Plant a New Seed - Bury The Fluorescents
Kaash Light Engineers
Sustainable human-centric light for people, their cities and its architecture
15 years, since the introduction of commercial LED lighting solutions. Till date, there are hundreds of projects getting executed with fluorescent and incandescent lamp solutions. The retrofit drive rode a high wave sometimes in between, but the journey to efficient infrastructure is still a work in progress, with a long way to go.
Nail in the coffin
Starting September 2023, the production of T5 and T8 fluorescent tubes has ceased, urging business owners to switch to energy-saving alternatives and properly dispose or recycle existing fluorescent lamps. The mission started in 2008 with the first draft from the European Union on the merits and process to upgrade from analogue to digital lamps. The new directive ensures the complete ban on sale and production of analogue lamps, paving a path to mercury free lighting.
Reducing Lighting Carbon Emissions?
The decision signifies a major shift in the lighting industry, ending the era of fluorescent lighting except for specific applications like transportation. LEDs will be the focus due to their energy efficiency and lack of mercury. Linear fluorescent lamps (LFLs), commonly used in various settings, are the largest mercury polluters in lighting. Phasing out LFLs will significantly reduce global mercury and CO2 emissions.
The benefits of transitioning to LEDs by 2027 are projected to be substantial. According to estimates, this move could result in the avoidance of 2.7 gigatonnes of CO2 emissions, the elimination of 158 tonnes of mercury pollution, and savings of approximately US$1.13 trillion on electricity bills by 2050.
In the EU, lighting accounts for around 10% of electricity use. Upgrading to LED lighting could help achieve net zero emissions by 2050, meet the goals of the European Green Deal, and fulfill commitments under the Paris Agreement. Upgrading 2.3 billion luminaires would save €40 billion annually, equivalent to CO2 sequestered by 2.3 billion trees. Additionally, it would save 188.5 TWh of electricity, equivalent to the annual consumption of 51.8 million households in the EU.?
In the transition towards LEDs, LED retrofitting has also emerged as a popular solution for businesses worldwide seeking energy efficiency. LED retrofitting involves converting existing fixtures to LED ones, offering advantages like longer lifespan and improved color rendering. A case study revealed significant annual savings, with an improved annual return on investment by 115%, resulting in annual savings of $62,000. There was also a 22% increase in lighting levels, longer-lasting lighting, and a 100% reduction of lighting mercury levels, which removed 29 tons of CO2 annually. LED retrofitting offers up to 80% energy cost reduction and significantly lowers maintenance expenses compared to traditional lighting. Additionally, LED lighting enhances safety and productivity due to improved visibility and customizable color temperature. This means that without paying huge amounts of money to change your whole lighting system, you can just simply adapt your old lighting into energy efficient systems.
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Calculate Light Carbon Emissions
As you see, fluorescent lighting not only poses risks to human health and the environment due to mercury content but also contributes to pollution when improperly disposed of. Additionally, the energy used to manufacture, operate, and dispose of fluorescent lamps can result in carbon emissions, albeit lower than those of incandescent bulbs.
With recent discussions surrounding potential bans on fluorescent lamps due to their environmental implications, as your light expert, Kaash steps into the game with our newest and strongest tool, Carbon Calculator. With Carbon Calculator, you can just put the type of the lighting you are using and specify your country, daily usage hours and annual usage days. In return, you can calculate the ratio of your carbon emission and can see your saving options. By switching from fluorescent lamps to LEDs, Carbon Calculator empowers users to make informed decisions that align with both their sustainability goals and regulatory requirements.
As we bid farewell to fluorescents, we embrace a brighter and cleaner future for generations to come. With general switches from fluorescents to LEDs and sustainable innovations like our Carbon Calculator, the journey towards sustainable illumination represents a beacon of hope for generations to come. We invite you to try Carbon Calculator, which is on live on our website now. Let's build a greener future together.
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