Energy-efficient Lighting: Choosing The Right Bulbs For Savings – Buying a light bulb was never worth it. Now that’s mind boggling; The switch to energy-efficient lighting means choosing from a range of stylish products.

For example, a 60-watt light bulb produces 800 watts of light. And LED bulbs, which have more energy than incandescent bulbs, can produce the same light using only 10 watts.

Energy-efficient Lighting: Choosing The Right Bulbs For Savings

The Environmental Protection Agency said that if every household were to replace just one incandescent light bulb with an “Energy Star” or CFL (compact fluorescent), Americans could save $700 million a year.

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But with so many different types of bulbs with different prices and lifespans now on the market, many consumers get confused.

Questions about bulbs, we have an earful. That’s why we called on Noah Horowitz, director of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Center for Energy Efficiency, to answer your most frequently asked questions.

(We should note that the Natural Resources Defense Council, a non-profit environmental organization, is a major supporter of energy-efficient lighting. It receives a small amount of government funding, including one from the EPA Energy Star program to accelerate the implementation of energy-efficient appliances. )

For more information on light bulbs – the different types available, how long they last and their cost over the life of the bulb –

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Why do some CFLs die so quickly? All things in the seven years of life seem random. I have some bulbs that last for years but others die after a year.

Since not all CFLs are created equal, buy only those with the Energy Star logo. Those bulbs are not only efficient but also meet the requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency and must pass various tests including longevity. Switching your CFL on and off frequently can shorten its life. In addition, CFLs may not light or fully illuminate in cold weather.

Everyone I’ve talked to says they just throw dead CFLs in the trash. Isn’t this a landfill problem? Will we start hearing the dangers of mercury in soil and water in a few years?

CFLs have very low levels of mercury in them, now as low as 2 mg per bulb. Consumers should take advantage of free CFL recycling programs offered by leading retailers such as Home Depot and Lowe’s. You should also know that even though incandescent bulbs do not contain mercury, they cause more mercury to be released into the environment than incandescent bulbs, as they use four times more energy than CFLs to produce the same amount of light. .

A Guide To Choosing Energy Saving Light Bulbs

I have at least three lamps that use a three-way bulb (50/100/150), and I like to have a choice in brightness. Is there a CFL or LED version of the three-way bulb?

If you want to have different levels of light and use an energy saving bulb, you have two good choices. If you have a three-way socket, you can buy a three-way CFL that provides low, medium and high light, just like your old incandescent bulb does. If your system is dimmable, almost all LEDs are dimmable and you can enjoy more flexibility.

The good news is that there is a CFL or LED to power almost every socket. These include candelabra or flame-shaped light bulbs, as well as round light bulbs that are often used in the bathroom vanity above the sink. Candelabras and globe CFLs have been around for years, and LED models are coming online now.

I have sockets that don’t go higher than a 60-watt bulb. If I use LED or CFL, can I use a brighter bulb? For example, a 13-watt CFL is equivalent to a 60-watt incandescent. Is it okay to use a 23-watt CFL instead? This would give me the same power as a 100-watt incandescent.

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Fixtures have a safety standard and one should not install bulbs that exceed the listed ratings (eg “do not exceed 60 watts”). As long as you don’t put a light bulb that uses more than 60 watts into the socket you’ll be fine.

The good news is that energy-saving bulbs that replace 60-watt incandescents only use 10 to 15 watts, depending on the specific bulb you buy, and produce the same amount of light. If you need more light, you can bump up to a 23-watt CFL that produces as much light as an old 100-watt bulb, while staying under the 60-watt power cut. However, you should not install a 100-watt bulb, as this can cause accidents.

Are there other places in the house where you can run CFLs over LEDs or vice versa, such as in outdoor rooms that have high temperatures? Or in the interior lights?

CFLs do not work well in cold climates and may not start at all, so it is not a good idea to choose porch lighting or other outdoor fixtures in cold climates. We encourage consumers to choose LEDs for use in closed cans and floor lamps because they are better suited as control lights, and for fixtures that are connected to the dimmer.

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For bulbs that are not used frequently and are not switched on and off frequently, CFLs are probably best. Conversely, put LEDs in hard-to-reach boxes, because they last up to 25 years (at three hours a day), and you will avoid the hassle of changing the bulb for a long time.

Are there any risks to installing LEDs in closed ducts or in closed ducts in my ceiling? Can they warm up?

The electronics inside the LED can fail if it gets too hot. LED floodlights are specially designed to withstand the extreme temperatures found inside fixed cans, lighting or surrounds on your roof. If you put the LED in a closed box, it can shorten its life. Check that it is labeled as suitable for use in sealed containers.

I don’t understand color temperature. “Masana” made my walk to the bathroom feel like I was walking into a prison. How can we tell, before we buy, if the light of a bulb is “good” – ie, not too harsh, bright enough and diffused enough?

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CFLs and LEDs come in different “flavors” of light. If you want to match the yellow-white light that your light bulb emits, look for bulbs that are marketed as “soft white” or “warm white.” Conversely, if you want the light to have a very gray color, then choose a lamp that is sold as “daylight”.

Before you go out and turn off all the light bulbs in your house, we suggest you try one of each and see which one you like. Although CFLs, when they were introduced 20-plus years ago, did not provide a pleasing light, today’s CFLs are so much more efficient that you can often hardly tell the difference from your old incandescent. When it comes to LEDs, we find that people love everything about them including the light, except the purchase price – which fortunately is dropping every day.

Most LEDs do not dim properly and will automatically turn off before reaching the desired minimum level. Why? Will dimming work?

Dimmable LEDs will work with most dimmers, but not all. In some cases, you may need to replace your dimmer switch with one designed for LEDs and CFLs, which use up to four times less energy than traditional incandescents. To earn the Energy Star label, light bulbs must dim to 20 percent of full brightness without humming or flickering. Since LEDs are still a relatively new product, we expect dimmed LEDs to perform better.

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I love LEDs, but I feel like I’m getting wet. Why are LEDs still so expensive, especially at high brightness? When will the price drop?

The cost of LEDs is dropping dramatically. The LED bulb that replaces the old 60-watt incandescent that cost $40 a few years ago is now down to $10 or more today. [Note: NPR recently purchased 60-watt equivalent LEDs at Home Depot for less than $5. Noah Horowitz believes that this price reflects a temporary return from local sources.] Also remember that the $10 or $20 LED you just bought will save you $100 or more over the life of the bulb in the form of low-cost electricity.

Also, LEDs of any type are running better, which means that manufacturers can use fewer LEDs in the bulb to provide the same light and will need less aluminum as a heat sink, because there will be less heat to drive it. All of this means lower costs. LED bulbs that provide the same level of light as traditional 75- and 100-watt incandescent bulbs cost more, because they require more LEDs and other equipment. Their price, in turn, will decrease with better profits and more wealth that comes from the top producers.

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