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Seed by Grandelier. stateofgreen.com.au
ECO-FRIENDLY LIGHTING
IN THE KNOW Grand Designs Australia asked four eco-friendly lighting experts what to look for when shopping for sustainable lighting. Here are their thoughts on the matter
Upcycled bike-part chandelier by Carolina Fontoura Alzaga. facaro.com
IN FOCUS WITH JENNY TRANTER OF STATE OF GREEN
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here’s no need to stay in the dark when it comes to eco-friendly lighting options. There are so many effective lighting solutions available today that can lower your carbon footprint, reduce your household energy consumption and, in the long-term, lessen the load on your hip pocket. Eco light fittings and globes have come a long way in terms of style and functionality in recent years. Sustainable timbers, recycled plastics
and upcycled designs can now be paired with energy-efficient compact fluorescent (CFL) and LED bulbs that complement a wide range of architectural styles and applications. Of course, the most eco-friendly form of lighting is natural light but when it comes time to flick on the switch, CFLs and LEDs are the way to go. The traditional incandescent globe may be cheap to purchase but this is soon outweighed by its high level of heat emission, energy consumption and its relatively short lifespan, which drives up the cost of electricity. LED globes can last an amazing 60,000 hours (up to 50 years based on two-and-a-half to three hours of daily use) and CFLs can last up to 15,000 hours. Not bad when stacked up against the 2000-hour lifespan estimated for an incandescent globe. In style and functionality stakes, LED and CFL lights were once the ugly ducklings of lighting design, often hidden deep within their light shades. They weren’t dimmable and their aesthetics fell far below smart architectural incandescent designs. Thankfully, a broad range of options is now available in the form of downlights that feature warm and cool light, are dimmable, directional and offer a choice of coloured rims. Exposed globe pendants are on-trend at the moment and to complement this, you can get what looks like a traditional incandescent-style globe with glittering diamond-like LEDs that make the globe a standalone feature. Equally, CFLs are now available in eye-catching organic spiral twists that have proved so popular they have been added to the permanent collection at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. But eco lighting goes beyond the globe. Inspiring designers are increasingly examining the product’s entire lifecycle and are incorporating sustainable design principles into every aspect of the light’s production. Designer Loz Abberton of Who Did That uses Chain Of Custody certified Tasmanian blackwood and oak throughout her laser-cut pendant range, which requires no tools for construction, is flatpacked and easily shipped to its destination. Off-cuts are transformed into delicate brooches, minimising waste and maximising the use of every piece of timber. Companies are also doing innovative things, such as the Sydney firm Design By Them, which runs a product stewardship program that accepts the return of its products for repair, reuse or recycling. US-based artist Carolina Fontoura Alzaga is putting an entirely
Cotton by Grandelier. stateofgreen.com.au
new spin on eco lighting by transforming discarded bike parts into huge statement chandeliers. Meanwhile, other designers are using traditional Japanese origami techniques to create modern paper-based shades. These pair perfectly with cool LED light globes and are recyclable at the end of their use. So there it is in a nutshell. There really is no excuse for sticking to older styles once your incandescents blow. Eco-friendly lighting will save you money in the long-term and, more importantly, you will be contributing to a better environment for everyone. For more information, visit stateofgreen.com.au