If the product is exposed to very corrosive environmental conditions (sea fronts, salty atmospheres etc) it will require additional maintenance. Before installing the stainless parts must be treated with neutral oil, which must penetrate all the joints. After treatment, dry with a soft cloth. In very corrosive environments, the treatment with oil must be repeated at least 4 times a year, in cases of serious corrosion use an abrasive paste (specifically designed for stainless steel or chrome) to remove the stain and then apply the neutral oil again.

Attention, wood preservative and solvents can damage insulation on electric cables. Allow treatment to dry prior to installing deck lights. Do not apply preservatives after installing.

Energy Saving Trust – A great place to learn a wealth of information about energy saving
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Energy-saving-products/Energy-saving-lightbulbs-and-fittings

Directgov – Saving Energy Advice
http://campaigns.direct.gov.uk/actonco2/home/in-the-home/save-energy.html

Defra – Department for Environment (subject now belongs to DECC)
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/household/products/cfl.htm

DECC – Department of Energy and Climate Change
http://www.decc.gov.uk/

Greenpeace – interesting stuff on lighting
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/climate/light-bulb-retailers-league-table-20070714

The Lighting Association – Energy Efficient Lighting
http://www.lightingassociation.com/energy.php

The latest news we have found reveals the following;

• 150 watt incandescent bulbs to be phased-out in January 2008
• 100 watt by January 2009
• 60 watt by January 2010
• 40 watt by January 2011
• 60 watt Golfball and Candle shaped by 2011
• all other high-energy incandescent bulbs by 2011, rumored to become an EU Standard thereafter
• (Halogen power hungry wattages by 2016)

According to the government, this will save five million tonnes of CO2 a year and take us closer to their 2050 target.

LEDs

LEDs – light emitting diodes – have been popular for some years as indicator lights. More than you probably realise, these little lights are everywhere in your every day life: there is the red light of your digital clock at night, the green light from your cell phone display, … LEDs are all around us. Soon they will also be commonly used as an actual light source in your house.

The bathroom needs to have one of the most flexible lighting schemes of the whole house. Task lighting must be bright enough to enable you to shave or to apply your make up. But it should also work well with indirect accent lighting designed to soften the ambience of the bathroom.

Lighting above the mirror should be centred over the sink to prevent shadowing on your face. Install a fixture that casts light just over the front edge of the sink. This will bounce light off the countertop and up onto your face. Fixtures located on either side of the mirror should be set at eye level to be most effective.

These regulations raise the energy efficiency of new buildings by 40%, compared with the Part L 2002 requirements. They also improve compliance by introducing new energy performance requirements for building services within all new buildings. The time for the building industry to comply with the new regulations has been tightened, and the transitional arrangements have been cut from the expected maximum of three years to just 12 months. Therefore all new buildings without full building plans approved by 6 April 2006 by the local authority, must comply with the new Part L requirements from 6 April 2006.

The new Part L requirements are as follows:

“Reasonable provision shall be made for the conservation of fuel and power in buildings by:

1. limiting
   • heat losses through the fabric of the building
   • excessive solar gains and
   • heat gains from pipes, ducts and vessels used for space heating, space cooling and hot water storage
2. providing energy efficient and properly commissioned fixed building services with effective controls
3. providing to the owner sufficient information about the building and its building services so that the building can be operated and maintained in such a manner as to use no more fuel and power than is reasonable in the circumstances.”

The final Part L 2006: Building Regulations (Conservation of Fuel and Power) Approved Documents are available and contain:

• guidance on the performance expected of installed building services and building work in order to comply with each of the requirements of the Building Regulations
• practical examples and solutions on how to achieve compliance for some of the more common building situations.

Copies of these Approved Documents can be downloaded below.

• Approved Document L2A: Conservation of fuel and power (New buildings other than dwellings) (2006 edition)
• Approved Document L2B: Conservation of fuel and power (Existing buildings other than dwellings) (2006 edition)

The government have confirmed that Part L of the Building Regulations will be implemented with the following transitional arrangements:

The revised Part L 2006 of the Building Regulations came into effect on 6 April 2006. From that date, any building work including building services work must comply with the revised Part L 2006 regulations unless:

• work has started before 6 April 2006 in accordance with a building notice, full plans, initial notice or amendment notice
• where full plans are not required to be deposited, a contract is entered into before 6 April 2006, provided that the work is started before 1 October 2006
• full plans have been deposited and approved before 6 April 2006, provided that work is started before 1st April 2007
• a plans certificate or plans certificate combined with an initial notice has been given to a local authority before 6 April 2006, provided that the work is started before 1st April 2007.

Any building work carried out under the transitional arrangements will be subject to the current Part L (2002) regulations and energy efficiency standards.

The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) has been approved by DCLG (formerly known as ODPM) to operate an Electrical Energy Efficiency Scheme for firms wanting to self-certify that their electrical installation work carried out in commercial and industrial buildings complies with Part L of the Building Regulations.

The Scheme comprises three scopes covering the following areas of work:

• lighting
• electrical heating
• controls.

Each firm registered with the ECA scheme will have to employ at least one Energy Supervisor. The Energy Supervisor is an experienced individual responsible for ensuring that electrical installation work is designed, installed and commissioned in compliance with the Building Regulations. An Energy Supervisor must be suitably qualified and have satisfactorily completed a suitable Part L training course, recognised by the ECA. Training course T34-006 “Part L for Energy Supervisors” was launched in early May 2006.

Firms registered with the ECA scheme will have the right to self-certify that their work complies with the Building Regulations. This means that any electrical installation work carried out within the scope of Part L does not have to be inspected by a Building Control body.

Clients that use a firm registered as a Competent Person have the reassurance that they are using a firm that has been independently inspected and certificated as competent to carry out the work.

Kico by Massive

The Kico range of lighting is a Philips brand, Massive.

Massive state this regarding their Kico Range;

The Belgian Government asked Massive, Belgian consumer organisations, CEBEC and others to help them specify safety regulations concerning childrens lighting. These so-called “child-appealing safety regulations”, which Massive follows strictly, include the most accurate and severest safety regulations concerning children lighting. For instance a KICO® product has to have Class III of protection (= low voltage safety product) or Class II of protection with a compact fluorescent lamp which makes it impossible for a child to put their finger in the socket. KICO® products are not only attractive, but also safe. Many other children’s products available on the market are not always as safe as they should be for your kids.

Another handmade item, and not cheap, but definitely

Coral Table Lamp

a showpiece item to cherish in any home.

The climate won’t effect this coral wonder. Impressive stuff, well done to the manufacturer!