Eco-lighting: Could it be time to switch?

Forget those drab, flickering bulbs. Kate Watson-Smyth celebrates the dawn of a glamorous new age for eco-lighting

The traditional lightbulb is on its way out. From January you will no longer be able to buy a 150-watt incandescent bulb, and more will be phased out each year. By 2011, Thomas Edison's invention will belong to the history books.

So where does that leave us? Many of you will be groaning at the thought of having to put up with those dreary energy-saving bulbs that take ages to give out any light and then flicker just enough to be annoying when they are on full power. And that's not to mention their cold and rather unwelcoming light.

But hang on. Lighting technology is changing all the time, and almost every week new products are launched. In addition to bulbs, there are also directional and funky light shades in polypropelene - the most recyclable form of plastic out there - and others made simply from recycled paper and plywood. Eco-lighting can be fun and functional.

One of the most vociferous supporters is the designer Oliver Heath, whose entire house is eco-friendly. "Lighting is the most exciting area in eco-design and it is one of the easiest areas in which everyone can make a significant change without compromising on style," he says. "It is staggering that 128 years after Edison's invention, people are still using the same technology. That just doesn't happen in other areas of our lives."

And if you want a technological fact, get this: normal bulbs last for around 1,000 hours and use an average of 60 watts. An energy-saving bulb uses the equivalent of nine watts, which is about one-seventh, and lasts for around 10,000 hours. And if you want that in money, you are saving around £90 during the life of the bulb. If the average house has 15 bulbs, then you can do the sums. And let's not forget that other small detail about significantly reducing the amount of carbon dioxide you are pumping out.

Couple that with the knowledge that our homes emit some 30 per cent of the carbon emissions in this country and you begin to see why changing your bulbs really is an important step.

First of all, try some of the new bulbs. Then take advice from Heath: " If you feel the bulb is still too big and ugly then buy a bigger shade to cover it. Also you can now get bulbs that look just like the conventional ones we are all used to. In addition they give off a warm white light."

And if Heath wasn't excited enough about the advances in energy-saving bulbs, he starts fizzing when it comes to LEDs (light emitting diodes). "LEDs are developing more every week. They last for 100,000 hours, which is an amazing life span, and they use only two watts. And you can get ones that change colour so you can really add drama to your home through the lighting."

Heath isn't alone in his evangelism for LEDs. Staffen Tollgard, a Swedish-born and London-based interior designer, who trained at the Inchbald School of Design, is also excited by the technological advances.

"Manufacturers and consumers alike are realising that we can get energy-efficient bulbs producing a better quality of light. A new trend is with LEDs. A few years back the light was not powerful enough and too cold with that blue-white glow. Now LEDs have improved to a warm light with higher efficiency, so we can use them as downlighters - for example on stair treads at night.

"To go with this, lighting control equipment, such as dimmers, mean that the bulbs use less electricity because they are dimmed."

Heath says simply that life is too short to change a lightbulb. "I have lived in my house for four years and have never changed a single one. You have to go up a ladder to do it and who can be bothered with that? So many people pepper their ceilings with those expensive halogen downlighters - and they don't even last that long. And the beam is so direct that you need to have lots of them."

So what are the alternatives? Patrick Hudgell, managing director of Lightbulbs Direct www.lightbulbs-direct.com 01494 723286) has one of the largest range of energy-saving bulbs available in the UK. He says you can replace every bulb in your house with the appropriate energy-saving equivalent and not notice any difference in the quality of light. His website lists the choices available, from halogen energy savers to bulb-shaped lights high wattage and spotlights.

"The technology has moved on and most of these now give instant light so you don't need to wait for them to warm up," he says. "In addition, many of them can be used with dimmer switches now. It really is a no-brainer. You save about one-third of the energy as soon as you install it because they are lower wattage and they use less energy.

"Some of these bulbs even last for 15,000 hours. There are nearly 9,000 hours in a year - of which around 2,000 will require lighting, assuming you have the lights on for about five or six hours a day, so you can see how long they last.

"You might feel they are expensive to buy initially but when you balance it against the ultimate savings it really is worth it."

Look on the bright side
* Megaman, Osram and Sylvania are all reliable makes of energy-saving bulbs.
* In the kitchen and bathroom, try replacing halogen downlighters with either the Osram 35W Decostar (Part number 2514 from Lightbulbs Direct) or the Sylvania 35W long life (part number 2346).
* There are plenty of general use bulbs around, just choose the wattage you want and the website will find you an equivalent.
* Hudgell also recommends the Megaman Ping Ping, so named because it is that small. It gives a warm, powerful light, won't stick out of your lampshade, and lasts for 15,000 hours. But because it's so tiny, this one does take a little while to warm up to full capacity.

Delight Shade, by Nahoko Koyama, £65
This shade is made from 100 per cent natural wool and the butterflies are handcut. Perfect for hiding those big bulbs that hang from the ceiling. Comes in pale pink, sky blue and cream.
www.ecocentric.co.uk; 020-7739 3888

Hollow, by Blue Marmalade, £30
Hollow is made from polypropelene, the most recyclable plastic there is. It can be used standing upright to lying down and even suspended from a hook. It has been designed specifically for use with a low energy bulb and gives a warm two-tone glow.
www.ecocentric.co.uk; 020-7739 3888

Lightening Stick, by Oliver Heath, £49.95
This is another LED light that changes colour all the time, washing your walls with an ever changing glow. It comes with a control box that allows you to alter the speed of the change and the colours you want to see.
www.ecocentric.co.uk; 020-7739 3888

Herman Miller Leaf Light, by Yves Béhar, £279/£349
The task light has been hailed as an iconic eco-lamp. It uses the latest LED technology combined with the shape of a leaf. Béhar calls it a fusion of technology with humanity. In other words it's green, modern and clever. Usually £349, but you can buy it from this website before 23 December for £279.
www.homeworkingsolutions.co.uk; 0800 043 3278