Why be Eco?
Some of our products have an ecological and, or an economical alternative.
Here's what it's all about
WHY BE ECO?
Some of our lighting products have a more efficient, more ecologically friendly alternative. Whenever the BE ECO logo appears on a product information page, click the link to see the eco alternatives.
Why it matters
At the risk of stating the obvious; when we use electricity on a small boat, with the possible exception (and the limitations) of mains shore power, it's not like using electricity at home. Whenever we use electrical power onboard we need to replace it. If we run the engine to recharge our batteries; apart from the noise and vibration created, we burn very expensive fuel and create way more environmentally harmful emissions than we do by driving a family car. What's more, a flat boat battery could be very inconvenient or might even, in certain situations, become a serious safety issue.
Wind generators and solar panels are in many ways a very good solution but they are expensive, dependent on a good supply of wind or sun and usually need several days to fully recharge a depleted battery.
So it really makes an awful lot of sense to save energy in the first place. Using energy efficient lighting makes even more environmental and economical sense on a boat than it does at home. It's also worth remarking that the most frequent reason given for choosing a marine leisure activity is - appreciation of the marine environment!
So, what type of lighting is best?
Unfortunately the answer is not completely straightforward as to some extent it depends on what you need the lighting to do. However there are some basic principles which can be applied.
Incandescent (conventional filament bulbs)
First of all we can say that pretty much whatever you need to use a light for, efficiency-wise conventional incandescent lighting is the worst choice (typically 10-15 lm/W) (lm/W = lumens per watt, dependent on bulb wattage). Most of the energy used is turned into heat. Furthermore, they rely on a filament which by its nature is fragile and has a relatively short life span (typically 750-1,200 hours).
Halogen (Quartz Halogen or Tungsten Halogen)
Halogen lighting is more efficient than incandescent lighting - typically 20-25 lm/W. Bulbs, including halogen tubes and capsule lamps are also more compact, have a significantly longer life (typically 2,000 - 2,500 hours) and give a whiter light. Halogen lamps are best suited to high powered exterior flood and search lights, and to interior spot lights. Their main disadvantage is that they run at a higher temperature and because the gas inside is under higher pressure, they are occasionally prone to bursting. So it is safer if halogen bulbs are used within an enclosed lamp. Also, when replacing any halogen bulb, do not touch the glass envelope. The salts in your skin oils penetrate and weaken the glass. The bulb not only has a shorter life, but when the bulb dies the filament doesn't merely burn out, but rather the bulb envelope shatters.
Xenon (Halogen-Xenon)
Xenon bulbs are more efficient than halogen (typically 24-30 lm/W). Similar to halogen lamps but up to 3 times brighter and have up to 3 times the life span (typically 8,000 - 10,000 hours). Xenon lamps are best suited to high powered exterior flood and search lights, and to interior spot lights. Because xenon gas is filled at a lower pressure they are not prone to bursting and are therefore safer. As with regular halogen bulbs, xenon bulbs should not be handled directly.
CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light)
CFLs use around 20% of the energy required by an incandescent lamp of similar output - typically 46-72 lm/W. Because of their compact shape, brightness and diffuse illumination they are well suited to wide area illumination in both work and living areas. CFLs last about 8-15 times longer than incandescent lamps (6,000 - 15,000 hours). The colour temperature is warmer and 'friendlier' than fluorescent tubes.
Fluorescent Tubes
These really are a very good, energy efficient method of bright area lighting - typically 70-100 lm/W (Lifespan 6,000 - 15,000 hours). They are the most efficient room/space light available. Many people find the colour temperature too cool for living areas but they are ideal for galleys and other work areas. Their very low power consumption and diffuse illumination make them a good choice for deck lighting on fishing boats and workboats, although they can be slightly temperamental to start up when operating at very low temperatures.
LED Lighting
LEDs have some remarkable properties when compared to other types of lighting:
- Very low power consumption - typically 26-70 lm/W.
- Very long lifespan. 30,000 hours - 80,000 hours is quite normal. This makes them virtually maintenance free or 'fit & forget'. Ideal for inaccessible lights like masthead navigation and signal lamps.
- Shock and vibration resistant - no filaments to break.
- Low heat output - increases the life of small lamp enclosures.
- Easy to seal - high levels of water resistance can be achieved.
LEDs are best suited to: navigation lighting and replacement navigation bulbs, courtesy lighting and step lights, chart lights, small interior lights and berth lights, lighting subject to high vibration or shock loads. LEDs are not usually suitable for illuminating large deck or saloon areas.
Important note: LEDs vary greatly in quality and output. It is difficult to make an efficiency comparison between LEDs and some other types of lighting. The light from an LED is concentrated in a narrow area of about 20 °. So it is pretty meaningless to compare the output of an LED light directly with, say the output from a fluorescent light. Beware of claims which directly compare lm/W (lumens per watt) output for LEDs with outputs for other types of lighting.
Data source: Wikipedia
