Why switch to LED products? |28 April 2016

The replacement of inefficient lighting technologies with more energy efficient ones can reduce overall lighting energy consumption.

A savings potential study which quantifies the amount of energy that can be saved is a critical tool that provides decision-makers with the data necessary to help make the case for energy efficient policies and programmes. The above has been formulated in the Energy Efficient (EE) Lighting Strategy for Seychelles.

The aim of the strategy is to map the way to transform and prepare the market for a swift transition from energy inefficient lighting and environmentally harmful lighting technologies towards more energy efficient lighting and environmentally less impactful ones, more particularly light-emitting diode products (LEDs).

An important message relevant to all gas-discharge lamps, mostly compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) is that care is needed in the handling of lamps to avoid breakage. The proper handling method and disposal of broken lamps to limit mercury exposure to the environment is also important.

If a CFL bulb does break in someone’s house, please ventilate the room by opening the windows. Come back after a few minutes, sweep it up and put all the pieces in a plastic bag before disposing it in the garbage.

Mercury is only a significant risk if exposures are in high doses in the short term or smaller doses over a longer term.

Studies indicate that emissions from broken CFLs are unlikely to constitute a significant risk to humans.

In the environment, mercury can contaminate ground water, bio-accumulates in fish and becomes a risk to humans who consume them.