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| Energy Efficient Lighting | ||||||||||||||||||||
| To buy energy-efficient light bulbs, click here | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Benefits
of Compact Fluorescent Bulbs Choosing a CFL Bulb Limitations, Disposal of CFLs LED Lights, Benefits, Uses Online Sources for Energy-efficient lighting |
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| Electric
lighting burns up to 25% of the average home energy budget. The electricity used over the lifetime of a single incandescent bulb costs 5 to 10 times the original purchase price of the bulb itself. |
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Compact
Fluorescent Lights (CFL) and Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs have revolutionized energy-efficient
lighting. |
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| Benefits | ||||||||||||||||||||
Efficient: CFLs are four times more efficient and last up to 10 times longer than incandescents. A 22 watt CFL has about the same light output as a 100 watt incandescent. CFLs use 50 - 80% less energy than incandescents. Less Expensive: Although initially more expensive, you save money in the long run because CFLs use 1/3 the electricity and last up to 10 times as long as incandescents. A single 18 watt CFL used in place of a 75 watt incandescent will save about 570 kWh over its lifetime. At 8 cents per kWh, that equates to a $45 savings. Reduces Air and Water Pollution: Replacing a single incandescent bulb with a CFL will keep a half-ton of CO2 out of the atmosphere over the life of the bulb. If everyone in the U.S. used energy-efficient lighting, we could retire 90 average size power plants. Saving electricity reduces CO2 emissions, sulfur oxide and high-level nuclear waste. High-Quality Light: Newer CFLs give a warm, inviting light instead of the "cool white" light of older fluorescents. They use rare earth phosphors for excellent color and warmth. New electronically ballasted CFLs don't flicker or hum. Versatile: CFLs can be applied nearly anywhere that incandescent lights are used. Energy-efficient CFLs can be used in recessed fixtures, table lamps, track lighting, ceiling fixtures and porchlights. 3-way CFLs are also now available for lamps with 3-way settings. Dimmable CFLs are also available for lights using a dimmer switch. |
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| Choosing a CFL | ||||||||||||||||||||
CFLs come in many shapes and sizes. When purchasing CFLs, consult the seller for recommendations and consider the following: |
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| •
Choose the color temperature, if listed,
that’s right for you; for example: Approx. 2700K = Warm White (looks just like incandescent) Approx. 5000K = Cool White (white/blue, often higher CRI) |
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| •
Choose the shape. CFLs are available in a variety of shapes to
fit a range of lamps and lighting fixtures. See below on this page for
the most popular CFL shapes. • Match lumens to the incandescent being replaced. Lumens indicate the amount of light being generated. (Watts is a measure of energy use, not light strength.) To compare lumens and watts see chart below: |
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| ..................Incandescent Watts...... . ..CFL Watt range... . . ... .. Lumen Range | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 60 .75 100 150 |
8 - 10 13 - 18 18 - 22 23 - 28 34 - 42 |
450 890 1210 1750 2780 |
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| Models CFLs are available in a variety of styles or shapes. Some have two, four, or six tubes. Older models, and specialty models, have separate tubes and ballasts. Some CFLs have the tubes and ballast permanently connected. This allows you to change the tubes without changing the ballast. Others have circular or spiral-shaped tubes. In general, the size or total surface area of the tube determines how much light the bulb produces. The following CFL bulb models come with standard sockets for easy installation in most common household applications. These bulbs are available in our online store. |
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| Spiral Lamps These bulbs are designed as a continuous tube in a spiral shape which has similar outside shape and light casting qualities to a standard incandescent bulb. Spiral CFL bulbs are made in several sizes to fit most common fixtures. more info Triple Tube Lamps These CFLs have more tubing in a smaller area, which generates even more light in a shorter bulb. They pack high light output into a very small space and can be used in fixtures designed for incandescent bulbs, such as table lamps, reading lamps, open hanging lamps, and bare bulb applications. more info Standard Lamps These are spiral lamps with a dome cover. They are designed to give the appearance of the traditional light bulb for consumers looking for the more familiar light bulb appearance. The glass diffuser provides a quality of light similar to the 'soft-white' type of incandescent bulbs. more info Globe Lamps This shape is commonly used in bathroom vanity mirrors or open hanging lamps, and bare bulb applications. Bathroom vanities usually require multiple bulbs, which generate radiant heat. The CFL globe will reduce this heat buildup while saving energy. The glass diffuser provides a soft-white light. more info Flood Lamps These lamps are designed to be ideal for recessed and track lighting fixtures, indoors and outdoors. They provide diffused, soft, white light, and generate less heat than will an incandescent flood or a halogen bulb. more info Candelabra The screw-in torpedo-shape and the small-base of this bulb is designed for smaller light fixtures throughout the house, from chandeliers to sconces. To use a smaller candelabra-based bulb in a regular socket, you can use a socket reducer, available at many hardware stores and home improvement centers. more info |
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| Limitations | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Although CFLs are an excellent source of energy-efficient lighting, they are not always the best choice for all lighting applications. Here are a few limitations to consider: | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Mercury
and CFLs Mercury is a toxic metal associated with contamination of water, fish, and food supplies, and can lead to adverse health affects. A CFL bulb generally contains an average of 5 mg of mercury (about one-fifth of that found in the average watch battery, and less than 1/100th of the mercury found in an amalgam dental filling). A power plant will emit 10mg of mercury to produce the electricity to run an incandescent bulb compared to only 2.4mg of mercury to run a CFL for the same time. The net benefit of using the more energy efficient lamp is positive, and this is especially true if the mercury in the fluorescent lamp is kept out of the waste stream when the lamp expires. All fluorescent lamps do not contain the same amount of mercury. Philips lamps with Alto Lamp Technology, for instance, contain less mercury than conventional fluorescent lamps. Philips claims the bulbs have the lowest amount of mercury of any bulb on the market at less than 3.8 mg per bulb. To achieve this, Philips uses a specially developed mercury capsule which ensures the exact amount of mercury is placed in a tiny glass capsule which is attached to the lamp cathode. To purchase the new 'Alto' CFLs, click here. Important
Note:
Handling and Disposal of CFLs The mercury in compact
fluorescent bulbs poses no threat while in the bulb, but if you
break one: |
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| LED Lighting | ||||||||||||||||||||
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LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are small, solid light bulbs which are extremely energy-efficient. Until recently, LEDs were limited to single-bulb use in applications such as instrument panels, electronics, pen lights and, more recently, strings of indoor and outdoor Christmas lights. |
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| Recent improvements in manufacture have lowered the cost of LEDs, which has expanded their application. The bulbs are now available in clusters, from 2 to 36 bulbs, and are popular especially for battery powered items such as flashlights and headlamps. LEDs are also available in arrays which fit standard AC and DC receptacles, lamps, recessed and track lights. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Benefits: | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Limitations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cost - although the cost keeps going down, LEDs are still expensive. A single AC bulb (30 LED), replacing a 25 watt incandescent, may cost about $40. Light Field - LEDs are focused lights, and therefore are best as task specific lighting such as reading lights, desk lamps, night lights, spotlights, security lights, signage lighting, etc. They do not radiate light in 360 degrees as an incandescent does. The light will be bright where you point it towards. New designs in LED bulbs are addressing this problem of directional focus. Diffuser lenses with clustered bulbs are becoming more common on the market which is broadening the applications for LED use in the home. |
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LED
Colors: |
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Although
LEDs are expensive, the cost is recouped over time and in battery savings.
For the AC bulbs and large cluster arrays, the best value comes from commercial
use where maintenance and replacement costs are expensive. Traffic lights,
for example, are being switched over to LEDs in many cities. |
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Energy-Efficient Lighting: Online Sources A complete selection of CFLs and LEDs is available online at Eartheasy's online store. |
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Now available: LED Holiday Lights! Eartheasy's online store now offers the most efficient, high-quality LED light strings for your holiday lighting needs. Choose from the five most popular styles, or the heavy-duty strings for commercial applications. To view our selection of LED holiday lights, click here. |
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