light a home to Part L and make it sexy

lets face it!!! you love incandescent lamps and all the world tells you have to use low energy

relentlessness of legislation has made it less of a distress decision and more of an opportunity for creativity.

‘Given the huge range of colour temperatures available in fluorescent lamps, and the improvements in LED sources, We believe that all but the most traditional of buildings can actually use energy efficient light sources

compact fluorescent are now old news and we are looking to LEDs has been the light quality and colour temperature of halogen – with varying and evolving degrees of success – these are different beasts and need a different approach to conventional lamps.

here's the 9 point plan, sorry, we know you like things in 10's but you will just have to put up with 9 :)

1 CONCEAL where you can
Low energy sources can actually add glamour to bedrooms with some forethought

The key is using the light source totally concealed to rely on the reflected light

2 EXPLOIT THE 1W LED
For steps, plinths, niches, low voltage fittings can be replaced with 1W LED fixtures. ‘Within Part L, the 1W fixture either doesn’t even count as its wattage is so low – fixtures of less than five circuit watts are excluded from the total luminaire count – or limited in groups of five with a dimmer to count as one circuit watt

3 INTEGRATE where you can
For a London residence, Firefly Lighting Design had to design not just to Part L, but to the BREEAM standard, where 75 per cent of all installed fittings had to be energy efficient. Integration was the key. ‘We worked with the architect to design lines of light integrated into architectural features such as the stairs,’ says Peter Veale. ‘This allowed us to create some breathtaking effects while allowing the clients energy leeway to choose their own bedside lights and pendants.’

4 USE DISPLAY DETAILS
Lighting shelves or niches can be about maximum effect with minimum energy, run LED strips behind glass shelves, Backlight niches and dim for artistic control

5 PLAY TO THEIR STRENGTHS
Rather than viewing low energy sources as a substitute, look at how their specific characteristics can work well

6 LAYER the light
Layering is a general lighting technique and energy efficient sources particularly benefit from the more dramatic effect it creates (discharge sources such as fluorescent used alone can produce a flat effect).


7 PICK YOUR LOCATION FOR HALOGEN
Do it in the kitchen, in the hall, on the stairs and in the bathroom, but keep it out of the bedroom and the lounge where you want a more relaxing atmosphere. Dimmable halogen is the best way to get really low light levels, and still get the best quality light. It’s a matter of using it sparingly and judiciously


8 MIMIC DAYLIGHT
Relating to the point above, unlike warm incandescent sources, cool white LEDs and fluorescent can be used to introduce a sense of daylight, using a mock skylight, in basements and other windowless places.

9 USE DIFFUSION AND REFLECTION
Related to concealing the fitting is diffusion and reflection, mellowing potentially harsh effects.  Try to ensure the light is delivered through some form of diffuser, or as reflected, or indirect, light – for example, bounced from a wall or ceiling