designers and ceiling lights

[Martin]

As a consequence of becoming more "energy aware", I'm becoming conscious of the ludicrous waste of power in retail establishments, restaurants etc.
We have a small local newsagent/sweety shop/mini convenience store - its small, about 30'x15', and it has recently undergone "refurbishment & updating" - it now sports 1.5kw of fluorescent lighting recessed into the ceiling (on full blast permanently), umpteen refrigeration units, and air-conditioning! - the windows are largely "blacked out" - before the recent update, the windows let the light in, electric light was unused for most of the day, and if it was hot, they left the door open!
Why, in this day and age do "designers" go this energy guzzling way? - wander into the average Indian restaurant - there'll be 3kw of halogen spots whacking away! Isn't it about time designers and architects got the "green" message???

[Milims]

Exactly!!! I hate these new lighting systems with loads of lights stuck in the ceiling - they are aweful to fit, the lamps are aweful to fit, they guzzle power, they look nasty - why do they exist??? (And why does my mother have them in her wardrobe??) Yuck Yuck nasty nasty!!

On a plus note its just this kind of stupidity that may have opened up a job opportunity for Chris - he's applied for a job with a nearby Uni as a maintenance manager to look into saving energy and cut costs - talk about locking the stable door after the horse has bolted!! Just hope he gets the job so that the message can be spread a bit further!! Oh and the money aint bad too!! lol
Helen and Chris