Lighting Choices To Save You Money

Do you know you could save thousands of dollars yearly on your electricity bill by replacing the light bulbs? Nowadays, energy-saving opportunities are readily available for homeowners seeking to minimize their monthly utility bills and carbon footprints. Apart from the traditional incandescent bulbs, several power-saving light bulbs efficiently serve a similar purpose while providing more environmentally-friendly benefits.

If you wish to join homeowners who have made environmentally-conscious house advancements, the first thing to do is change your lighting. 

Types of Energy-Saving Light Bulbs 

Electric bulbs have come on an astoundingly long journey since the first, 19th-century bulb was created by Thomas Edison. The modern bulb has a variety of lighting qualities, shapes, densities, and efficiencies. 

Energy-saving light bulbs come in three main categories: halogen incandescent, light-emitting diodes compact, and fluorescent lamps.

Halogen Incandescent

If you are looking for an energy-efficient light bulb that preserves the same visual appearance as a conventional incandescent bulb, a halogen incandescent bulb is an ideal option. Although unbelievably similar to traditional bulbs, halogen bulbs have bromine in place of nitrogen-argon, meaning that the two options produce light differently.

Halogen incandescent light bulbs may not be among the most popular energy-efficient bulbs for household use. However, they are lauded for their durability, bright light quality, and efficiency.

Pros:

• Offer the same light as an incandescent bulb while saving 25 percent of energy
• Produce full lighting capacity instantly
• Safe to dispose 
• Possess the same feel and appearance as conventional incandescent lamps 

Cons:

• Generate high heat levels
• More costly than incandescent bulbs
• Touching it can lessen its lifespan

Compact Fluorescent Lamps 

Often recognized by their spiral shape, compact fluorescence lamps (CFL) were born out of a necessity for better energy-efficient bulbs. CFL bulbs produce light from phosphors in the bulb and apply the same mechanism as traditional fluorescent lamps on a more compact scale.

Pros:

• Need less power than conventional incandescent lamps
• Produce an evenly-spread bright radiance
• Come in a variety of warm, soft, and bright white colors
• Cost-effective 

Cons:

• Contain toxic mercury
• Sensitive to colder climates
• Do not produce immediate, full-brightness

Light Emitting Diodes 

Light-emitting diodes are the most flexible illuminating option in today’s market. They offer higher efficiency than CFL and incandescent lamps. LED bulbs produce light with a brilliance close to daylight.

Light-emitting diode lamps can be found in most local hardware shops and come in a variety of shapes, wattages, and colors. 

Pros:

• Offer full brightness instantly after being powered 
• Stays cool to the touch
• Longer lifespans than CFLs
• No sensitivity to colder climates 
• Ideal for directional spotlights and light
• Come in warm, soft, and bright white colors

Cons:

• Contain blue light
• Dim in brightness with time
• Sometimes incompatible with dimmers
• Most expensive option 

Does energy efficient lighting save you money?

While it might appear like changing a light bulb has no financial benefit, it can save you a substantial amount of money. A study done by the United States Department of Energy established that switching out your five most frequently used light bulbs in your home with power-efficient models can save on average $75 per year.

Categorised in: Lighting Installation

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