There was a time when no one knew or cared very much about energy efficient lighting, but that’s now a thing of the past. All across America, households are switching out their traditional incandescent light bulbs for newer, more energy efficient alternatives that deliver the same amount of light at a fraction of the cost. So what are these energy efficient alternatives exactly?
1. Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL)
Compact fluorescent lamps or CFLs offer significant savings because they use around 75% less energy than traditional incandescent light bulbs, and last up to 10 times longer. A CFL can normally pay for itself through generated energy savings in less than 9 months; after that, it’s continuing to save you money. CFLS are available in the same brightness and colors as traditional incandescents, and because they contain a very small amount of mercury, should be recycled at the end of their life.
2. Energy-saving Incandescent Lighting (Halogen)
Halogen light bulbs are also known as tungsten halogen or quartz halogens. They are energy efficient versions of incandescent bulbs and can last up to three times longer than them. Other advantages include:
- Classically warm, brilliant accented light
- Luminous efficiency up to 25 Lumen per Watt
- Pleasant colour temperatures similar to incandescent lamps
- 100% dimming capacity
- Constant intensity throughout the entire service life
- Full brightness immediately after switch-on
- Various variations: from small spotlights to large ceiling lights
3. Light-emitting Diode Lamps (LED)
LEDs are becoming more and more popular in American homes. They use 20-25% less energy compared to traditional incandescent bulbs, and last up to 25 times longer. They even use less energy than CFLs and maintain output light intensity well over the period of their lifespans. LEDs come in a range of colors and some modes are dimmable.
Nearly 5% of a typical household’s energy budget goes towards lighting. Therefore, switching to energy efficient lighting can translate into significant savings. In fact, you could save $75 a year by simply replacing the incandescent bulbs in five of your home’s most frequently used lights with ENERGY STAR qualified energy efficient light bulbs. To learn more about energy efficient lighting, and making your home more energy efficient in general, contact your local certified RESNET Home Energy Professional.