Shedding Light on the New Lightbulbs

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For decades – and up until just a few years ago – lightbulbs were relatively uncomplicated. Recently, however, technology has developed more energy-efficient bulbs which are not as straightforward to understand. Gone is the simplicity of the incandescent 60-Watt, 75-Watt, 100-Watt and 3-Way. Today there are a lot more bulbs from which to choose. New bulbs not only look different, but the light they produce, the way they’re described and their price can all be significantly different.

What makes an energy-efficient bulb different from a traditional incandescent? Standard bulbs require heat in order to light up. Less heat production means greater energy efficiency and less cost to operate.

A glossary of lightbulb terms

• Wattage (Watts) – The amount of electricity consumed by a light source
• Lumens – The amount of light that a light source produces
• Incandescent – The standard lightbulb we’re most familiar with which creates light by heating up a wire filament inside the bulb
• Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs) – This is simply a curly version of the familiar tubelike fluorescent lights. While a CFL can cost five to ten times as much as its standard incandescent counterpart, it will last up 10 times longer while requiring 75% less heat to operate. Bear in mind that cheaper CFL bulbs can be particularly fragile, especially when hot, so be careful not to jostle them while in use. They’re also prone to shorter life when they are turned on and off frequently or if there are voltage fluctuations.
• Halogen Incandescent – These look like standard bulbs but the heat they create using halogen gas is concentrated to light an area within the bulb, instead of being dispersed throughout the bulb. These bulbs cost about the same as CFLs. Compared to a standard incandescent bulb, they last three times longer and, over the course of a year, cost approximately $3.50, versus $4.80.
• Light-Emitting Diode (LEDs) – These bulbs operate when electrons are moved through a semiconductor material. They are the most expensive bulbs on the market but they last the longest – up to 25 times longer than a standard incandescent bulb – while costing just $1 to operate over the course of a year.

According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, all newly-manufactured lightbulbs are labeled to indicate the number of lumens, rather than watts, since it’s the lumens that actually indicate the bulb’s brightness. This information will help you compare different types of lightbulbs to achieve your desired level of brightness. A helpful resource for choosing the right bulb for the purpose is the EnergyStar Choose a Light Guide. Also, refer to this handy chart to compare the lumens and cost of operation among various lighting sources.

Among other things, the new Lighting Facts label will provide information about the bulb’s:

• Brightness
• Energy cost
• Life expectancy
• Light appearance (for example, “warm” or “cool”)

To wrap up this enlightening discussion, let’s answer a couple final questions:

Why are new lightbulbs so expensive, compared to traditional incandescent bulbs? Because of the technology necessary to develop and manufacture these new bulbs, the cost is higher to the consumer. The American Lighting Association recommends, “Just as you would invest in an appliance you expect to use for years, buying a light bulb today requires more of an initial investment but yields much greater returns in terms of energy savings and operating life.”

How much money do new lighbulbs save over time? According to the U.S. Department of Energy, upgrading 15 incandescent bulbs in your home could save you $50 per year.

These facts will help you choose the right bulb – and with energy-efficient bulbs, you’ll save no matter which you choose.

What’s been your experience with energy-saving lightbulbs?

Tagged as: Consumerism, Frugal Living