Enjoyment of Art Meets Climate Protection in a German Art Gallery

"bruno 11" is the first art gallery of Germany that lights up with energy savings lamps ONLY from inside to outside. With the unique lighting plan designed by MEGAMAN^® Energy Saving Lamps, the bruno 11 gallery saves about 9,700 Euros of electricity cost. In comparison to conventional electric light bulbs and halogen lamps, MEGAMAN^® Energy Saving Lamps helps save nearly 9 tons of carbon dioxide emission. On 16th August, 2008, bruno11 held an exhibition "Emotion Action Impression" by the renowned sports photographer, Iris Hensel.

To the gallery owners, Christine Preusser and Udo Kneffel, the project was an experiment in her 113 year-old villa. "Galleries are usually lit up by halogen lamps", says Kneffel. "We were sceptical whether general energy saving lamps could provide the necessary illumination for our high and old building rooms."

Sasha Lerch, the professional lighting consultant of MEGAMAN^® Energy Saving Lamps for the project, has employed 37 energy-saving lamps and spotlights to provide optimal illumination for the three showrooms as well as the foyer covering 108 square meters area. Eight energy-saving floodlights are used for a facade illumination to the side of the street and for the patio.

Modern Lighting Solution under Stucco Covers

The modern lighting system harmonises very well with the classic interior under stucco covers. "With energy savings lamps one can choose among different white tones of the light." says Christine Preusser. "We preferred warm-white light but this was too gentle and comfortable. Therefore, MEGAMAN^® lighting consultant, Sasha Lerch recommended a newly developed PAR series energy saving lamps which provides modest lighting than halogen emitters. Such lamps provide very bright illumination and reflect the true colours in the large-size sports photographs of iris Hensel very well. Another energy saving, KEPPA floodlights that use only 60 watts per lamp are used for lighting the façade. "We would have to use halogen lamps in 300 watts to provide the same amount of light." says Lerch. "There rotates the electricity counter!"

Visible results in electricity savings have reinforced the effect in climate protection. With an average three-hour burning-hour per day, bruno11 consumes about 964 kilowatt-hours per year. However, provided conventional lamps were used, the consumption would be nearly 3,200 kilowatt-hours. Taking the extremely long life span of the energy savings lamps, 15,000 hours, into consideration, the gallery saves about 9,700 euros of electricity costs and reduces nearly 9 metric tons of carbon dioxide throughout the lamp life (and 713 euros of electricity costs-savings and 660 kg of carbon dioxide savings per year).

Further Information: www.megaman.de, www.bruno11.de
Gallery bruno11, Brunostrasse 11 63654 Büdingen, Tel. 0 60 42 / 97 86 98
Remarks: Electricity price in Büdingen: 19.33ct/kWh, CO₂issues 298 gs/kWh (cf Federal average: 616gs/kWh)