Low Energy Light Bulbs

Low Energy Light Bulbs - Why Bother?

by Harvey Bond
(Ontario, Canada)

One of the main ways to save energy these days is to install low energy light bulbs. But what are they and do they really make that much of a difference?

Incandescent Light Bulbs

Incandescent bulbs are the traditional types of bulbs that have been used to light buildings for many years. They work by running an electrical current to heat a filament that produces light.

Unfortunately, this requires a lot of energy to work, and only a small portion of this energy is actually turned into light. This is why it pays to find cheaper and more energy efficient alternatives.

How Much Energy Could You Save?

By installing low energy light bulbs you could end up cutting around 50% - 75% of the energy you spend on lighting.

Since lighting is responsible for just over 10% of your household energy bills, this could have a noticeable impact on your monthly bill, especially when the savings are added up over time.

Although you will be spending a little more money on the low energy light bulbs at first, they actually work out cheaper than traditional bulbs thanks to the fact that they last a lot longer.

Low Energy Fluorescent Light Bulbs

These are a much more energy efficient alternative to traditional bulbs. The way they work means they are far more efficient and will also last around 6 - 12 times as longer as incandescent bulbs.

When they were first introduced these bulbs were far more expensive and looked more obvious than traditional bulbs, but they've come a long way since then.

As with traditional bulbs, you can choose different strengths of light, and different hues depending on the lighting effect you want to achieve. These bulbs fit into traditional light fittings.

You won't notice any difference when you switch lights, except for the fact that some energy efficient light bulbs take a few seconds to reach full brightness.

Tips For Buying Fluorescent Light Bulbs

When shopping for this kind of bulb, look for Energy Star qualifies CFLs. Although they do cost slightly more, each one will typically end up saving you $30 over its lifetime.

If you can only replace a few lights, replace the ones that are used the most such as in living rooms and kitchens. Adding extra controls such as dimmers and timers can help you to save even more electricity on lighting.

Outdoor Lighting

Low energy light bulbs also exist for outdoor use. The most popular choices are LED lights, which are extremely durable and work well even in cold weather. Again, look for Energy Star products to save you the most money.

Click here to read more about energy efficient lighting

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Low Energy Light Bulbs - Why Bother?

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