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Isle of Skye new-build case study
Clare Fisher – Isle of Skye Whilst working as a producer on Channel 4’s Grand Designs, Clare Fisher realised the potential benefits of using LED technology to provide energy efficient quality lighting in a domestic build. Clare met Jon Baker of Design 360 during the development of a Grand Designs project in which he was exclusively using GE Lighting’s award winning Vio LEDs. Building her own eco new-build in the Isle of Skye, Clare was keen to incorporate energy efficient lighting into the design of the house, and so she contacted Design 360 to help her achieve this. Clare explains; “The whole island is powered by hydro-electricity and the village of Teangue, where my house is situated, is planning to go completely off-grid with our own wind turbines. Everyone is looking at new and innovative ways to improve efficiency and become more eco-friendly, so that has been a very important factor in the way I have designed the house. “If you go to all the trouble of designing your own house it’s important to incorporate the lighting into the planning. I was impressed by the warm natural light GE’s LEDs produced and knew that they would provide considerable energy and cost savings making it a no-brainer to employ them in my design.” Clare started to build “Bruchlas”, (from an old Gaelic word that translates as “the fluttering of birds going to rest”) in March 2008, and the house was completed this summer. Located in the small community of Teangue on Skye's Sleat Peninsula, the house has amazing views across the sea to the mainland and has been built in a beautiful and sympathetic manner to make the most of its stunning position. Jon Baker of Design 360 explains; “We had already used GE Lighting’s Vio LEDs in our G4 3.6W LED luminaire for another domestic project Clare had seen, and were happy to provide the same product to illuminate her new-build. We provided 38 off-standard fittings and 2 off showerlights with a total circuit wattage of just 180W. Compared to a typical domestic lighting installation of 40 50W fittings consuming 2000W, the LEDs provide a 90% reduction in energy consumption.” Clare continues; “As well as providing environmental benefits it was very important to me that the lighting was good quality and would work in harmony with the rest of the design. I particularly like the way the LEDs provide strong but diffuse light, creating soft pools of light around the room.“ GE Lighting’s Vio LED lamps are available in 1.2W, 3.6W and 7.2W and utilise GE’s proprietary violet-chip with remote phosphor technology to provide more stable colour than regular blue chip/yellow phosphor LED technology. Plus the LED is diffused for a pleasing more uniform light similar to a soft white incandescent lamp. GE Lighting’s LEDs have an even longer rated life than the new energy saving CFLs used in most households today, with 50,000 hours of useful life, and unlike other lighting options they are mercury free. GE Lighting’s Product Manager for Solid State Lighting, Andy Davies says; “LEDs are increasingly being considered for domestic lighting applications, and although they may require greater initial investment than other lighting options, the longer term energy and maintenance savings make them one of the most environmentally sustainable lighting solutions available today. With continued investment in the development of LEDs it is only a matter of time before they become the natural choice for commercial and domestic lighting applications.”
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