.
2. ‘Cleaner’ Product: LEDs are non-toxic, and in particular contain no mercury.
3. Less Heat: Much less heat is produced by LED bulbs, in comparison with incandescent lights. That is especially important in Southern climates where air-conditioning is used.
4. Longer Life:  LED bulbs do not need to be replaced very often – they can last up to twenty years in regular use.
5. Better Investment: They do cost more to buy, but when you consider their longer life and energy savings, they are a great investment.

So, when the time comes to replace old light bulbs, LEDs are the obvious choice, but how do we go about making the right selection for our home? There are so many styles, sizes, shapes and special formats on the market now, how do you know which is the right one?

Here are some tips to help you make the right decision…..

Consider how much brightness you need

Back in the bad old days, we all got used to measuring a light bulb’s brightness simply by its wattage. A 60 Watt bulb gave us an average light output for most domestic situations. However, wattage actually measures the amount of electrical energy a light bulb uses – a lot of which is given out as heat. Clearly, an LED will use fewer watts to generate the same amount of light.

To make sure that you get an LED with sufficient light output, you will need to get used to measuring brightness in lumens. An old fashioned 60-watt incandescent bulb generates about 800 lumens, so to get an equivalent, you need to look for an LED rated at 800 lumens of light output. A lot of LED packaging will tell you what wattage of incandescent bulb the lamp would be equivalent to.

What about quality of light?

Depending on where you are planning to use the LED bulbs, the quality of light may well be an important factor. Light quality is generally measured by CRI or Colour Rendering Index. This number indicates how accurately the bulb illuminates colours on a scale from 1 to 100. If you plan to use the lamp frequently – say in a living room – or it is going to be used in a prominent location like an entrance hall, CRI is a very important metric to consider. However, if it’s going to go into an airing cupboard or toilet, CRI isn’t as crucial. CRI ratings in excess of 85 and above are indications of very good colour rendering.

Are “warm” or “cool” light colours important?

There is a wide variety of LED bulbs available now, offering a range of light “colour temperatures” in Degrees Kelvin, or simply “K”. How do you know what colour temperature works for you? Colour temperatures with high K ratings, 6,000 or more, are classified as ‘cool’ colours, while those with lower K ratings, 3,500 or less, are classified as ‘warm.’ You will find most retailers referring to their products as cool white and warm white LED Bulbs.

Warm white bears a close resemblance to the light produced by halogens and incandescent bulbs. It is soft, easy on the eyes and promotes a comfortable and domestic aesthetic. As a rule of thumb, warm white bulbs should be used in ‘habitat’ spaces, such as living rooms, hallways and bedrooms, and as general illumination. In contrast, cool white is a very bright, sharp white light; less suitable for domestic spaces where the brightness of the light can be too harsh and even create a clinical effect.

What shape or type of LED bulb do you need?

LEDs now come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and will be suitable for replacing just about any kind of incandescent light bulb. You will now find LED globe light bulbs, chandelier light bulbs, and reflector light bulbs – along with lots of newly manufactured shades, lamps and fixings that have them built-in.

The traditional “light bulb” shapes are designed to give an all-round source of light, for instance in a table lamp or ceiling fitting, and are known as “omni-directional”. Reflector types are designed to give light off in one direction, so they’re best for overhead lighting, spotlights, and display lighting.

How about replacing incandescent bulbs in dimming systems?

Unfortunately, many old incandescent dimmers aren’t fully compatible with LED lighting, so you need to be careful when considering dimming. Many of the newer types of LED light bulb do have dimming capabilities – a great option if you want to save even more energy and control the room’s ambient environment. But you may need to invest in an LED-specific dimmer. If you’re looking for a dimmable LED, carefully check the specification on the bulb’s packaging and make sure you control it with a compatible dimmer.

Some don’t like it hot!

LED based light bulbs work best when they are kept cool. If you use an LED outdoors in winter or inside a refrigerator, it will actually last longer. However, excessive heat can cause problems, particularly as LEDs exposed to extreme heat may degrade more quickly over time. So, if you plan to use them in an area that can get hot (like in overhead recessed spotlights) it would be better to invest in high-temperature specification types which use an advanced cooling system – like the types produced by Megaman.

And finally, how can you actually get the ball rolling to take advantage of LED technology in your home?

Right at the beginning it takes a little research effort – initially you need to go round your home and make a note of all the bulbs you are currently using – including wattage (60W, 100W etc.), type of fixture (screw, bayonet etc.), bulb type (reflector, standard, golf ball, etc.) size and colour (warm, cool, etc.). Also approximately how much usage each bulb gets.

Next you need to figure out the type of LED bulb which can be used to replace each incandescent type in terms of lumens, shape, size and fixture. Check out dimming requirements carefully, then make a comprehensive list and check prices on the Internet or through lighting retail outlets.

All that’s needed then is to make the investment, change the bulbs, and start making real savings on your electricity bill!

Visit www.novelenergylighting.com to explore the LED options available at great prices!

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Megaman Reports:  The LED lamp market is growing steadily with sales expected to reach £600 million by 2018 and it is still a rapidly changing technology. LED’s have become extremely popular for both domestic and commercial applications, with huge growth in the retail sector. The only problem with LED lamps is that whilst they will save up to 80% in energy when compared to a traditional light source, they tend to look very similar to each other, irrespective of the quality of the components that have been used to make them. The trouble is, they may look the same but their performance can vary considerably. This may be in terms of the light output, consistency of colour temperature, energy consumption or the longevity of the lamp.

 In many ways, this is potentially more of a problem with LEDs than other light sources because they are more complex than traditional lamps. For example, a typical LED lighting system comprises of a power supply that converts the mains voltage to a constant voltage, which is then supplied to the LED lamp. The role of the LED driver is to convert the mains supply into either a constant voltage or a constant current that is then supplied to the LEDs themselves. The constancy of the current ensures a constant light output, with the light output being proportional to the current applied.

An important point here is that energy is lost at each of the conversion stages described above and this can have a significant impact on the overall power supply efficiency. In fact, the power supply efficiency of LEDs from different manufacturers can vary from 50% to 90% and this will influence the overall energy savings that are achieved.

Also, the light energy generated by the LED is then converted to white light by exciting phosphors that coat the LED, in the same way that fluorescent lighting works. The quality and consistency of the phosphor coating has a direct impact on the consistency of colour temperature and colour rendering. There are huge advantages to be had for commercial lighting by getting the colour temperature right – mood can be increased and atmosphere created for hospitality, whilst the colours of merchandise can be highlighted in retail applications. Megaman lamps can achieve a warm temperature of 2400K for mood creation up to 5500K for colour enhancement in retail applications.  Megaman is now concentrating on improving the quality of light and the CRI not reducing the wattage.

While the factors described above apply to all LED light sources, there are also other considerations relating to retrofit lamps that are designed for fitting to an existing luminaire. For instance, the optical design of the retrofit LED lamp has a significant impact on overall performance.

In many retrofit lamps there are both primary optics and secondary optics. The primary optics are frequently built into the LED source, often in the form of a dome that helps to increase light output. There may then be secondary optics added to modify the beam width or light distribution, adding further to the complexity of the design and the intricacy of manufacture.

There is also the whole issue of thermal management as LEDs can generate a considerable amount of heat. If the temperature in the vicinity of the LED and its electronic circuitry is allowed to get too high this will both reduce light output and the life of the lamp. Retrofit lamps therefore have a built-in heat sink to conduct heat away from the sensitive electronics – so the efficiency with which the heat sink does its job is another important element in performance and reliability.

A lack of effective surge protection is also important, as is the use of a sealed housing to prevent moisture infiltration.

For all of these reasons it is clear that each of these components is important in the overall performance of the lamp that the end user experiences, thus reinforcing the importance of high quality manufacture using proven, reliable components.

Trusted brands

Given the complexity of LED lighting, as described above, the reasons for being very cautious when sourcing LED lighting products become immediately apparent. Megaman has addressed the issues above by launching product ranges using TCH technology (an ingenious highway design across the reflector to dissipate heat efficiently) for thermal control, instant start, smooth dimming, Perfect White and Dim to Warm. Megaman also use a ‘true size shape’ that allows easy retrofit and the process of ‘LEDification’ of the traditional light source formats is pretty much complete so there are now LED alternatives for the vast majority of lamp types.

Megaman’s Dim to Warm allows linear dimming from 2800K to 1800K, providing a perfect solution for many applications where it is desirable to change the ambience at different times of day. A cosy hotel bar is one obvious example of this. The fact that these lamps are available in candle, GLS, AR111 and GU10 formats also gives them very wide scope. Tuneable White allows commercial projects to choose between 3000K and 6000K so that users can tune the lighting to the shade of white they want, without needing to change light source, and dim it if necessary. Tuneable white lighting is ideal for multi-use areas or where there is a requirement to link to human-centric lighting systems. Perfect White which makes white clothes in retail look really amazing. This is a significant development because general LED lighting tends not to show plain white fabrics at their best, but by adding a violet spike to the phosphor mix their appearance is transformed.

Megaman is also producing fittings that meet the requirements of the hospitality and leisure sectors. Indeed, as the LED light source has become well established there has been a corresponding boost in the introduction of luminaires that have been designed specifically for LED light sources. This is a clear benefit as these luminaires are able to optimise the particular optical characteristics of LEDs to achieve maximum light output ratio and efficient light distribution. In parallel, the ability to use new thermoplastics in the manufacture of LED luminaires – something that couldn’t be done three years ago – is enabling luminaire designers to broaden their creative output.

2015 is set to be a very significant year for low-energy lighting in general, and LED lighting in particular. In order to achieve the maximum benefits available it is important to start thinking beyond simply swapping an energy-hungry light source for a more efficient one and begin to take advantage of the extra functionality that are now making possible. Additionally, Megaman has its own test facility and is able to subject its products to continuous assessment to ensure good quality control and consistent performance.

Visit novelenergylighting.com to explore the Megaman range of LED lamps and fixtures: http://www.novelenergylighting.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=megaman

Feel free to call us (0208-540-8287) or email (sales@novelenergylighting.com) with your enquiry, or request for volume quotation.

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EU review found no reason to delay the ban on mains voltage directional halogen lamps

The European Commission has stuck with its decision to phase out mains-voltage halogen directional lamps from the European market in September 2016 following a review. The move has been described as a win for consumers and the environment by industry figures.

“Earlier this year we saw an EU vote delaying the phase out of non-directional halogen lamps until 2018 and this threw into question which way the balance would swing for their mains-voltage directional cousins,” commented Fred Bass, managing director of Neonlite International, owner of Megaman. “However, common sense has ruled and these highly inefficient light sources will now be phased out within a year.”

As part of the review of the lighting directive EC 1194/2012, four criteria needed to be assessed before a phase-out could be confirmed. Issues of affordability were under scrutiny, as well performance, equivalence to existing models and compatibility. The EU has confirmed that there is no reason to delay the ban on mains voltage directional halogen lamps, as all these areas have been sufficiently met.

“This ruling brings us one step closer to the eventual removal of all high-energy consuming halogens and can only be a positive move for both consumers and the environment alike,” Bass told Lux. “I stand by what I said when commenting on the delay in banning non-directional halogens earlier in the year, I truly believe that market forces will begin to take over in Europe and LEDs will win through, no matter when all halogens are eventually banned. High quality LED lamps are out there already, they do save money and energy and consumers will begin to convert to them more and more as they realise the benefits.”

Retrofit your premises with LED lighting today. Visit www.novelenergylighting.com to review our range of LED GU10 and LED MR16 lamps amongst other types. Call us to discuss volume orders: Tel: 0208-540-8287

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Megaman has achieved another industry first with the launch of a wide range of LED products that incorporate a new Dim to Warm system which provides improved dimming performance with the warmth and characteristics of halogen.

Megaman has achieved another industry first with the launch of a wide range of LED products that incorporate a new Dim to Warm system which provides improved dimming performance with the warmth and characteristics of halogen. These LED’s emit a warmer light when they are dimmed with a colour temperature that changes smoothly from 2800K to 1800K when dimmed from 100% to 10%.

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The Down Hall Hotel, one of the UK’s most established country house hotels, has achieved considerable energy savings on lighting thanks to a simple retrofit to Megaman LED lamps. With Phase 1 of the project concentrating on the main function rooms, lounge and anti-lounge areas, the current estimated figures are 7736kw of energy saved per annum which equates to an annual CO2 saving of 4.21 tons.

Located in Hatfield Heath on the Hertfordshire/Essex borders, Down Hall was built in the Italianate style of architecture, which was a distinct 19th century phase in the history of Classical architecture and the hotel dates back to 1322 with luxurious interior and ornate ceilings, all set in 110 acres of parkland.    The hotel has many high ceiling function rooms including the Prior Suite, and this was the first room to be considered for the new LED lamps.

With chandeliers and wall lights in constant use, the old Halogen 28W lamps were constantly failing which meant a scaffolding tower had to be erected each time to replace the lamps, taking up valuable maintenance time and causing serious potential health and safety issues.  On review of the lighting it was agreed to switch the existing lighting to Megaman’s 5w candle lamps in warm white, which also offer dimming capabilities for changing the ambience of the room at different times of the day and evening. On completion of the Prior Suite, the staff at Down Hall were so delighted with the result that the other function rooms, namely

Rookwood, Lyndhurst, Harley and the lounge and anti-lounge, were also changed to the new LED lamps. Bob Parker at Down Hall commented “We are extremely happy with the new LED lamps which, apart from the energy savings achieved, actually look better and complement the existing fittings, plus they offer 50,000 hours life.   The light output is excellent and staff are commenting that the new lighting has improved the whole ambience of the building.  We are now in the process of putting Phase 2 into action which will include the Bridgeman Selwin Suites which is our main ballroom for wedding receptions”.

Novel Energy Lighting supplies LED lighting to the hospitality sector and can provide many references of hotels which have been retrofitted. We sell LED lamps and fittings, and can provide services such as surveys, lighting designs, and installation to help you start saving energy as quickly as possible.

Call us: 0208-540-8287, or email: sales@novelenergylighting.com for more information

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MR16 lamps are a great choice for lighting your space. LEDs have numerous advantages over conventional lamps. Along with superior light output, LEDs save on electricity and offer a better lifespan. These lamps consume about 10% of the energy of traditional halogen lamps, making them a perfect switch from halogens.

Novel Energy Lighting supplies LED MR16 lamps from various quality manufacturers like Philips, Heathfield, Megaman, Emprex, and Verbatim. LED MR16s come in wattages ranging from 4W to 10W to replace 20W to 50W halogen MR16s. The low voltage makes them safe to work with. These energy efficient LEDs offer a lifespan ranging from 20,000 hours to 50,000 hours. Unlike fluorescent lamps, these LEDs are mercury-and pollution-free, which makes them recyclable, and safe on the environment.

LED MR16s come in a variety of colour temperatures to suit requirements. We offer specialist VxRGB MR16s by Verbatim with ultra-high colour rendering qualities that accentuate the true-life colours of art or food.  These lamps are also available with narrow or wide beam angles. Narrow beam angles are suitable for enhancing the prominence of objects and displays whereas, wide beam angle bulbs give a greater spread, useful for general space lighting.

These lamps come in both dimmable and non-dimmable configurations for different requirements. LED MR16 lamps are suitable for a wide variety of different applications including residential and commercial properties, architectural, retail, offices, museums, schools, and entertainment and gaming. Since they emit little to no UV or IR radiation, these make an ideal choice for art galleries.

Benefits of LED lighting

• Energy Efficient
• Long Life
• Durable, Robust lights
• No UV or IR radiation
• Eco-friendly
• Low maintenance
• Better light dispersement
• Design flexibility

With the list of benefits LEDs are rapidly becoming the preferred lighting solution of both professionals and residential users. Save money and energy in maintenance and replacement by making the switch to LED! Visit Novel Energy Lighting to see the wide range of quality LED MR16 lamps available.

Reach us at http://www.novelenergylighting.com or contact us on 0208-540-8287.

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Are you still receiving high energy bills even after consciously trying to reduce your energy consumption? Do you feel that your current halogen or fluorescent bulbs fail to give your home or office sufficient light? Well, then it is about time you switched to LED MR16 spot lamps to fulfill all of your general and commercial lighting requirements.

LED MR16 lamps

It is a known fact that all halogen and fluorescent bulbs use plenty of electricity (up to 10x more than LED), thus for large spaces with lots of bulbs you are left with a substantial energy bill. Also, if these bulbs are used constantly, they tend to fail and flicker more quicly. Rated lifetimes for halogen bulbs is just 1000 to 2000 hours, so you could well be changing them every few months.

On the other hand, LED MR16 Lamps offer you superior lighting that will outperform any high powered halogen light. Moreover, these lamps have an impressive lifespan of about 40000+ hours compared to traditional lighting – fluorescent bulbs which burn out in just 10000 hours. Thus, these long lasting LED lamps are a good lighting choice for all commercial areas like office conference rooms, hotel lobbies or reception areas, and even restaurants or clubs.

Novel Energy Lighting supplies a range of very high quality LED MR16 of the both the dimmable and non-dimmable variety. The Philips Master LED MR16 lamp range comes with a special Airflux Design, allowing it to be cooled passively without the aid of an internal fan. This allows the lamp to stay cool and dim well despite the low voltage. The MasterLED range is available in a variety of wattage to suit brightness requirements, and comes in warm white, white, and cool white colour temperatures.

Additionally, you can select the beam angle required, either 24 or 36 Deg depending on the spread of light you need. Generally, use a narrower beam with higher ceilings to give the light more time to disperse, or for accent lighting of particular objects or areas. Philips LED lamps come in 4W = 20W equivalent, 7W = 35W equivalent, 10W = 50W equivalent. The Corepro range has slightly different (lower) wattages because this is a non-dimmable value range, which may be just right for you if you don’t need dimming functionality. Thus, with LED MR16 bulbs your energy bills will now be 80% less than what they used to be. And with its longer lifespan, you won’t have to worry about replacing them for many years.

Another interesting feature of the Philips LED MR16 lamps is that they have a unique Intelligent Driver System which makes them compatible with all existing electronic and electromagnetic halogen transformers. What’s more, these LED lamps can be retrofitted into most of your existing MR16 fittings and fixtures. There is no UV or IR in the beam, making it suitable for illuminating heat-sensitive objects (food, organic materials, paintings, etc.)

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Illuminate your space with LED MR16 for quality lighting. LEDs have numerous advantages over conventional lamps. Along with superior light output, LEDs save on electricity and offer a better lifespan. These lamps consume about 10% of the energy of traditional halogen lamps, making them a perfect switch from halogens.

LED MR16 lamps

MR16s come in wattages ranging from 4W to 10W to replace 20W to 50W halogen MR16s. The low voltage makes them safe to work with. These energy efficient LEDs offer a lifespan ranging from 20,000 hours to 50,000 hours. Unlike fluorescent lamps, these LEDs are mercury-and pollution-free, which makes them recyclable and safe on the environment.

LED MR16s come in a variety of colour temperatures to suit requirements. These lamps are also available with narrow or wide beam angles. Narrow beam angles are suitable for enhancing the prominence of objects and displays whereas, wide beam angle bulbs give a greater spread, useful for general space lighting.

Novel Energy Lighting supplies LED MR16 lamps from various quality manufacturers like Philips, Heathfield, Megaman, Emprex, and Verbatim. We offer specialist VxRGB MR16s by Verbatim with ultra-high colour rendering qualities that accentuate the true-life colours of art or food.

Philips MasterLED MR16 lamps include a patented intelligent driver which makes the lamps emulate a halogen in the eyes of a transformer. This makes the LED MR16 compatible with over 90% of transformers in the market, and means that these lamps can be used on most existing transformers. Therefore, you can avoid the hassle of replacing and installing new transformers when switching to LED lighting, saving time and money.

Megaman LED MR16 lamps offer a lifespan of up to 50,000 hours, and come in a range of wattages to provide light output to meet your needs.

These lamps come in both dimmable and non-dimmable configurations for different requirements. LED MR16s are suitable for a wide variety of different applications including residential and commercial properties, architectural, retail, offices, museums, schools, and entertainment and gaming.

By replacing your halogens with these LED lamps, you can reduce your power consumption by up to about 90% with absolutely no compromise on brightness. Also, these lamps do not emit any kind of UV or IR radiation in the form of heat, which make these ideal for lighting up heat-sensitive objects, or paintings

Visit Novel Energy Lighting to see the wide range of quality LED MR16 lamps available.

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