Light Bulbs Buying Guide

You may not have put much thought into your light bulb purchases in the past. Perhaps you spent a minute deciding between 60 and 90 watts in the supermarket aisle. Now, with the U.S. Department of Energy and EPA sponsored “Change a Light, Change the World” campaign, and new technological advances that provide better energy efficient choices, light bulb shopping has evolved. There are more options than ever and your buying decisions can actually affect the global environment.

The biggest news in light bulbs is the compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL.) It’s the key component in the government’s campaign for consumers to switch to energy-efficient light bulbs. By any measure, the CFL bulb is worth all the fuss. Energy Star rated CFLs use at least two-thirds less energy than standard incandescent bulbs to provide the same amount of light, while lasting up to 10 times as long. They generate 70% less heat, making them safer to use and potentially cutting energy costs from air conditioning.

The technology associated with these bulbs has reached the point where they are comparable to standard bulbs in most roles and have become a viable alternative for the general public. Most turn on instantly, product no sound, and are available in warm or cool color options. They come in models rated to work indoors or outdoors, with dimmer and tri-way switches, and sizes and shapes to fit most fixtures. There even is a CFL designed to resemble a standard A-line bulb.

In addition to compact fluorescent bulbs, there are still many choices available in incandescent (regular,) general fluorescent, and halogen bulbs. Features to consider when choosing a light bulb include: quality and color of light, brightness, suitability for your lighting fixtures and location, longevity, and energy efficiency.

Safety should always be your biggest consideration. You should never exceed the recommended wattage for your light fixture. It is a good idea to save the bulb being replaced so that you can match its specifications, including wattage, voltage and bulb base size. Also review the consumer information included with your light fixtures.

If you are switching from an incandescent bulb to a CFL, manufacturers are making it easy to match your old bulb’s wattage to the comparable CFL wattage. The information is often on the CFL’s package or in the product description. As a general rule, you can replace a standard bulb with a CFL bulb that has one-quarter the watts for the same light output. For example, a 60 watt standard bulb would be replaced with a 15 watt CFL.

There are some definitions that will be helpful to you.

Energy Star: Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy designed to help protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices, while also cutting energy expenses for consumers. Energy Star labels are on the packages of approved energy-efficient light bulbs. Most CFLs are Energy Star approved.

Watts: Watts are units of measurement of electricity. A CFL uses less energy, or wattage, than an incandescent bulb to produce the same amount of light.

Life: A bulb's life is the number of hours it should last. CFLs and fluorescent bulbs last longest, followed by halogen, then incandescent bulbs.

Lumens: Lumens are the measure of light produced by a bulb.

Incandescent Incandescent bulbs, often referred to as regular or standard bulbs, are still most common. They are available in a wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes, and are suitable for most uses and fixtures. Though least expensive to purchase up front, they have higher associated energy costs over their lifetime and the shortest life, about 1000 hours, as compared to other options.

These bulbs create light by heating a filament inside the bulb; the white-hot filament produces the light. Since much of the energy used to heat the filament is wasted, they are less energy-efficient.

Compact Fluorescent (CFL) Compact fluorescent bulbs are the most energy-efficient bulbs available, using about two-thirds less energy than standard incandescent bulbs to provide the same amount of light and lasting up to 10 times as long. They generate 70% less heat, making them safer to use and potentially cutting down on energy costs from air conditioning.

CFLs now come in a variety of shapes, styles and light output. Just like regular bulbs, they can be used in standard sockets. There are models rated for use with dimmers or three-way switches, as well as for outdoor use. However, as of now, they are generally not suited for fully enclosed fixtures.

These bulbs have a mercury gas-filled tube and ballast, which is the electrical component. An electric current from the ballast flows through the gas, which produces invisible ultraviolet (UV) light. The UV light hits a white coating (phosphor) inside the bulb and changes it into light you can see. Fluorescent bulbs don't use heat to create light, which is why they are more energy-efficient and cooler to the touch than regular bulbs.

You should note the following information about the mercury contained in a CFL: there is an average of about five milligrams in a bulb. To put this in perspective, older home thermometers contain about 500 milligrams of mercury. Mercury is not released during use of the bulb. However, proper disposal of CFL bulbs is important. Check with your waste management service provider for information on disposal, which should be similar to that of paint, batteries and other items that should not be commingled with general waste. The store where you purchase your bulb may also be willing to dispose of it for you. Keep in mind that because of CFL bulbs' long life spans, you should only need to throw one away every few years at most.

Some additional statistics about CFLs' energy savings are useful. If every U.S. home replaced one light bulb with an Energy Star rated CFL, enough energy could be saved to prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars. On an individual basis, consumers could save $30 or more on energy costs over each bulb’s lifetime.

Fluorescent Standard fluorescent bulbs, like CFLs, are energy-efficient and long lasting. They generate light using the same technique. However, because they need a separate ballast (component that provides and regulates electricity to the bulb,) fluorescent bulbs do not fit in standard household sockets. In addition, fluorescent bulbs do not come in the large variety of shapes and sizes that CFLs do. Traditional fluorescent bulbs are tubes that are linear, circular, or U-shaped. In the past, fluorescent bulbs were not available in warm tones but now soft, cool, and natural light options are available.

Halogen Halogen bulbs are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, including standard A-line and reflector style. They produce a bright clear light. Halogen bulbs are more expensive than incandescent bulbs up front, but last about four times as long.

Halogen bulbs provide light using the same technique as incandescent bulbs. Light is generated as the filament inside the bulb is heated. However, halogen bulbs are filled with halogen gas. The filament in a regular bulb wears out because the tungsten on the filament evaporates and is deposited on the bulb’s glass. The bulb stops working once enough tungsten has evaporated so that electricity can no longer be conducted across the filament. In a halogen bulb, the halogen gas inside the bulb deposits the tungsten back onto the filament as it evaporates, allowing the bulb to last longer.

There are many different bulb shapes and styles. Your choice will probably be determined by what works with your light fixture. Some popular types include:

A-line This is the standard rounded bulb shape. It is used for table lamps, floor lamps, and overhead fixtures. CFL bulbs are now available in this style.		Reflector: Also called flood bulbs, these work for track, recessed, and mounted outdoor lighting (when rated for outdoor use.)

Flame/Candle: These decorative bulbs are often used in chandeliers.		Spiral: This shape is unique to CFLs. It is not a traditional shape, but it provides superior light distribution. It is ideal for table or floor lamps.

Quality of light is important to the atmosphere in your home. In general, warm light enhances your décor, while cool light is better for task lighting in areas such as hobby rooms or workshops.

Multiple options are available in CFLs, incandescent and regular fluorescent bulbs. Basic color and tone options include: natural/cool white, soft/warm white and clear/brilliant light. Yellow bug lights and special effect black lights are also available. Halogen lights provide a pleasing bright and clear light.

For general energy savings, always use the lowest watt bulb that will meet your needs.

If you are replacing standard bulbs with energy-efficient CFLs, focus on the areas where lights are used the most, such as family rooms, living rooms, and kitchens. This will make the most of energy savings.

For convenience as well as energy savings, consider using a longer lasting bulb choice in any hard to reach area, such as track lighting mounted on a cathedral ceiling.

As a general rule, CFLs cost the most up front, followed by halogen and then incandescent bulbs. However, as far as energy cost savings over the life of the bulb, the reverse order holds true, with CFLs being the most energy cost efficient over time.

GE
Sylvania
Ace Hardware
Westinghouse.