Changing GU10 bulbs from halogen to low energy

[slippery]

The lighting in my house is provided by around 50 50W halogen lights, using the GU10 type bulbs. These take the form of both recessed lights and spotlights. Does anyone on here have experience of changing these over to the energy saving type which would appear to give huge savings. The replacements are not cheap, so it would be good to have the thoughts of anyone that has already done it.

[slippery]

That was kind of what I was afraid of. My In-Laws have just built a place and have energy saving lighting and it seems a bit clinical, like a detist's surgery or similar!

[slippery]

jimsco said:

I have these: http://www.litebulbs.co.uk/product/22591/exergi-hy...

As recommended on another thread on here.

Fantastic. Make sure you go for the warm white instead of the cool light and they will look just the same as the normal bulbs.

Seem expensive but not a long payback at only 4W, plus they offset the eco harm the 4.4 V8 parked outside is doing!

Well I've just ordered 12 of them for the kitchen, so I will post how I get on! My energy direct debit has reached £300 a month so I thought it was time to do something!

[slippery]

Now I am confused. I've just paid over £200 inc VAT for 12 bulbs which are 4w each but supposed to be equivalent to 40w! I'll let you know how it goes!

[slippery]

Well I've just fitted the new bulbs. Although they are a more clinical white (even though they are the warm white type) than the previous halogen type, they are acceptable. The room is around 30ft x 15ft with a vaulted ceiling. The lights are pointed upwards and the room is lit by reflecting light back from the ceiling more than from direct light. The new bulbs are noticably dimmer than the 50w halogens they replaced, but out of 12 lights I usually only had 4 on at a time, occasionally 8 and very rarely all 12. Looks like I will now have 8 or 12 on most of the time, but it will actually be quite nice to only have 4 less bright lights occasionally! They do appear to have a narrower beam than the originals, which I deduced from pointing the spotlights downwards instead of upwards. In summary, if I couldn't have afforded to reduce the lighting capacity wihin the room, the exercise would have been a failure. Fortunately, as is the case with most rooms lit by halogens, I have more than I need (plus 3 chandaliers for back up!) and so the rooms ambience doesn't feel compromised. I can now have 12 lights on for less than the price of 1 and that can't be bad. Hope this helps, I'm off to GG to talk about cars!