The lightbulb has undergone relatively few changes
since it was introduced in the late 1870s. But new technology that can
drastically reduce the amount of energy and money used to light our homes
(accounting for roughly 13 percent of the average household’s electric bill)
has arrived.
Consumers
have several options when choosing lights: traditional incandescent lightbulbs,
halogen incandescent lightbulbs, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), regular halogen
bulbs, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Most consumers are well aware of the
energy savings of CFLs, but some are turned off by their curlicue shape and color
of the light they produce. In response, manufacturers are making CFLs that look
like traditional lightbulbs. CFLs can be as much as 75 percent more efficient
than basic incandescent bulbs.
LEDs
are beginning to find their way onto store shelves as well. They can last up to
25 times longer than a classic incandescent bulb but are much more expensive. (Some
LEDs are yellow in color even though the light they produce is white.) The key
to buying an LED: Find one that has fins beneath the actual bulb to help cool it.
LEDs make sense in fixtures like a yard or porch light that stays on eight to 12
hours a day.
Halogen
lamps (reflector-based, incandescent hybrids, and advanced lamps) are another
option. They provide excellent color quality and can be dimmed. In fact, the
dimming properties of halogens are the hardest for other light sources to
mimic.
When
halogen lamps are dimmed, filament temperature decreases. This causes the light
to change from white to yellow or red-orange. In many environments, such as
homes and restaurants, people have come to expect and appreciate this “warmness” from dimmed lights.
However,
after traditional incandescent lightbulbs, halogen lamps are also the least-efficient
and offer the shortest life (only three times longer than a traditional
incandescent bulb). Recent federal efficiency standards will eliminate most
reflector-based halogen lamps from the market beginning in 2012.
Advanced
halogen lamps, on the other hand, use IR technology. These products provide a
20 percent to 30 percent increase in efficiency but cost two to three times
more than standard halogen products. Halogen incandescents also remain a good
alternative for consumers not ready to make the leap to CFLs or LEDs.
You
can also try other simple measures for trimming lighting expenses. Add occupancy
sensors to wall switches in bathrooms, basements, or laundry rooms. These
devices will automatically turn lights off when no one is in the room.
Dusk-to-dawn
fixtures come with a photo sensor that shuts off a light when the sun comes up.
However, if the sensor is positioned in such a way that it is covered by a
shadow, or if the sensor breaks, the light will operate during the day. Replacing
can be a fairly simple task, but pay careful attention to all of the safety
warnings and precautions that come with the new sensor.
Understanding
how much energy different bulbs consume and replacing broken equipment can be
easy ways to save energy while maintaining a home that provides ample
light.
Brian Sloboda is a senior program manager
specializing in energy efficiency for the Cooperative Research Network, a
service of the Arlington, Va.-based National Rural Electric Cooperative
Association. Additional content provided by ESource.
