Energy mad
A measurable difference
Cfl bulbs
Energy-saving Cfl bulbs consist of two parts – a gas-filled tube and a ballast. The gas in the tube glows with ultraviolet light when electricity from the ballast flows through it. This in turn excites a white phosphor coating on the inside of the tube, which emits visible light throughout the surface of the tube. Incandescent bulbs work differently. Most of the electricity they use heats a tungsten filament until it glows white hot. As a result, incandescent lamps use more electricity to produce the same amount of light.
Besides developing a customised energy-saving bulb and a creative partnering process, the Energy Mad team came up with a low-cost method of measuring their contribution to peak network load reduction and electricity savings.
Using Canterbury as their test area, they measured lighting usage in 50 South Canterbury and 50 North Canterbury homes, using data loggers installed on five Ecobulbs in each home. This novel use of data loggers overcame the expense involved in the more traditional method of wiring directly into lighting circuits. A complex analysis was then undertaken, from which the electricity savings could be calculated. The same data was also used to calculate carbon dioxide emission reductions. These measured results can then be extrapolated for other HELP initiatives to calculate energy savings and peak load reductions in other centres.
