Downlights are becoming more and more common in Australian homes these days. And while they look great, they use large amounts of power, require the use of energy-inefficient transformers, and generate large amounts of heat. So not only do the lights themselves add to your power bill, the transformers that downlights are connected to use power of their own, and the heat generated by the lights requires your home cooling system to work harder in order to compensate.The common misconception is that ‘low voltage' equals ‘low power', which is not the case at all. In fact, because a transformer is required to drop the voltage from 240v down to 12v, it means that you'll actually use more electricity, not less.

So you've decided that you would like to save both power and money and replace your Halogen downlights with energy-efficient alternatives. What do you need to do? Well, there are two main options...

LED Downlights- At a glance

• Run off of your existing 12v transformers and slot into your existing fittings.
• LED's are not as bright as Halogens; however they are superior in virtually every other area.
• They use around 90% less power
• They emit around less heat

• The lifespan of an LED downlight is approximately 20 times that of a Halogen downlight

Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) Downlights- At a glance

• CFL downlights are currently the brightest low-energy option.
• These are 240v bulbs and so they do not require 12v transformer, saving energy.
• CFL Downlights run off of a "GU10" adapter which will not use any excess power.
• They are very comparable to Halogens in regards to light output, and are brighter than LED's.
• They emit less than half the heat of a Halogen downlight.
• They use around 75-80% less power.
• The lifespan of a CFL downlight is approximately 2-6 times that of a Halogen downlight.

Choosing the right energy efficient lighting

For new homes that are having downlights installed, CFL downlights are a great way to start. Not having transformers installed to begin with means that they will not have to be replaced later on. All you need is the CFL globe, the adaptor and the downlight fitting and your electrician will do the rest. Combo packs featuring downlight fittings with built-in adaptors are also available.

CFL Downlights are also a great way to replace exiting Halogens. If your roof has individual power points for each light you can change them over yourself, otherwise you may need an electrician to change them for you.

LED downlights can be a great way to replace existing downlights, and although they still use a 12v transformer, their tiny power consumption makes it more than worth it. For houses with high ceilings the LED's may not be bright enough, but you can also mix and match them with your existing downlights to cut down on power usage.

LED vs. CFL Downlights: Advantages and Disadvantages

CFL Downlights - Advantages

• Do not require a transformer
• Designed for existing downlight fittings
• Lifespan generally rated between 6,000 and 15,000 hours (Standard halogen is around 3,000)
• Brighter than LED's
• Emit far less heat a Halogen downlight
• Available in warm and cool white

• GU10 adaptors do not use any excess power (12v transformers use between 2-10w)

CFL Downlights- Disadvantages

• Your 12v transformer will need to be replaced with a GU10 adaptor kit
• Can take around 30-45 seconds to reach full light output from a cold start
• Not quite as bright as Halogens, but brighter than LED's

• CFL's contain small amounts of Mercury, which can be harmful to the environment if not disposed of correctly.

LED Downlights- Advantages

• These will run off of your existing 12v transformer
• Designed for existing downlight fittings
• Lifespan generally rated between 30,000 and 50,000+ hours (Standard halogen is 3,000)
• Tiny power consumption (generally between 2-5 watts)
• Available in warm and cool white
• Emit less than 1/3rd the heat of a Halogen downlight

• Mercury-free

LED Downlights- Disadvantages

• Although improving rapidly, LED's are currently not as bright as Halogens or CFL's
• LED's run off 12v transformers which use power of their own (between 2-15w depending on
  the brand) when the light it turned on.