Saving Energy Light Bulbs: Making The Switch

Rising energy prices coupled with environmental and other economic concerns have folks feeling the need to tighten their spending belts and to look for practical ways to save home energy in hopes of lowering their average home utility costs.

Thanks to technological advances in lighting over the last several years, the advent of different types of saving energy light bulbs has in a large degree come to the rescue.

Here’s why?

Around 25 percent or one fourth of your electric bill is a direct result of the energy required to light your home. Saving energy light bulbs use 75 to 80 percent less electricity than the typical incandescent light bulbs and last about 10 to 12 times longer.

This equates to $30 or more in energy light savings over the lifetime of just one bulb. An energy price compare of saving energy bulbs to incandescent bulbs do reveal they cost a little more upfront, but the energy money savings you will realize far outweigh that concern.

There are many different kinds of energy saving light bulbs to choose from and in all different shapes, sizes, colors and wattage to meet most if not all of your household lighting needs.

Special care needs to be taken when choosing light bulb solutions for dimmer switches. Energy-saving dimmable light bulbs are available on the market today and should be used if using a dimmer switch. You can tell you are using the wrong bulb if you notice an annoying flicker when in use.

Types of Saving Energy Light Bulbs:

Fluorescent Tubes

One of the most popular alternatives to incandescent lighting is the fluorescent tube, and has been long used in homes and buildings alike. They are more energy-efficient and produce more light for less electricity. The problem with fluorescent tubes, however, is they require a specific fixture called a ballast to operate.

There are different types of ballasts, so when replacing fluorescent lights make sure the replacement tubes and the ballast fixture are compatible in current and voltage. Although they produce less heat than conventional light bulbs, the large sizes of fluorescent tubes do not make them ideal for use in closed spaces.

Fluorescent Compact Bulbs

The idea of fluorescent compact lighting came about as a solution to the space and ballast issues associated with fluorescent tubes. Fluorescent compact bulbs are basically thin fluorescent tubes coiled into the shape of bulbs and fitted with the same threads that can be used in standard light sockets and fixtures.

They consume much less electricity than fluorescent tubes, use 75 percent less electricity than incandescent light bulbs and last approximately 10,000 hours. If you are interested in ways of saving electricity at home, switching to fluorescent compact light bulbs should be at the top of the list.

Tungsten-Halogen Lights

At one time, halogen lights were thought to be the light bulb solution of the future, but they pale in comparison to the efficiency of the fluorescent compact bulbs of today. Nonetheless, depending on the wattage, some halogen lamps can save up to 15 percent of the energy used by the typical incandescent lights.

The tungsten-halogen lights give off a much whiter light than standard bulbs, provide great color rendering and are often used outdoors along walkways and in gardens. These lamps can be used indoors but because they operate at a high temperature and generate a lot of heat, care should be taken where and in what capacity you use them for safety concerns.

Light Emitting Diode (LED) Bulbs

Of all the saving energy light bulbs, the light-emitting diodes or LEDs are rapidly emerging as the light bulb solution of the future. This is because the low energy LED light bulbs are extremely energy efficient and last longer than any of the other types of saving energy bulbs available on the market today which is estimated to be around 30,000 hours. The problem with LED low energy light bulbs at the present is their cost, but the good news is their prices are coming down.

Make saving electricity at home a top priority and start switching out your old incandescent lights for the new saving energy light bulbs. Doing so will make reaping substantial energy light savings quick, easy and attainable.