Which lighting should I use?

An appropriate, efficient light will not only increase comfort, it will also save energy and reduce long-term costs. Fortunately, a host of efficient lighting options is available.

● Conventional incandescent light bulbs are inefficient because most of the energy used to run them is turned into heat rather than light. Though they are cheap to buy, they have to be replaced regularly. Limit your use of incandescent bulbs to areas where you need light instantly and only for a short time, such as a bathroom or pantry.

● Consider using halogen bulbs, which throw a bright light similar to natural light, to illuminate a work area or to spotlight a painting.They are expensive to buy, but usually last twice as long as regular bulbs.

● Think twice before installing halogen downlighting. These lights throw hard-edged spotlights rather than
ambient light, so it takes up to six of them to light the same area as a single incandescent bulb.

● Remember that low-voltage halogen lights need transformers, so you’ll need to fit downlight transformers
in your roof cavity.

● If your home has a concrete slab ceiling, your only halogen option will be the 240-volt variety.These don’t require a transformer, but the bulbs are more expensive than the low-voltage varieties.