WORDS: Remy Raitt
Who would have thought that it’s possible to create a lightbulb that lasts 25 years? Well, such a bulb now exists and it’s set to light up Africa in years to come.
Design experts agree that lighting is going to be huge in the next few decades, as our concern to save energy, and the planet, grows. The race to design decent-looking, energy-saving bulbs is on – and, so far, the Pharox bulb is ahead of the pack.
Originally designed by John Rooymans in the early 2000s, the Pharox bulb makes it easy to shrink your carbon footprint without compromising on aesthetics. And the guys from Lemnis Lighting Africa, who distributes the bulbs locally, is putting a lot of energy into getting it to us.
Good news is that the South African Government is also recognising the benefits. Lemnis has been appointed as a key contributor to help offset the carbon emissions created as a result of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup.
So far, the response has been great and it’s easy to see why: the bulbs carry a standard three-year warranty, and the average lifetime ranges from 25,000 – 35,000 hours. The 25-year lifetime is calculated in normal household terms, where a bulb might burn for four hours per day.
Unlike some harsh LED and older-generation energy-saver bulbs, the Pharox bulbs come in a warm-white colour. However, a cool-white option is also available.
The lamps are 93 – 100% recyclable, and prices for the consumer range start at R229,95 for a single Pharox 300, 6 Watt bulb (equivalent to 60 Watts). Not bad if you consider that you don’t have to go bulb-shopping for a quarter of a century after your purchase…
Get your Pharox bulbs from www.mypharox.co.za.
