I'm struggling to find regulations / guidance on fitting low energy light fittings (i.e. compact fluorescent bulbs) in new builds / renovations. I know that people are still installing old-style fittings which means years of high energy lighting to come. I'm thinking of spots and recessed light fittings, especially the small GU10 downlighters. To get the equivalent brightness of a halogen, you need a longer low energy (cfl) bulb and so a longer fitting - but I know that people are still installing fittings which will not take the longer cfl's (without the bulb sticking out). The longer fittings are available.
The question is, do people have to fit cfl-compatible fittings and if so, can you tell me where I can find the regs / standards on lighting?
Many thanks.
Richard

We are having a single story extension with a vaulted ceiling

any suggestions on the type lighting please

we would like low energy down lighters but we have been told we cant have them because of building regs
some thing about the lack of space

They dont seem to be too bothered about it for renovations, as have just done two re-wires with standard fittings.

There are two different things that seem to have been mentioned here, one is to do with low energy lighting, and the other is to do with downlighters.

As far as the low energy lighting goes the simplest thing is to fit a few low energy pendant sets, either in locations in the extension that you would use an standard pendant set, or replace a few pendant sets in the existing house.

The low energy pendant sets use a 4-pin compact flourescent, which cannot be replaced with a standard bulb, therefore meet the regulations.

MK do some low energy pendant sets, they arent cheap (from memory about £25-30) but its because the control gear for the lamp is built into the fitting, rather than the lamp itself.

As far as those retro-fit compact flourescents (such as the Megaman ones) for use in GU10 downlighters, I personally dont think that they can count towards your low energy quota as the lamp can be replaced with a standard 50w GU10 at a later date.

Also any ones that you want to count towards the quota have to be regularly used ones, so you cant stick them in the understairs cupboard or loft.