Switching from incandescent light bulbs to more energy efficient light bulbs like LED lights, compact fluorescent light bulbs or halogen light bulbs?
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LED Bulbs Are Energy Efficient And Last A Long Time | Wind Solar …
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Which Energy Saving Light Bulbs are most effective?
There are a large number of different energy saving light bulbs on the market and it can be quite confusing deciding which ones are best for your particular needs. There are halogen, CFL and LED bulbs which all utilise specific technologies that give the products inherent characteristics and energy saving properties. This short and to the point article reviews the variants of energy saving light bulbs on the market to help you to select the appropriate products for your particular needs.
Looking at halogen bulbs
Halogen bulbs are essentially a high technology type of the original incandescent filament light bulb. The halogen energy saving light bulbs save as a rule 25-35% in electricity costs depending on the specific characteristics and have the advantage of being dimmable. Halogen energy saving light bulbs have simple elegant looks and are of a small size which means they have a great looking visual design.
For more innformation take a looks at energy saving light bulbs
Compact Fluorescent Lamps
Compact Fluorescent Lamp- CFL energy saving light bulbs which use a miniaturised type of the fluorescent tube technology are exceedingly efficient saving around 75% in electricity costs. Modern CFL’s shouldn’t suffer from the dullness and flickering issues that were intrinsic in the earliest CFL’s that hit the market. The main disadvantage of the CFL energy saving light bulbs is that its appearance can be poor, particularly where the fluorescent tubes are evident, but there are some very nice looking spherical shaped CFL’s available. One aspect is for certain and that is that the modern CFL is a considerable improvement on its predecessors.
LED bulbs and
Energy Saving Light Bulbs
LED light bulbs are the best type of energy saving light bulbs. With an energy saving of between 75% and 85%, LED’s are likely to offer the best in energy efficiency. LED bulbs have the further benefit of being incredibly eco friendly. Landfill is decreased because LED bulbs have a particularly long life and the carbon foot print is minimised due to the very low electricity consumption. The final aspect is the visual impression because LED energy saving light bulbs have a high technology visual look which it is important to accommodate as part of the interior lighting plan.
Home Lighting: Cost Savings And Design Through LED Lights
By Ben Anton
More and more home, apartment and office owners are looking for ways to go green. The benefits not only improve the quality of our environment, but they also make for significant tax deductions at the end of the year. As energy efficiency is becoming more prevalent in household lighting and home lighting design is becoming more popular, it is no surprise that LED lights are coming to the forefront as a leading choice for illumination.
We are all familiar with the traditional incandescent light bulb. These bulbs are filled with a gas and then a filament is stretched across the inside. When electricity is run across the filament, it heats up to often very high temperatures. The bulb’s glow is a result of the filament heating up. The heat is a result of wasted energy. Incandescent bulbs also suffer from inherent fragility. These lights weaken over time as the heat separates atoms from the whole and causes thin spots in the filament. Eventually these thin spots will break and you will need to replace the bulb.
An alternative light to the incandescent is the halogen bulb. In a halogen bulb the envelope that holds the filament is a lot smaller, made of quartz and is filled with a halogen gas. These bulbs can burn a bit brighter and will last for longer periods of time. It is halogen lighting that is currently used quite often by movie theaters, television studios and movie sets. These bulbs are still heat inefficient, however. The most common halogen light used for indoor and outdoor home lighting is the twelve volt MR16 halogen light.
The LED, light-emitting diode, bulb is a culmination of the best of both the incandescent and halogen worlds but with the efficiency that neither can provide. In an LED bulb, the science on which it is based is completely different from the other two options. There is no filament and very little heat. The light source is a diode that emits light when electricity is applied. This mechanism for creating light allows for much lower energy use, brighter light, and longer lasting bulbs.
One of the most common LED home light bulbs available is the LED Lenser Leflector. These bulbs can replace any halogen bulb up to twenty watts. The leflector can burn continuously for more than 50,000 hours before needing to be replaced. That is more than five years of continuous use and over thirty years if the bulbs burn an average of four hours a day. LED home bulbs are over ninety percent more efficient than a halogen bulb and can be operated for pennies a year. These features make them perfect for moving your home – kitchen, living room, game room; you name it – to a more environmentally conscious dwelling.
Outdoor applications for LED lights are many. They work well for outdoor accent lighting because of the many color options available and can be adjusted to be both spotlights and security flood lights.
Updating light fixtures in a home or office is an excellent way to reduce household costs, save energy and at the same time improve upon your home lighting design.
~Ben Anton, 2008
About the Author: Ben Anton lives in the Northwest and writes for Discount Lights and Knives. Ben invites you to check out more aa href=”http://www.lightsandknives.com/home_led_lighting_design.htm” rel=’nofollow’>LED home lamps and desk lights on DLK’s website for indoor and aa href=”http://www.lightsandknives.com/” rel=’nofollow’>outdoor light fixtures and flashlights.
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Tips On Buying And Using LED Light Bulbs
By Joseph Reis
Green is good, and right now, energy efficient lighting is all the rage. With the looming phase-out of old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs in many developed countries, people are faced with choosing between a handful energy efficient forms of lighting – compact fluorescents (CFL) and light emitting diodes (LED). This article will help you make good decisions when buying residential LED light bulbs.
CFLs are good for now, but…
You have likely already adopted energy efficient compact fluorescents (CFL) as part of your effort to reduce your carbon footprint. While CFLs are energy efficient, they have drawbacks such as mercury and relatively short lifespan. Also, CFLs are not available in sizes that replace track light bulbs, such as MR16 and GU10. It is unlikely that CFLs will be available in these sizes.
CFLs have made giant inroads over the last couple of years. The low cost and high energy efficiency of CFLs have made them favorites with people replacing incandescent lights. According to the Energy Information Administration, a government agency, 9% of a household’s energy costs are related to lighting. People are genuinely concerned with lowering their energy consumption, and lighting is one of the easiest things a person can improve on. With worldwide support from mass-market retailers, governments, and citizens, energy efficient lighting is seeing a new dawn. While CFLs provide a good combination of efficiency and cost, there is an even better option on the horizon – LED light bulbs.
Introducing the next generation of ultra energy efficient light bulbs – LEDs
LED light bulbs are semiconductors, just like the chips in your computer. These semiconductors emit energy in the form of photons of light. LEDs have come a very long way since they were invented in the 1960s. You have seen LED lamps for decades in the form of indicator lights on electronic products. Now, these LED lamps light bulbs have evolved to the point produce enough light for household and commercial applications. LEDs are extremely energy efficient, and have lifetimes ranging from 50,000 hours to 100,000 hours. LED light bulbs are the perfect complement to your collection energy efficient lighting products.
Tips for Buying LEDs
There are several varieties of residential LED light bulbs on the market. Presently, LEDs best replace track lighting and flood lights, both of which take advantage of the directional nature of LED light. Below are some tips for buying LED light bulbs.
• The Basics
You want to find an LED bulb that produces a healthy amount of light, but at the lowest possible power consumption. A good metric that equalizes your search is “lumens per watt”. To derive this figure, simply divide the bulb’s number of watts into the number of lumens. Right now, a good LED bulb should have at least 40 lumens per watt, but preferably more.
The question is often asked about comparisons between normal light bulbs and LEDs. Here are some examples to guide you:
5-watt, 3 high power CREE LED, MR16 ~ 25-watt MR16 Halogen
5-watt, 3 high power CREE LED, E27 spot ~ 30-watt E27 spot Halogen
6-watt, 165 traditional LEDs, PAR38, ~ 50-watt PAR38 incandescent
• Lifetime of Bulb
Many manufacturers of LED bulbs claim lifetimes of 50,000 hours to 100,000 hours. The lifetime of an LED lamp is generally considered to be the point where the light output has declined to 70% of it’s initial output, measured in lumens. So, a 300 lumen LED bulb with a lifespan of 50,000 hours will have 210 lumens at the end of it’s lifetime. However, the lifetime of a bulb does not mean it is unusable, only that it’s light output has degraded to a certain point. The LED bulb may continue to be useful for several thousand hours past it’s stated lifetime. Unlike old-fashioned light bulbs, it is extremely rare for an LED light to simply burn out. Rather, it will gradually fade over time.
• Color
As a general rule, you should use warmer light indoors, and whiter light outdoors. A color temperature of 2500-4000 Kelvin works great indoors. You should use a bulb with a color temperature of 5000-7000 Kelvin outdoors, as the whiter light allows your eyes to see better at night.
White light in the 5000-7000 Kelvin range is also excellent for display cases, boutiques, artwork, or other settings where you need excellent color rendition.
• Type of LED lamp
LED light bulbs use one or more tiny semiconductor lamps to produce very focused light. Contrast this with normal light bulbs that generate light in all directions. LED lamps are currently available in two forms: traditional LEDs (typically 5mm), which are smaller, and high power LEDs. Light bulbs using traditional LEDs require a large number of LED lamps to produce sufficient light, whereas high power LED bulbs use one or more lamps to generate light.
In general, the more LEDs, the better the light dispersion. Always get LED bulbs with more than one LED. You will find that single LED bulbs produce a very conspicuous outline, similar to a halo. Unless you enjoy halos across your walls, it’s better to buy light bulbs with multiple LEDs.
Here are some common track light and flood light bulb types, and suggestions for the LED arrangements:
For track bulbs such as MR-type and GU-type, try to get bulbs with 3 high power LED lamps (preferably using CREE or Nichia lamps). Avoid buying track bulbs using an array of traditional LED lamps, as these are not as effective as high power lamps.
For flood light bulbs, such as PAR-type, you can find reasonably priced traditional LED arrangements. High-power LED flood lights produce good light, but are also very expensive. In my experience, a PAR bulb using 120 or more traditional LED lamps works just as good, at a fraction of the price.
• Cost and energy savings
LED bulbs have a higher upfront cost, but they pay for themselves several times over their lifetime. Because LEDs have lower power consumption and a very long lifetime, they are very energy efficient. Let’s take an example of a $45, 5-watt, 50,000 hour MR16 LED bulb. Let’s assume a constant electricity cost of $0.10 per kilowatt hour, and a 0.61 electrical grid CO2 output factor. Compared with a similar $8, 25-watt halogen MR16 bulb, the LED will save $255 and reduce carbon emissions by 1,345 pounds. Not bad for a light bulb.
As energy costs continue to rise, the cost savings and carbon reduction from using LEDs will become far more pronounced.
Buyer beware – LEDs cannot replace general illumination bulbs (yet)
Right now, there are plenty of options for LED light bulbs. And that’s a bit of a problem. Several sellers of LED bulbs claim their bulbs are powerful enough to replace general illumination bulbs such as incandescent and CFL. This is simply untrue. Many of these “replacement” bulbs cost nearly $100 and use over 10 watts of power. You are much better off using a $3.00, 10-watt CFL for now. However, keep an eye out for LED general illumination bulbs over the next few years, as they will become very competitive with normal light bulbs.
Start today with LEDs
As LED technology rapidly advances, you will see them replace all other forms of light bulbs, including CFLs. If you have track lights or flood lights, you can begin incorporating LED light bulbs right away. Remember, now is the time to take steps to save energy and money. Your wallet and the planet will both thank you.
About the Author: Joseph Reis is co-founder of Lumoform and aa href=”http://TheBestLEDs.com” title=”http://TheBestLEDs.com” target=”_blank” rel=’nofollow’>http://TheBestLEDs.com, based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Lumoform is the premier manufacturer of LED light bulbs. For more information, please visit aa href=”http://www.lumoform.com” title=”http://www.lumoform.com” target=”_blank” rel=’nofollow’>http://www.lumoform.com or aa href=”http://www.thebestleds.com” title=”http://www.thebestleds.com” target=”_blank” rel=’nofollow’>http://www.thebestleds.com
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Replacement LED Bulbs for Daewoo
Saving Power has become need of the hour, because of great demand for electricity throughout the world companies manufacturing bulbs and other illumination products are always trying to bring out new products that would help in using less electricity and would bring down the bill of consumers also would generate less heat in the surrounding.
Electricity saving illumination is required in many countries because of increasing power tariff in many countries, there are countries where people are still deprived of electricity, and a normal incandescent bulb consumes high power and is very costly to consumers because they have to pay huge amount for electricity every month.
Illumination product manufacturing companies did some research and have brought replacement LED Bulbs in Daewoo in the market. LED stands for Light Emitting Diode.
Replacement LED Bulbs are thought to be power savers and are called so because they are considered to be replacements for standard incandescent lights.
Replacement LED Bulbs are costlier than normal incandescent bulbs which are cheaper. The cost is more because of its power saving feature and its manufacturing cost, these types of LED bulbs have become market leader in no time for its power saving feature and are believed to emit soft light as compared to ordinary incandescent bulbs which causes strain on eyes.
Take a look at all these different kings of energy saving light bulbs
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LED bulbs with energy saving light bulbs
Research conducted by different power companies shows that a normal incandescent bulb consumes around 530 kW per year and its corresponding price for power consumption is somewhere around $0.12 kW per year and for this one has to use around 9 normal incandescent bulbs and price of each bulb is around $0.70 whereas a LED bulb only consumes 18 kW per year and the price of LED bulb is around $29 and life of a LED bulb is considered to be around 100,000 hours
The above data from research clearly shows that though emplacement LED Bulbs are costlier than normal bulbs they save huge amount of power and also the electricity bill one pays is quite less and comfortable to one’s purse, so it is wise for everyone to start using replacement LED Bulbs whatever may be its cost in the market, it is just one time payment and its lifetime is also thought to be more than the normal bulb.
Significantly, replacement LED bulbs come with at least Six months warranty period when you purchase the product due to its high cost , hence this makes this product more worthy of being tried and remember we don’t get any kind of warranty for a normal bulb as it is cheap . Though a normal bulb is cheap it keeps on cutting our bank balance due to high power consumption and also there are other drawbacks of using normal bulbs.
Replacement LED bulbs are brighter than normal incandescent filament bulbs and is very reliable and the life of such LED bulbs are very long because LED bulbs have no filaments which cannot burn or break.
Replacement LED bulbs uses less power and it also generates less heat than ordinary bulbs which consumes more power and heat. Due to its less heat generation feature replacement LED bulbs are considered very essential for reducing global warming that has become great problem for everyone in this Universe.
Replacement LED bulbs have become a brand for Green Energy worldwide, lets say LED bulbs have become very essential for everyone of us.
LED Bulbs the environmentalists choice in energy saving light bulbs
Presently there is a lot of concentraton on the environment and how energy saving light bulbs can cut back the carbon foot print. Undoubtedly the best technology energy saving light bulb is LED bulbs, nevertheless their cost is high and are they in all respects worth the investment? Here is a summary of the technology and history of LED Bulbs together with information regarding the costs and environmental positive aspects. Optimistically this information will be of assistance in decision making in LED bulbs.
LED bulbs technology
LED Bulbs utilize light emitting diode semi-conductor technology which has been around since 1962 in a simple form mainly for very low light indicator lamps. The technology behind LED bulbs allows very small units, typically of 1 square millimetre, to be made and in a spectrum of colours. Also LED’s are inherently very reliable and can withstand knocks and bangs widening their utilization. The power constraint of the early units meant that usage was restricted to applications ,for example electronic unit displays; however, the technological advancement basically means that they are now adopted in general lighting applications.
How much energy do they save?
If we use a 25 watt halogen downlighter as a comparator then approximately the same level of light output can be obtained from a 3W LED MR16 . This will create and electricity saving in the vicinity of 85% in comparison to the halogen bulb. Another consequence of the electricity saving is that there will be less stress on the electrical wiring and any transformers will have a longer life span. This results in an additional operational cost saving.
Cost of LED bulbs
The price of LED bulbs is significantly more than either incandescent, halogen or CFL bulbs, but with advancements in technology then the price now means they are commercially viable. When analysing the commercials is most important to note that LED bulbs will typically last anything up to 50 times more than conventional bulbs as their life in approximately 30000 hours.
To quantify the cost savings here we add the running costs of a LED bulb to the purchase cost and compare this to the cost of using traditional bulbs for the same period. Using this practice then you will see a lifetime saving of ordinarily £250 for every LED purchased.
The effect on your carbon footprint of using LED bulbs.
There are 3 key advantages of using LED bulbs from an environmental point of view.
1. LED lamps have a exceptionally long lifespan compared to conventional bulbs and accordingly the level of landfill is dramatically reduced.
2. When electricity is generated using oil and coal stations then it develops large quantities of carbon dioxide. The low energy usage results in a large reduction in your carbon footprint.
3. LED’s unlike CFL’s do not contain mercury or any other hazardous substances which are dangerous to the environment.
These 3 eco benefits disclose clear facts as to why LED bulbs are the preferred option in comparison to halogen or beyond doubt CFL technology for energy saving light bulbs. In due time these benefits mean that it is predicted that LED technology will take over as the best choice.
Energy Saving Light Bulbs and the Environment
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LED Strip Light Bulbs
By Russell Neal
LED strip lighting replaces soon-to-be antiquated lighting sources of fluorescent and halogen light bulbs. Linear strip lights that utilize LED lamps employ semiconductor technology to generate illumination. This reduces the risk of fire hazards that result from overheated lighting equipment and cuts cost on energy consumption. Phantom LED strip lighting delivers value to both commercial and residential lighting arenas and is sweeping the technology world as the wave of the future.
LED strip lighting lends itself perfectly to commercial applications where energy saving and maintenance costs are a concern. Both gas and filament bulbs consume a great deal of power and become very hot if burned too long. Commercial entities must pay close attention to lighting to regulate overhead and often must limited the use of their lighting systems to ensure minimized overhead. This is not a concern with LED strip lighting. The average lamp life of LED strip lights is 50,000 hours–the longest lamp life of the industry. LED lamps generate very little heat and no ultraviolet radiation. For commercial entities in need of task and aesthetic strip lighting, LED technology offers a low-voltage, cost effective solution with minimized maintenance and dramatically reduced replacement costs.
The aesthetics of an LED strip light are equally impressive to its performance. The small low profile design of Phantom strips combines with custom shielding to allow designers to use LED lighting strips in many unique and creative ways. LED linear strips may be field cut to any size. Designers highly value the flexibility that our products deliver to them any time they work with round coves or radius applications. Phantom LED strip lights also deliver a level of task lighting unsurpassed by fluorescent and halogen lights. Because they use only minimal low voltage power and do not burn hot, they can subsequently be left on for longer periods without risk of overheating and damaging their environment.
LED lamps have evolved far beyond the red, green, and blue diodes of their early prototypes. LED lamps are now able to generate millions of colors and degrees of illuminations. Many proprietary LED strip lights are fully dimmable, and can even be used in conjunction with automated home lighting and other sophisticated aesthetic methodologies. Cool white LED lamps serve ideally in commercial arenas as sources of lighting for watches, necklaces, and diamonds in jewelry stores. The brilliant white light adds a sparkle to jewelry that maximizes retail showcasing of high-end merchandise. Warm white LED lamps produce a soft, pleasant light source conducive to both commercial and residential display applications. Fine art lighting, cove lighting, and even cabinet lighting normally call for this type of LED strip light to create a mystical aura around the piece
About the Author: For more information visit aa href=”http://www.phantomlighting.com/phantom_led_strip_lighting.htm” rel=’nofollow’>http://www.phantomlighting.com/showcase_lighting.htm and aa href=”http://www.phantomlighting.com” rel=’nofollow’>http://www.phantomlighting.com
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Led Light Bulbs – Use Them To Save Energy And Money!
By Jeff King
Light Emitting Diodes, more often pronounced as LED light bulbs, are small size, solid light bulbs that are highly energy efficient and are vastly replacing standard Incandescent bulbs. They are very energy efficient and consume, relatively, less energy than traditional bulbs. They are very simple in use and have a long rated life.
As Led light bulbs are expensive they were not in frequent use until recently or were used as a single bulb application in lighting pens, remotes, electronic items etc. But as technology is getting improved day by day, the cost of led light bulbs is also getting lower and resulting in their use in applications where clusters of bulbs are used like battery items, flashlights and headlamps etc. Their applications are getting expanded day by day and the day is not far away when they become an inseparable part of everyday consumer electronics and would be used in a bunch without much thought required.
Traditional bulbs have a housing of glass to avoid oxygen around the flammable tungsten filament but led light bulbs have a housing of plastic that makes them easier to maintain and much more efficient. As Led light bulbs are energy saving bulbs, they consume less electricity and this results in higher cost savings. Also, as they generate less heat, they never get that hot and are far cooler.
Led light bulbs are used in applications indoors or outdoors and are vastly used in Modern Electronic Items, Traffic Lights, and Digital Clocks etc. They are also used in commercial and industrial works where maintenance and replacement cost are more important factors than operative cost. But, although led lights are replacing the other lighting technologies by leaps and bounds and revolutionizing the way the world uses lighting systems, they are still expensive and this factor cannot be avoided.
Led Light Bulb vs. Incandescent and halogen Bulb
Led light bulbs have a longer rated life than fluorescent and Incandescent bulbs. They last around 130 times longer than Incandescent bulbs and 10 times longer than compact fluorescent bulbs. Also as they are made up of plastic, they do not get damaged as easily as Incandescent bulbs. Due to the plastic surface, they sustain grating and bumping.
As they last longer, the maintenance and replacement cost is reduced. Their batteries also have a longer life. They consume far less energy and do not get heated up as traditional bulbs, making them easy to maintain.
The only negative factor they have is their cost. They are still expensive but that can definitely be offset against low electricity bills and longer life of batteries.
12v DC led light bulbs
12v DC led light bulbs are normally not used to light up the house or in any household item or fixture. They are used in porch lights, accent and reading lights, solar or battery powered systems and other 12 voltage setups and equipments.
6 volt Led Light Bulbs for Vintage Cars
6 volt led light Bulbs are much brighter than incandescent bulbs and are used in Automobiles like cars, trucks etc. They have an easier charging system and are polarity sensitive.
Led Tail Light Bulbs
LED Tail Light bulbs are the wonderful after market tribute to any car. The LED tail light bulbs are custom built units. Their prices must be standardized in order to make them more popular as they have custom built prices in the market depending on the type of assemblies.
12 Volt Led Light Bulbs
These led light bulbs are high energy saving, energy efficient and are small in size. They offer a brighter light than any incandescent bulb and have a low replacement and maintenance cost. They can be installed in any household lighting fixture due to their compact size.
About the Author: Jeff King is a technologist with a background in consumer electrical devices.
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Energy Saving Light Bulbs and the Environment
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Illuminating the Great Outdoors with Energy-Saving Light Bulbs
“Electricity Prices Plummet,” The Wall Street Journal, August 12, 2009
Hey, is there a recession going on? This timely article details how slack demand for electricity in 2009 may lead to the first consecutive year decline in electricity use in the U.S. since 1950. Such news may tempt some consumers to relax an otherwise robust commitment to reducing home and business electricity consumption. Conservation and energy efficiency are hard work, and harder still to turn into regular habits, especially when energy costs are low.
However, with days growing shorter and nights growing longer as we head into autumn, lighting costs will be on the rise for consumers, even if rates per kilowatt hours are ticking down. Now may be the best time to make a switch to more efficient, energy-saving light bulbs to reduce energy consumption, but there is no need to get carried away. Instead, we suggest folks start slowly with a deliberate approach that targets fixtures that are lit most frequently and for the longest periods. This often leads our customers who want to reduce energy consumption outside.
Green Light Bulbs Reduce Energy Consumption
Exterior fixtures come in as many configurations as indoor lights and they mainly serve three purposes: security lighting, accent lighting and convenience lighting. In some cases, single fixtures perform double or even triple duty.
The greatest savings, in both dollars and reduced carbon emissions, are most easily realized by installing energy-saving light bulbs in any fixtures which are lit from dusk-to-dawn but aren’t controlled by a motion sensor. This could be a floodlight above the driveway or back deck or a pair of decorative sconces or lanterns straddling the front entrance. Post lights are commonly lit all night as well. If you’re like us, you get peace of mind knowing that these lights make the home look very much occupied while you sleep.
Choosing energy-saving light bulbs with the highest efficiency ratings for the amount of light desired will reduce energy consumption and have the greenest impact. Consider this comparison: on one hand, we have a traditional (incandescent) bulb and on the other, an energy-efficient bulb. At 60 watts and 850 lumens, the efficiency of an incandescent bulb would be only 14 lumens per watt, with an annual use of 2,920 hours (8 hours/day). The annual cost to light? – approximately $20, but with a CO2 emission level of about 349 lbs. Now take a 15 watt energy-efficient bulb. Even though it has a lower wattage and uses less energy, the output of light is the same. Lumens are less at 825, and efficiency has improved to 55 lumens per watt. The annual cost to light drops $15, and CO2 emissions are nearly three-fourths less.
$15 annual savings per socket is more than enough to upgrade to energy-saving light bulbs in order to reduce your energy consumption. Your energy efficiency investment will be paid back in less than one year. As for CO2 emissions, a 75% reduction won’t do your eco-conscience any harm.
For homes, Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) are a solid choice for dusk-to-dawn lighting scenarios. They’re available in a wide array of wattages, shapes (including decorative), sizes and colors and are typically designed to last 8,000 hours or more. One drawback of energy-saving light bulbs in an exterior setting is that they’re affected by ambient temperature. Our advice: if you live in a colder climate, look for lamps with “amalgam” technology for best performance or buy ones with the next higher incandescent watts equivalent (example: if you’re replacing a 60 watt incandescent, buy a CFL equivalent to a 75 watt bulb). Also if a fixture isn’t weather protected, be sure to select a bulb rated for use in a wet location.
Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamps are hitting the market at a rapid pace and are also worth considering for their superior ability to reduce energy consumption and extremely long life. Interestingly, LEDs don’t emit ultraviolet light and don’t attract insects. For an overnight fixture near a door, an LED would be a good alternative to a yellow bug lamp. Advice: insist on UL listed LEDs (not easy to find) for safety’s sake.
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Energy-Saving Light Bulbs for Motion Sensors and Electronic Timers
For multiple reasons, energy-saving light bulbs, such as CFLs, are a poor choice for fixtures that light automatically by motion detection. These are typically used for security purposes but are also a feature of garage door openers. CFLs are not engineered to produce short bursts of light. Thus, a traditional incandescent bulb is a fine choice (and probably what’s in the fixture now). Advice: when the existing bulb burns out, consider a high-efficiency halogen lamp to reduce energy consumption. Currently, these energy-saving light bulbs are 30 to 40% more energy efficient than traditional incandescents. Expect these savings multiples to grow as lighting manufacturers continue to improve their halogen technology in anticipation of lighting efficiency requirements that go into effect in 2012.
As for LEDs, while they do reach maximum brightness instantly, they are still very pricey and thus not a good investment for the short bursts of light delivered by motion control sensors. Prices will come down as demand increases for energy-saving light bulbs. My advice: wait.
Some people rely on electronic timers to switch on exterior lights as darkness settles in. Again, CFLs aren’t suited for this application. In this application, where once on, the light may remain lit during overnight hours; an LED lamp, which generally works with electric eyes (check with the manufacturer) would be an excellent choice to reduce energy consumption and extend bulb life versus an incandescent bulb.
Fall’s the Time to Make the Switch to Energy-Efficient Exterior Light Bulbs
They say that the cheapest, cleanest kilowatt hour of electricity is the one that is never produced in the first place. As the shorter days of fall approach and your energy demands grow, put on your green glasses and look at the lighting fixtures outside your home. You’re almost certain to find opportunities to reduce energy consumption and live more lightly with energy-saving light bulbs.
Energy Saving Light Bulbs and the Environment
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