- Incandescent bulb - Flickr
The average household spends 25% of their energy bill on electric lighting system. Reducing energy consumption can be achieved through simple steps such turning off lights when not in use or optimizing use of daylight. Smart use of lighting system, however, starts at best with selecting the most energy efficient lighting system.
There are many types of lighting system on the market. Each offers a different level of energy efficiency. When homeowners understand these differences, the importance of selecting the type of bulb to use for one’s home makes more sense.
Incandescent Bulbs
These are Thomas Edison’s designs, the first light bulbs created and also the most used in homes. Because of its base price, incandescent bulbs seem to be smartest option as they are very cheap.
Incandescent bulbs, however, have short working life, which means they need to be replaced more often. On the average, an incandescent bulb has a lifespan of 750 – 1000 hours (approximately 6 – 8 hours.) – the lowest on the market. They are also power hogs, consuming 20 to 100 watts per hour or 2- 12 kilowatts per month.
Compact Fluorescent Lamps
With an average price of $2 apiece, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are more expensive, costing 4 times more than incandescent lamps. However, they are more energy-efficient. They use only 25% of energy to produce the same amount of light produced by incandescent bulbs. That means that a household that paid a monthly bill of $100 would have saved $75 if they used compact fluorescent lamps at home.
CFLs also last 6 to 10 times longer. A compact fluorescent lamp can provide 4 to 7 years of light. Putting this perspective, it appears then that the basic price of CLFs is just half the cost of incandescent bulbs.
To ensure a compact fluorescent lamp reaches its full lifespan, users should avoid switching it on/off frequently. On the other hand, if one will not use a room for more than 10 minutes, consider turning the lamp off.
CFLs, however, contain mercury, which make their disposal a challenge.
Light-emitting Diode (LED) Bulbs
LED lamps are the most expensive, but they are also the most energy-saving lighting option. They also last the longest, 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Some even have a lifespan of 50,000 hours. They also don’t contain mercury, which makes them safe to dispose of.
Clearly, the most energy-efficient lighting option are LED lamps. The biggest barrier to mass adoption of LEDs now is exorbitant price. The purchase cost is projected to come down once competition between manufacturers and the demand for LEDs increase.
Sources:
- EarthEasy
- Government of Western Australia, Office of Energy
Cecille de la Cruz - Cecille is a health-oriented individual, and love sharing with other people the results of her research about health and wellness. You can ...
