Hardware Africa 2014 2014 | Page 84

GENERAL DIY An avenue for creativity Comment from South Africa’s leading players on the current state of the industry. With energy consciousness at a level never before seen, how are lighting designers and manufacturers coping with the demands of their customers? Q How are modern interiors, and the demands of customers, affecting the evoloution of lighting? Shaun Bouchier, Eurolux: Energy efficient technologies are at the centre of most of the emerging lighting trends. Fifteen per cent of the electricity used in most homes goes towards keeping the lights on and that number jumps to 25% for commercial buildings. South Africa has also begun introducing energy efficiency requirements for lighting, aiming to help people keep their energy bills down and soften their impact on the environment. Even the consumers selection of fixtures is now based, in part, on their compatibility with energy efficient lamps, 84 HARDWARE AFRICA 2014 Continued page 86