Over the past few decades, energy-efficient solutions have become part of the lighting landscape, with new developments and innovations emerging every year. Energy-efficient lighting solutions in NZ have become the norm, and we’re happy to see this evolution taking place.
There are many benefits to embracing energy-efficient lighting; today, we will look at why this approach works so well across a broad range of applications.
Read on as the expert lighting design team from Evolve Tech NZ explores what energy-efficient lighting is and some of the ways this type of lighting could benefit your home or business.
In 2020, energy emissions comprised 40% of total gross emissions in New Zealand. This is one reason to lean into energy-efficient lighting solutions. But what is energy-efficient lighting, and how does it actually help to reduce energy emissions?
Incandescent and halogen bulbs were the most popular choice for indoor lighting until recently. They rely on generating enough electricity to heat a small filament to ‘incandescence’. In other words, until it gets hot enough to glow. This can consume more energy than you might expect, leading to hefty bills and emissions.
As an alternative, the most common contemporary choice for energy efficient lighting is the Light Emitting Diode (LED). LEDs are better across the board as an alternative to traditional incandescent or halogen bulbs. They work by running an electrical current through a microchip, illuminating the diodes to create strong, consistent, visible light.
According to Gen Less, the arm of the NZ Government dedicated to energy reduction, “if every New Zealand household installed LED lighting, we’d avoid 82,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions – the emissions of almost 34,000 petrol cars”.
At Evolve, we recommend using LEDs, particularly when working with businesses on commercial lighting design. While the reduced emissions are one reason for our recommendation, there are a number of other reasons why LEDs are a superior lighting choice.
LED bulbs use less energy than their incandescent or halogen bulb counterparts, meaning they cost less to run. In fact, Gen Less estimates that every LED bulb will save between $100 and $300 over the course of its lifetime. While this might not seem like a lot, for a bulb that lasts between 50,000 and 100,000 hours, this level of cost reduction adds up across your commercial premises.
LED lighting doesn’t rely on heating an incandescent filament to make gas glow, so they tend to last significantly longer than these old-style bulbs. In fact, the average LED bulb will last roughly 14 years! With such a long lifespan, you also reduce the hassle of replacing multiple halogen bulbs every 2,000 hours.
LED lighting is a quick and easy way to save on emissions for your home or business. These bulbs use 85% less electricity than incandescent or halogen bulbs, allowing them to last up to 15 times longer. This helps the environment on two fronts:
One of the major appeals of halogen or incandescent bulbs is the warmth of the lighting. The good news is that LED bulbs are incredibly versatile. They now come in a wide range of tones and styles across the spectrum of brightness and warmth. They also have the added advantage of an instant response when you hit the light switch.
This versatility is a major benefit to daily operations for businesses in particular. Smart LED lighting design solutions like the ones installed by Evolve ensure you can instantly switch your lighting setup from ‘day’ mode to ‘night’ mode.
For example, one of our most recent lighting design projects was with a local eatery, Hugo’s Bistro. We partnered with this iconic restaurant to create a ‘lived-in’ atmosphere, utilising lighting designed to evoke softness and comfort, encouraging patrons to relax and enjoy a homestyle meal. We designed two lighting schemes for this venue as it opens day and night.
Combining bespoke brass pendants over the tables, accent LED strip lighting, and indirect lighting above the bar, we created a serene, cheerful profile for the day that transitioned effortlessly into a more sensual atmosphere for evening dining.
Whether you’re a homeowner or a business owner, adopting energy-efficient lighting offers many potential benefits. Across the board, LED lighting is superior to older versions, offering more versatility in lighting design with a lower lifetime cost.
Ready to light up your space with savings? Try Evolve’s lighting solutions and brighten your world while reducing costs.
Our team of registered electricians has over 20 years of experience handling various types of electrical work, including lighting design and installation. Illuminate your future – get started now.
