Dealing with the Downlight: Australian Residential Lighting Discoveries, Challenges and Future Directions

摘要

Historically, Australia’s lighting energy consumption was estimated at between 8% andrn15% of the average household electricity budget. Whilst tungsten-incandescent bulbs have beenrnlargely eliminated as a result of the introduction of MEPS, Australians have a love affair withrn12V halogen downlights - hardly better in efficiency terms. Unfortunately, the extent of thisrnobsession was unknown until recently.rnIn 2010, to fill this knowledge gap, the Australian Government completed two studies:rn1.For the first time, a residential study comprehensively audited Australian home lightingrnstock. Completed for 150 homes nationally, data on room characteristics, lamp inputrnpower, and technology attributes were recorded.rn2.The REMP Pilot covered five Melbourne homes. This monitored a representative crosssectionrnof lights for each house every minute, and the total lighting energy at eachrnswitchboard. A rich dataset was generated, allowing for analysis of lighting userrninteractions, and illuminating the holy grail – lighting hours of use.rnIn the 2000’s, 50 Watt downlights began to dominate the lighting makeup of Australianrnhomes. Due to their narrow beam angle, many are required to light a space, producing increasesrnin lighting energy consumption and cost. In 2011, the Australian lighting industry suggested arnlamp power limit be introduced – 37 Watts per lamp, and in 2012, a MEPS was altered to enactrnthis change.rnThe makeup of Australian residential lighting is again changing. LED technologies arernrapidly transforming the marketplace and our homes, particularly for downlights, which isrnreducing overall energy consumption, but generating new policy challenges for lighting inrnAustralia.