Then you find out that building regs requires you to have 25% of your fixed lights as energy saving lights. So, you think, why not make them all energy saving? That will keep the electricity costs down, please the building inspector and be a great way to placate your environmentalist friends and distract them slightly from the amount of concrete in the foundations...
Well, it sounds simple, but its now a year later, and I've only just cracked it.
Here's the problem. You can't just use any only lights that claim to be energy saving. Crucially, they have to produce more than 40 lumens/watt. That is, kick out a minimum amount of light for a given amount of electricity. Now that rules out almost everything except two things:
1. Compact Fluorescent (but only the very latest ones)
2. LEDs
Now (2) is basically out immediately because they cost an absolute fortune, plus they also suffer from the problem that plagues (1) - colour temperature. That is, the colour of the light that comes out of them.
Both (1) and (2) want to kick out quite blue light which, whilst perfect for an operating theatre or late night off-licence, isn't really what you want in your living room.
And therein lies the challenge. Find a compact fluorescent down light that kicks out more that 40 lumens/watt and gives off a nice, warm light.
Luckily, I found one made by a company called Aurora (don't worry, I didn't pay that price...). They're very new (in fact, I was originally after dimmable versions, but they have been delayed as they aren't even in production yet!), but just what I'm after.
They kick out more light that a 50W halogen GU10 bulb but only consume 11W, and I've just unboxed 73 of them and mounted them into the fittings - it took me 2.5 hours...
And who says that building you're own home isn't glamorous?
