Guide To Buying Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

New generations of “green” light bulbs are available, but which ones should you choose? Not all energy efficient bulbs are the same, so choosing the right bulb can improve the quality of the environment, and reduce your energy bills. 

Energy Efficiency Saves Money

In a home, lighting consumes about 8% of the total energy bill. Substituting compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs for a standard incandescent bulb can reduce your energy consumption by 70%. In addition, the CFL bulbs will last about 10-times longer.

First, look for compact fluorescent bulbs that have the Energy Star marking. Energy Star is a government-backed (EPA) program helping consumers protect the environment.

The following is a simple rule-of-thumb to select a CFL replacement:

• 9-Watt compact fluorescent bulb replaces a 40-Watt standard bulb
• 13-Watt compact fluorescent bulb replaces a 60-Watt standard bulb
• 32-Watt compact fluorescent bulb replaces a 100-Watt standard bulb

Compact Fluorescent Bulbs for Different Functions

• Cheapest Bulb: If the high cost of a CFL bulb is stopping you from making the switch, consider a SPARSAM 3-pack CFL bulb which sells under $4.50 at most stores. The bulb is designed to use 80% less energy and last up to 6000 hours. The bulb produces a blinding white light similar to the older CFL models. Consider using this bulb in the basement, laundry room or garage.

• Dimmable Bulb: Most CFL bulbs do not work with dimmers. However, GE makes a dimmer CFL bulb called the Energy Smart Dimming Spiral. It consumes 26-Watts and has a life span of 10,000 hours.

• Other Fixtures:  There are CFL bulbs for chandeliers and bathroom mirrors available. Philips Vanity Globe CFL’s are designed for bathroom vanity sockets. Philips uses a phosphor coating on the bulb to reduce the brightness and mimic the warmth of an incandescent bulb. For chandeliers, Philips makes a decorative candle style bulb that will save you money and reduce energy usage. 

• Spotlights: A traditional outdoors spotlight typically uses 100 Watts of energy and drives up your electric bill. Consider using a Gaiam outdoors floodlight, which has a CFL bulb enclosed in a hard glass cover. It generates the same amount of light as your 100 Watt incandescent bulb, but only uses 23 Watts of energy. The bulb is designed to last 10,000 hours.

• CFL’s that mimic Incandescent Bulbs: Try the Westinghouse Compact Fluorescent bulb, mini-twist style for your home light fixtures. The 9 watt bulbs are equivalent to a 40-watt incandescent bulb and have a life of about 8000 hours.

• Next Generation Bulb: Light-emitting diodes (LED’s) are the next generation of lights.  Until recently, LED’s were limited to single bulb applications for electronics and Christmas lights. Manufacturers have expanded their applications by clustering the bulbs together. However, the high cost of producing LED’s has been a roadblock to homeowner usage.  One bulb can set you back $80, but they can last 10-times longer than a CFL bulb or 60,000 hours.