UK on a roll to ban incandescent light bulbs and meet targets set at the Copenhagen Climate Summit

As we prepare for an energy efficient future, the demise of the incandescent light bulb is nigh. With just a year before the UK bans incandescent light bulbs for good, traditional light bulbs are being replaced by energy efficient alternatives, faster than you can say, “Copenhagen”. Already, 100-watt bulbs and frosted or pearled bulbs have been taken off the shelves. Next in line to vanish will be the 75 watt and 60 watt bulbs, followed by a ban on all remaining incandescent bulbs in September 2012.

BLT Direct is a passionate advocate of energy saving light bulbs and is reminding homeowners to act now to avoid being left in the dark as old style bulb supplies diminish. Many old style bulbs can be directly replaced with low energy and LED light bulb alternatives. The firm has developed a handy replacement guide available online, showing which new energy efficient bulb is most suited to replace old style incandescent lamps and fittings.

With many nations reaffirming their commitment to reducing their carbon footprint following December’s Copenhagen Climate Change summit, the UK is already well on its way with the planned ban on incandescent lightbulbs. The deadline for sale of the old style light bulbs and phasing out of some styles this year means homeowners will need to start replacing their bulbs ahead of the 2012 deadline.

BLT Direct is one of the web’s largest stockists of energy saving bulbs and low energy LED light bulbs and has a huge range of low energy, energy efficient and daylight energy saving light bulbs in various styles. Its GU10 lamp is a popular alternative to incandescent bulbs and one of the firm’s best selling energy saving bulbs. It’s a great choice for anyone making the switch from incandescent to energy saving as its huge range of suitable applications includes shop displays, kitchens, bathrooms, showrooms, reception areas, conference rooms, corridors, offices, hotels, restaurants and lounges. With an average life of between 8000 hours and 15000 hours (depending on the lamp) and an 80% saving on running costs, they are extremely energy efficient.

Visit the BLT Direct web site at www.bltdirect.com for more information on choosing energy efficient lighting for your home or workplace. You can also follow them on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bltdirect

About BLT Direct: BLT Direct are an online supplier of lighting solutions. They provide a wide range of lighting products, as well as light fittings and lamp disposal services, and are committed to offering energy efficient solutions to meet a wide range of home and business lighting needs.

Editor’s Note: BLT Direct is represented by search engine optimisation agency, Apple Jupp. Please direct all press queries to Rebecca Appleton. Email: rebecca@applejupp.com or call: 01623 600666.

The ultimate guide to energy saving light bulbs

Pick a light bulb that’s right for you, right for the environment and right for your home. There’s more to it than you think. Stockists of some 10,000 variations of light bulb products, including light fittings, industry experts, BLT Direct know that sometimes, it’s difficult to know which product to choose for the best.

Passionate about energy-saving bulbs, the company’s new guide to saving energy and identifying a light bulb to suit both the environment and your personal requirements explains the difference between product types and why it‘s time you thought twice before adding one to your shopping cart.

Opt for energy saving bulbs: Good for pocket, good for environment. It’s the smart choice that will change the way you see your electricity bill while also saving energy.

The difference: Energy efficient light bulbs cost more than your regular incandescent bulb, however efficient use of electricity means a longer operating life. This leads to real cash savings which balances out the initial higher cost of the bulb.

Take your pick:
Regular incandescent light bulbs
Incandescent light bulbs use electricity to heat a filament until it glows white hot, producing light. About 90 percent of electricity used by incandescent light bulbs is lost as heat. These bulbs typically burn for 750 to 1,000 hours - or about three hours a day for a year.

Incandescent spotlights and floodlights
Used predominantly for outdoor purposes, these bulbs burn for about 2,000 hours.

Gu10 Halogen bulbs
Featuring a small capsule filled with Halogen gas, this type of bulb produces more light, uses less energy and lasts longer than your average incandescent bulb of the same wattage. Gu10 lightbulbs cost more yet last a good two to three years longer.

Fluorescent tubes
Preferable to the incandescent for saving energy, this type of product does not produce heat. Long, thin tubes, often seen in kitchens, a fluorescent tube will last on average 10 to 20 times longer than a traditional incandescent light bulb.

Compact fluorescent bulbs
Otherwise known as the energy-saving light bulb, these provide just as much light as your regular incandescent bulb while using just a quarter of the energy. An example would be a 15-watt energy saving bulb yielding the same amount of light as a 60-watt incandescent while lasting 10 times longer.

Fact!
If every household in the UK fitted just one energy saving light bulb, there would be enough electricity saved to power lighting in three million homes for an entire year.

The advantages of low energy light bulbs?
Small things come in powerful packages, so do not underestimate the complexity behind the energy saving light bulb! Ever-evolving technology has spawned a generation of light bulbs more sophisticated than we could ever have imagined. A clever example is the dimmable energy saving light bulb, which produces a fraction of the electricity needed, saving up £14 per year per bulb.

Think: Don’t forget to switch off the light before leaving a room to cut wastage and save on bills even more.

A point to remember: Not all energy saving light bulbs will work with electronic sensors, dimmers and timers. No excuses: Energy saving bulbs are available in a spectrum of shapes and sizes, including bayonet and screw fittings. If you prefer the traditional-look bulb, then there are even energy-saving versions of these - including stick type for the middle of the room and flat type for wall fittings.

What you can save per bulb: An energy saving bulb will cost £5 while a traditional option will cost just 50p. A great difference? You won’t be saying that in six months! Energy saving bulbs can accumulate £14 in savings per year. Over a typical lifetime, that’s £68 with costs recovered in six months.

Copenhagen Climate Summit, Are You Doing Your Bit Asks Light Bulb Firm BLT Direct

Around 15,000 delegates from 192 nations had recently descended on the Danish capital, Copenhagen for a fortnight long summit on climate change. As the world’s leaders gathered to discuss cutting global carbon outputs and set new targets for environmental change, one of the web’s top light bulb and energy efficient light bulb e-tailors urged shoppers to do their bit to curb emissions and reduce damage to the environment.

BLT Direct is one of the web’s largest stockists of energy saving bulbs and low energy LED light bulbs and is a passionate advocate of the energy efficient alternative to traditional bulbs. The firm launched an information initiative 12 months ago to educate home owners and businesses on the benefits of switching to energy saving bulbs. It has published a series of online guides and articles over the course of the last year on the range and benefits of energy efficient lighting. The web site has also developed a unique bulb finder tool to show clients quickly and easily the most appropriate energy efficient alternative to their existing lightbulbs.

A company spokesman said “We should all be concerned about the impact we have on the environment around us. Switching to a low energy lightbulb or replacing a traditional bulb with an energy saving LED alternative is an easy way to make a difference. An energy saver emits less pollution as it consumes energy more efficiently, making them kinder to the planet and kinder to the pocket.

“Energy saving light bulbs have come a long way over the last few years and you can now replace most bulbs with a more efficient lamp. We stock a huge range of low energy, energy efficient and daylight energy saving light bulbs in various styles so we’re confident that we can help everyone do their bit.”

Visit the BLT Direct web site at www.bltdirect.com for more information on choosing energy efficient lighting for your home or workplace.

About BLT Direct: BLT Direct are an online supplier of lighting solutions. They provide a wide range of lighting products, as well as light fittings and lamp disposal services, and are committed to offering energy efficient solutions to meet a wide range of home and business lighting needs.

Editor’s Note: BLT Direct is represented by search engine optimisation agency, Apple Jupp. Please direct all press queries to Rebecca Appleton. Email: rebecca@applejupp.com.