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Because 30 percent of your electric bill is spent on lighting, it will serve you to replace your existing incandescent light bulbs with energy saving light bulbs. You will save money on power costs as a result. You will also save money on replacement costs as well because all types energy saving light bulbs last longer than incandescent bulbs. Some last longer than others, depending on the technology they are based on.
The key to buying the best energy efficient lights for your home lies in finding the light bulb that produces the highest light output with the least amount of electricity. Light output is measured in units called lumens. Electrical power is measured in units called watts. The higher the lumens per watt ratio, the more energy efficient a light bulb is.
Incandescent bulbs waste energy. They produce only 10-17 lumens per watt. They also produce a tremendous amount of heat, causing them to burn out in a relatively short period of time. People do not mind replacing them because they are so inexpensive. However, the wastefulness of these devices has a severe environmental impact in the form of a massive carbon footprint. We need to get rid of them.
The most energy saving light bulbs are LED bulbs. LEDs produce 90 to 112 lumens per watt. This means they use only 10 to 20 percent as much power as incandescents. They also last for 40 to 50 years.
LEDs are expensive. They cost 35 dollars per bulb on the average. For people who can afford to make this investment, however, they pay for themselves in a relatively short period of time by reducing the electricity bill significantly. The one thing about LEDs that still needs more development is the color temperature choices people have. So far as well, only warm white light and cool white light LEDs are available for household lighting.
LED technology will continue to improve in color temperature quality and it will eventually become more affordable.
In the meantime, a more affordable energy saving light bulb for you might be the compact fluorescent bulb. CFLs, as they are called, only cost about 4 to 7 dollars per bulb and have a lifespan of 8 to 10 years. CFLs now rival the light color spectrum of the incandescent bulbs they are replacing in the marketplace. Color temperatures ideally suited to bathroom lighting, kitchen lighting, general task lighting, bedroom lighting, and living room lighting are all available to you.
CFLs typically require only 40 percent as much power as incandescent bulbs. While not as efficient as LEDs, they are better suited to the decorative needs that many people expect out of home lighting. They are also obviously more affordable.
People looking for an energy saving light bulb that emits a very bright white light should consider halogen lights. Halogens use a small pocket of halogen gas to produce a high lumens output light that can easily fill the room. Halogens are dimmable and very useful in lighting design plans that combine task lighting with accent and ambient lighting. They last longer than incandescents, but not as long as fluorescents.
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