The halogen myth.

Halogen globes, how I loath thee.

LOW VOLTAGE DOES NOT MEAN LOW POWER.

THE STEP-DOWN FACTOR:
Firstly, the things are most likely running on a transformer, and not a switch-mode power supply (which are more efficient), so straight off the bat you’re wasting power. Dropping 240 AC to 12 DC comes at a cost. You have to factor that into the bulb wattage – a 50 watt bulb is probably using close to 60. Put your hand on the transformer if you know where it is – notice that warmth? That requires energy.

Edison lost the current wars – we don’t get DC power pumped into our homes. It needs to be converted. Depending on how it’s set up, you might even be using power when the lights ARE NOT EVEN ON.

THE QUANTITY FACTOR:
People have swarms of halogen down-lights – they pockmark the ceiling. Here’s a tip – the power each one uses gets multiplied by the quantity you have. Got 10 of the “low-power” 50 watt’ers? News flash – that’s 500 watts! (600 if you consider the loss in the transformer.)

This is irritating in the extreme. I’ve had arguments with people about it. I’ve been assured by some people that they are low voltage, and thus use hardly any power at all.

I repeat:
LOW VOLTAGE DOES NOT MEAN LOW POWER.
(Low voltage CAN be low power, but low wattage IS low power.)

I’m not going to explain voltage, current and wattage here, if you want to know how much power something uses, stick with watts. Low voltage allows electrical appliances to be run from solar panels, batteries and cars, because these involve limited power sources, most 12v goods use low power. Low voltage is less likely to arc (read: safer), and also allows you to legally do your own wiring (240 volt self wiring is a big no-no), and have them exposed to the elements – like garden lights. Halogen lamps are, to be blunt, a bit of a scam.

They are still incandescent globes, and thus produce a substantial amount of heat. In fact, quite a dangerous amount – the globe itself needs to be shielded (and not just from the heat, the shielding helps contain ‘explosive bulb failure’ shattering, and filter the UV rays that would otherwise provide a suntan.)

They do last longer and are more efficient than standard incandescent bulbs, but it’s marginal, and doesn’t compare with CFLs or LEDs.

FOOLS!
They’re marketed as being low voltage, giving the impression of low power (which I'm sure is entirely accidental, and not an attempt to exploit ignorance at all). Even in an old ReNew magazine there was an article about a woman’s super self-sustaining home, and how she “had some bad advice” and had halogens installed. She ended up replacing them.

And now, new homes are using more power than existing homes. The five-star rating – which Bracks promised would be 50% more energy efficient in 2004 – hasn’t worked (new home emissions are 6% higher - and that's on top of the increased energy use of existing homes). There’s nothing wrong with the standard itself, it just doesn’t factor in these “hip” lighting choices, nor the size of new homes. The Age believes the five-star rating cannot be revamped until 2009 at the earliest, which is a disgrace for the Steve “the great environmentalist” Bracks.


This article describes an award-winning home with 10 halogen lamps lighting the front porch alone.

Summary:
* Halogen lamps are a scourge on energy efficiency.
* CFLs and LEDs (go for Luxeons) that fit into halogen recessed lighting fixtures are available.
* The state government needs to fix the five-star rating, and spread the word on halogen lamps.