The technicalities of LED lightbulbs and what you need to know about making the switch |04 August 2017

This year, a joint collaboration between the GOS-UNDP-GEF Resource Efficiency Project, Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Seychelles Energy Commission and the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) led to the launch of the National LED Campaign. The aim was to encourage consumers to exchange their incandescent light bulbs for Light-Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs in order to reduce energy consumption. The exchange was initiated by Elaine Ernesta, project manager at the Resource Efficiency Project.

LED bulbs are the most recent technology in modern lighting. At the core of this technological triumph is a semiconductor device that converts electricity into light as a result of the emission of energy in the form of photons. This phenomenon is called electroluminescence. This permits the bulb to consume very little energy and thus emits a very small amount of heat. Unlike the traditional light bulbs, LED bulbs do not have a filament that will eventually burn out, therefore they can last for 20 years or more depending on usage (Fuseled). This technology is already present in modern homes in the form of digital clocks, remote controls and LCD high definition TV.

With some people still discouraged by the price of LED bulbs, we contacted Laurent Sam, energy engineer at PUC for an update on the campaign and for further technical information.

“The momentum of the exchange programme is picking up. With the marketing campaign that is ongoing, the population is starting to understand the benefits. The interest picked up significantly whenever there were pop-up stalls set up at various locations for customers to exchange their bulbs. The exchanges on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue have so far registered over 432 customers, meaning that 864 bulbs have been exchanged.”

PUC explains that when using incandescent bulbs, a customer spends more money in total on bulbs and energy within 6 months (as shown on accompanying graph). The LED type lasts much longer, require less replacements and cost far less in the long term.

If sufficient customers reduce their energy consumption in this manner, it can also make a significant reduction in the carbon emissions of Seychelles. To combat climate change, it is much easier and cheaper as a first step, to reduce consumption rather than to find ways to produce energy from renewable sources.

For those who still want to exchange their bulbs, they can do so when paying their electricity / water bills at any of the PUC customer service centres. A customer can get two LED bulbs for free in exchange for two incandescent bulbs (as per their unique customer number found on the electricity bill) if they bring a copy of their electricity bill (while stocks last). Further activities are being planned and their locations and times will be advertised in due course.

Customers who wish to purchase LED bulbs are encouraged to shop around as there is a wide range in price and quality. Specifically, they should look at the efficiency (in lm/W, pronounced lumens per Watt) and brightness (in lm, pronounced lumens) of the bulbs. Even with the same LED technology, there can be some variations in the efficiency of the bulbs from different manufacturers. Typically, LED bulbs have efficiencies of 80-90 lm/W (higher is better). The brightness depends on the purpose at home. 800lm should be sufficient for most uses and some people prefer 500lm where they would like a lower brightness. They may also have a personal preference for white or yellow light. Prices can range from SR40 to SR100 depending on the brightness and manufacturer. 

We spoke to a few consumers who have already made the switch to LED bulbs and they shared the following comments: “our electricity bills have decreased significantly”; “ I make less trips to the shops for bulbs”; “the rooms at home do not heat up as they used to with incandescent bulbs”; “the quality of lighting is better now because it is brighter and there is no flashing which we experienced with incandescent bulbs”; “depending on the manufacturer and price, some LED bulbs are even offered with a three year warranty.”