Energy Efficient Lighting

The two main types of energy saving lights are LEDs and compact fluorescents (CFLs). With electricity prices on the rise energy saving lights have become part of the modern home. Electric lights, burn up to 25% of the average homes energy budget, if incandescent bulbs are used. Thus the need for energy efficient lighting that serves in the same way and brightness as incandescent bulbs but with much less energy used.

CFLs are just miniature versions of the larger and old types of standard fluorescents. However they give off a similar light as incandescent bulbs and are made to fit most incandescent light fittings.

LEDs (light emitting diode) are small light emitting microchips cased in resin. They are extremely energy efficient. Most LED bulbs that are used for home use are grouped in clusters with different types of diffuser lenses which have widened their applications.

CFLs: benefits and uses

• CFLs are four times more efficient that incandescent bulb and they can last 10 times longer. For Example: A 22Watt CFL bulb lights the same area as a 100watt incandescent bulb.
• They offer greater value even though they cost more to buy than incandescent bulbs they last longer and use less energy so they save money on electrical bills.
• CFLs saves on carbon emissions and which reduces air and water pollution.
• High quality light: they are flicker free and come in warm white and cool white to suit the lighting need.
• CFLs come in many different types and sizes to fit most light fitting and thus can be used right throughout the home.

Overall CFLs are excellent and can have a great saving on electrical bills. However they do have some mercury which does not make them easily to dispose of them without adding to environmental damage. Also not all CFLs can be dimmed and as this must be built it at the time of manufacture.

LEDs

The first users of LEDs for light were small clusters of LEDs in touches and battery powered devices. However, today LEDs have been clustered together to fit many different types of household light fixtures. LEDs are the next generation in home lighting and are the newest type of energy efficient lighting available. The LED manufacturing process was fairly expensive which lead to the price LED lighting costing much more than CFLs. However a much cheaper silicon wafer technology has brought the LED manufacturing process costs much lower and this will bring the cost of LED light cluster bulbs down to CFL price levels.

Benefits of LEDs

• Long lasting: LEDs last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. This makes them as long lasting as CFLs.
• Cool: LEDS run without the heat of incandescent and do not have heat build up.
• Durable: LEDs do not suffer from vibration or bumping like incandescent filaments and are not damaged under the same conditions where an incandescent bulb would be.
• Mercury free: unlike CFLs, LEDs do not have mercury and thus do not lead to environmental damage.
• More efficient: LEDs are very efficient and only 2 to 10 watts of electricity. In fact if a house full of incandescent bulbs were replaced by LEDs, the result would be a saving of around 80% of the lighting bill and much longer lasting bulbs.

There are two great energy efficient options available CFLs and LEDs. Both will save you money and come in a large number of styles. Clearly the days of the incandescent light bulb are numbered has energy efficient light becomes cheaper.