Home Design Guides: Sustainability, Lighting

Check out our comparison guide to see how different types of light globes compare in terms of how much energy they consume, how much light they produce per watt, and what other factors you need to consider.

Lighting design is something that often gets less attention than it should. A well designed and managed lighting scheme will use far less energy in the long term, and is also likely to be more practical and appealing.

LED globes, or 'solid state lighting' is fast becoming the lighting of choice thanks to its amazing efficiency and long life.

These lamps are more efficient, readily available and burn far cooler that conventional incandescents and halogen globes.

The difference between an efficient light globe and an inefficient one is amazing. To prevent unnecessary waste, inefficient incandescent GLS globes are being phased out in Australia.

Regulations exist in Australia to determine how much electricity you're allowed to use for lighting in your home, based on floor areas. Find out what's allowed and how to make the most of it.

To really consider how 'efficient' different types of globes are compared to others, it's important to look beyond basic consumption. How long will they last? Will the added expense pay itself off in energy savings?