No - it can get a bit complicated, but the long and short of it is that it's the watts that count not the volts.
We've written an article to explain the difference between low voltage and low energy.
A low energy bulb has a much lower wattage because it uses less electricity. In general the light output from a low energy bulb is equivalent to a wattage 4-5 times higher in an incandescent bulb. This is effected by the size and shape of the low energy bulb.
e.g. A 9w low energy bulb will generate approximately as much light as a 40w standard bulb. A 15w low energy bulb is roughly equivalent to a 75w normal bulb.
The correct way to compare light bulb brightness is to check how many lumens each light bulb produces. Lumens is a measure of light output, so the higher the number the more light the bulb produces.
This is further complicated by the spread of light from each light bulb. A small amount of light spread over a small area can appear very bright and intense, when compared to the same amount of light (measured in lumens) spread over a wide area. This only really affects spot light bulbs, that produce a beam of light, instead of sending light out in all directions. Some light bulbs produce a very narrow beam of light, and others are much wider.
In general, a fluorescent low energy light bulb, like the ones used in many our products, use about 80% less electricity than a standard incandescent light bulb.
Recently LED light bulbs are becoming popular for good reason. Many LED light bulbs are now suitable general lighting and can use 90% less power than an incandescent light bulb.
No, although fluorescent light bulbs do take a few seconds to reach full brightness, most modern bulbs take no more than about 40 seconds to reach nearly their full output. Additionally modern fluorescents usually start instantly at a reasonable level and increase their output very quickly.
If this warming up timer is problem for you, then you should use LED light bulbs, as these start instantly at 100% of their full output, there's no warming up at all.
Not usually. Not many of our low energy products are suitable for use with dimmer switches. This technology is developing quickly and manufacturers are launching various dimmable products on a regular basis.
Currently dimmable low energy light bulbs do exist, but they are considerably more expensive then their non-dimmable counter parts. Most manufacturers recommend using at least 2 or 3 low energy dimmable bulbs per dimmer switch, as most dimmer switches have minimum load requirements for correct operation.
Some manufacturers publish data about which dimmer switches are compatible with their products.
The low energy fluorescent bulbs that we sell generally have an average rated life of 8000 hours, which should be years of normal use.
LED bulbs should last much longer - most have an average rated life of at least 20,000 hours. Some are rated as high as 50,000 hours. As with fluroescent
We (or in some cases the manufacturer directly) will replace any fluorescent or LED light bulb purchased from us, within 12 months in the event of its failure as long as you have used it in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations. We will usually require you to return the faulty product to us before we can issue a replacement.
In addition to this, some manufacturers (notably tp24) will guarantee their LED products for two years. You are often required to register your new product with the manufacturer to extend the guarantee beyond 12 months. After the initial 12 months, the manufacturer should be contacted directly regarding the failed product.
No. My Green Lighting only supplies the lighting products. You are responsible for the installation.
We recommend that you employ a qualified electrician for all electrical work.
At the moment we're not able to recommend particular electricians in any area.
Some of our products are suitable for use in bathrooms. Bathrooms are divided into different 'zones' for the purpose of electrical fittings. See our page of ip44 information for more details.
The products are marked with a water symbol on this website if they have an IP rating which makes them suitable for use in a bathroom.
If you are in any doubt about the installation of your products, you should consult a qualified electrician.
After buying a product from us over the internet you have 14 days to change your mind.
During that time you can contact us to tell us that you wish to return the product. As long as the product is returned to us in perfect condition in the original packaging, you are entitled to a full refund of the product purchase price.
If the product has been used, or damaged in anyway then we will not be able to make a full refund.
If you do decide that you wish to return a product to us, please let us know as soon as possible (and in any case within 14 days of your purchase) to obtain a return reference number. You are responsible for physically returning the product in perfect condition. We recommend using a traceable service such as Royal Mail 'Signed For' services.
When returning your product you must include your returns reference number. No returned product will be accepted without a returns reference number.
The delivery charge is dependant on the weight of your order. It is shown at the top of each page once you have added products to your shopping basket. For delivery to standard UK addresses, our delivery charge starts at just £2.99, and the maximum we will charge is £8.99. Some very large or long products may also be subject to an additional delivery charge that reflects the additional costs of delivering these items.
The delivery charge is also shown during the checkout process, where you can make your choice of delivery service.
If you would like to calculate the shipping cost before creating an account you can also get a shipping quote based on the size and weight of items currently in your basket and the delivery location postcode or country.
You can find more information on our delivery charges page
While we don't often deliver your product personally, we will arrange for a courier to make the delivery.
There is a charge for delivery, which is shown in your basket summary at the top of each page and during the checkout process.
Yes you can - when you place your order one of the delivery services you can choose is to collect your order in person.
Obviously there is no charge for delivery if you choose to collect your order from us.
We keep most items available in stock at our warehouse, but because there is the possibility of a delay, we will contact you to let you know when your order is ready for collection.
Once we have told you that your order is ready you can collect it from our premises between 9:30 and 17:30 Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays)
You can choose the delivery service during the checkout process, some services are faster than others. As you would expect it's usually the more expensive delivery services that are the fastest.
Most orders placed before 3pm on one of our regular business days, are dispatched on the same day using the service that you choose. However in some cases it may take a little longer to dispatch your order.
If your order is very urgent and you absolutely require it by a certain date, you should contact us to make sure that this will be possible and avoid disappointment.
In the rare occasion when we know that there will be a problem delivering your order in good time, we will contact you to let you know. We understand that it's very frustrating to be kept in the dark about your delivery when you make an on-line purchase.
If you wish to check anything relating to your order, please call us.
No - unlike some of our competitors, we don't penalise you for making a small order.
It was a customer loyalty scheme whereby customers could earn a discount on future orders.
It was discontinued in 2019 because the standard prices at My Green Lighting had been reduced to a very competitive level and quantity discounts had been introduced for many products.
No problem - use our contact page, to get in touch with us and we'll try to help.
At the moment My Green Lighting is an on-line only business. We do not currently have a showroom where you can see the products in person.
If you have any questions about any of our products, please contact us and we will do our best to help.
