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Light your home using the same amount of light
for less money. Upgrading 15 of the inefficient
incandescent light bulbs in your home could save
you about $50 per year.
New lighting standards take effect in 2012, and
money-saving options such as halogen incandescent, CFL,
and LED light bulbs are available today.
New Light Bulbs: What's the Difference?
Traditional incandescent bulbs use a lot of
energy to produce light.
- 90% of the energy is wasted as heat
- That lost energy is money we are
throwing away
Newer energy-saving light bulbs provide the choices
in colors and light levels you've come to expect. The
new lights are also much more efficient — so they save
you money.
What Are My Lighting Choices?
Three of the most common energy-efficient lighting
types include halogen incandescents, CFLs, and LEDs. You
can find these in most hardware and home improvement
stores, and they are all more energy-efficient than
traditional incandescent bulbs.
Halogen Incandescents — about 25%
energy savings
Halogen incandescents are simply energy-efficient
incandescent bulbs. These bulbs have a capsule inside
that holds halogen gas around a filament to increase
bulb efficiency and lifespan. This type of incandescent
bulb is about 25% more efficient and can last up to
three times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.
They are available in a wide range of shapes and colors,
and can be used with dimmers.
CFLs — about 75% energy savings
Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are simply curly
versions of the long tube fluorescent lights you may
already have in a kitchen or garage. Because they use
less electricity than traditional incandescents, typical
CFLs can pay for themselves in less than nine months,
and then start saving you money each month. An ENERGY
STAR-qualified CFL uses about one-fourth the energy and
lasts ten times longer than a comparable incandescent
bulb that puts out the same amount of light.
CFL bulbs are available in a range of light colors,
including warm (white to yellow) tones that were not as
available when first introduced. Some are encased in a
cover to further diffuse the light and provide a similar
shape to the bulbs you are replacing. If you are looking
for a dimmable bulb, check the package to make sure you
purchase a CFL with that feature.
Fluorescent bulbs contain a small amount of mercury,
and they should always be recycled at the end of their
lifespan. Many retailers recycle CFLs for free. See
www.epa.gov/cfl for
more information.
LEDs — about 75% – 80% energy savings
The light emitting diode (LED) uses the same
technology as the little indicator light on your cell
phone, but designed to light your home. It is one of
today's most energy-efficient and rapidly developing
technologies. ENERGY STAR-qualified LEDs use only 20% –
25% of the energy and last up to 25 times longer than
the traditional incandescent bulbs they replace.
LED bulbs are currently available in many products
such as replacements for 40W and 60W traditional
incandescents, reflector bulbs often used in recessed
fixtures, and small track lights. While LEDs are
expected to be more expensive at this early stage, their
long life and energy savings cost less to operate.
Prices are also expected to come down as more products
enter the market.
Courtesy of:
U.S. Department of Energy
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