Light up your home using the same amount of light for less money. The average household spends around 5% of its energy budget on lighting. Switching to energy-efficient lighting is one of the quickest ways to reduce your energy bills.
New light bulbs: what’s the difference?
Traditional incandescent bulbs use a lot of energy to produce light and are no longer manufactured.
90% of the energy is lost as heat You have many choices when it comes to energy-efficient lighting. The most popular bulbs are incandescent halogens, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Although they may cost more initially than traditional incandescent bulbs, they save you money over their lifetime because they use less energy. You can find them in most hardware and DIY shops. Controls such as timers and photocells save electricity by switching lights off when not in use. Dimmers save electricity when used to lower light levels. Make sure you choose products that are compatible with the energy-efficient bulbs you want to use. If you have outdoor lighting that stays on for a long time, using CFLs or LEDs in these fixtures will save you a lot of energy. Most bare spiral CFLs can be used in enclosed luminaires that protect them from the elements. Both CFLs and LEDs are available as spotlights. These models have been tested to withstand rain and snow and can therefore be used in exposed luminaires. Halogen incandescent bulbs have an inner capsule that traps gas around a filament to increase the efficiency of the bulb. They are available in a wide range of shapes and colours, and can be used with dimmers. Halogen incandescent bulbs meet the federal minimum energy efficiency standard, but there are now many more efficient options available to meet your lighting needs. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are simply curly versions of the long-tube fluorescent lamps you may already have in your kitchen or garage. Because they use less electricity than traditional incandescent lamps, CFLs pay for themselves in less than nine months and start saving you money every month. A typical CFL can pay for itself in energy savings in less than 9 months and continue to save you money every month. A CFL consumes about a third of the energy of a halogen incandescent bulb. CFL bulbs are available in a range of light colours, including warm tones (white to yellow) that were not as available when they were first introduced. Some are covered with a lid to spread the light further and offer a similar shape to the bulbs you are replacing. If you’re looking for a dimmable bulb, check the packaging to make sure you’re buying a CFL with this feature. Fluorescent bulbs contain a small amount of mercury and should always be recycled at the end of their life. Many retailers recycle CFLs free of charge. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are a type of solid-state lighting – semiconductors that convert electricity into light. Although once known primarily for traffic signals and traffic lights, LEDs in white and general lighting applications are one of the most energy-efficient technologies on the rise today. LEDs use 25-30% of energy and last 8-25 times longer than halogen incandescent bulbs. They are available in a variety of colours, and some are dimmable or offer practical features such as daylight and motion sensors. LEDs work well indoors and outdoors because of their durability and performance in cold environments. Look for LED products such as driveway lighting, step lighting and porch lighting for outdoor use. You can also find solar-powered outdoor lighting. Although LEDs are more expensive, they save money because they last a long time and use very little energy. As with other electronic devices, prices are expected to fall as new products come onto the market.
This wasted energy is money we’re throwing down the drain. What are my lighting choices?
Halogen Incandescent
CFLs
LEDs
LED bulbs are currently available in a number of products, including replacements for traditional 40, 60 and 75 watt incandescent bulbs, reflector bulbs often used in recessed lights, small track lights, desk lamps, under-cabinet lighting and outdoor lighting.