A Common Sense Approach to lighting.

Many people are totally unaware of the number of light fittings or bulbs around their own home. If you were asked to guess how many, would you know the exact number?

Enhancing lighting efficiency is one of the easiest ways to lower energy bills. Just try switching to compact fluorescent lighting indoors and outside. It’s almost four times as efficient as incandescent and in some cases, lasts 12 times longer.

As part of an overall WOW Alternative ‘Energy Assessment’ our efficiency specialist will not only check you fittings and bulbs, he or she will conduct an overall assessment of your current lighting scheme, taking into account the position of your windows, darkened alcoves, natural light, task and accent lighting.

In conjunction with some major manufacturers, WOW Alternative Energy Solutions Ltd. have secured a wide range of super efficient bulbs and fittings for indoor and outdoor which are proving extremely popular as replacements for consumers who find it difficult to match up a low energy with their existing fitment.

Exterior Lighting

• Do you use a timer or photocell so they turn off automatically in daylight?
• Do you use long-lasting compact fluorescent bulbs for exterior lighting?
• Do you use motion sensitive lighting?
• Do you use solar-powered security lights?

Interior Lighting

• Do you light an entire room when task lighting will do?
• Do you adjust lighting levels to your needs with three-way lamps?
• Do you use fluorescent fixtures with reflective backing and electronic ballasts
  in workroom, garage and laundry areas?
• Have you used natural light by placing work areas near windows?
• Have you replaced halogen torchieres with compact fluorescent ones?
  They use less energy and are safer.
• Do you turn off the lights when you are not in a room?
• Have you Installed occupancy sensors, so lights go off automatically in unoccupied rooms?

Don’t forget that WOW Alternative Energy Solutions Ltd. will conduct a full house energy assessment to optimise energy efficiency for the running of your home. This includes:

Air Tightness - Inspection of all windows, doors, chimneys, ventilation ducts, floors and block work.

Heating – Inspection of Boiler, Pipe work, Radiators and all other associated appliances.

Electricity – Check all appliance types for efficiency.

To book an Energy Audit, email info@wowenergy.ie

You could reduce your energy costs by up to 50%. Help save the environment.
You know it makes sense.

News Flash - Irish Times 12th March 2007
The Government is to outline plans in the coming weeks for a new tax or an outright ban on traditional light bulbs to encourage people to switch to more environmentally-friendly low-energy bulbs.

Minister for the Environment Dick Roche said yesterday that proposals for the tax or ban would be included in a new strategy on climate change to be published next month. No estimate has been given as to the amount of such a tax, but it could be as high as the current difference between the cost of traditional bulbs and energy-saving alternatives - about €4.

Such a tax could be introduced before an EU-wide ban, as proposed by the European Union presidency last Friday. Traditional or "incandescent" bulbs use up to five times more energy than low-energy alternatives, since up to 95 per cent of the energy is converted into heat rather than light.

Mr Roche told The Irish Times yesterday that his department had been focusing on the concept of a levy or tax because of concerns that an outright ban on the bulbs by Ireland could breach EU competition rules.

"Where a good environmental case can be made, an outright ban is worth considering. If a ban is not possible, a case can be made for a product levy. We did that very successfully with the plastic bag levy."

The Minister said that the aim of a light bulb levy was the same as the plastic bag tax - to get consumers to switch to a more environmentally-friendly alternative.

"We have been considering either an outright ban or a levy on incandescent light bulbs as part of our climate change review," he said. "I was concerned, however, that we might run into difficulties with the EU if we took unilateral action."

Last Friday's initiative by the German presidency of the EU for an outright ban was "very welcome", but Ireland could show leadership on the issue in advance of an EU-wide move.

The proposals would be listed as a priority for implementation later this year or early next year.

A ban or levy on traditional light bulbs has the potential of saving over one million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year. Lighting accounts for up to 20 per cent of the electricity used in standard Irish homes and up to 40 per cent in businesses.

WOW Alternative Energy and Environmental Solutions Ltd. have set up a dedicated department to issue advice for both the domestic and commercial consumer. The company will now also stock a full range of CFL’s which will be made available through their offices in Tuam, Co. Galway as part of the enhanced Energy Assessment Service. The client will be supplied with the alternatives lamps to provide immediate savings.