Energy Efficient Light Bulb Tips (PHOTOS)

Given the many light bulb choices available today and the new bulb efficiency standards that are set to go into effect in 2012, selecting the right bulb for your home can difficult. Below, check out the tips from the Natural Resources Defense Council for selecting the light bulb that both looks best and is energy efficient.

The efficiency standards that are set to take effect on January 1, 2012 mean that older, incandescent bulbs will be phased out. Consumers, however, will still have a choice between newer, more efficient incandescent bulbs, CFLs and LED bulbs, reports the NRDC.

Congressional Republicans included a rider in a spending bill last week that will delay enforcement of the light bulb efficiency law that was signed by President Bush in 2007. The Associated Press reports Rep. Fred Upton (R-Michigan) said, "Americans don't want government standards determining how they light their homes."

According to the NRDC, the change is hardly a coup. The Republican rider "pertains only to funding for federal enforcement of federal lighting standards for this fiscal year." The delay will not affect standards for manufacturers, or ultimately, consumers. Rocky Kistner, a HuffPost blogger with the NRDC, said "the money-saving law" is "good for American consumers -- and for American workers and their companies."

Light bulb manufacturers even oppose Congress' efficiency standards funding delay. A statement from the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, representing over 90 percent of the lighting industry, said the industry "remains committed and supportive of the lighting standards established [by the 2007 law]."

Captions courtesy of NRDC. Images courtesy of NRDC unless otherwise credited.

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Comments

[incompatiblequadrilatera]

10:48 PM on 01/08/2012

A company called Switch Lighting is currently field-testing a 100 watt equivalent LED bulb that they claim is omnidirectional in light output, will be available in a pleasant warm light version, and have the long lifespan associated with LED bulbs. I don't know how much they'll cost, but with any luck it could be out in a few months.

[Kenz300]

08:22 PM on 01/05/2012

LED's are great. As the production ramps up there will be more available and at cheaper prices.

It makes sense to save money rather than give it to your utility company needlessly.

Buy energy efficient bulbs, appliances and vehicles. You will save money in the long run and that's a good thing.

[landonswan]

10:59 AM on 12/31/2011

If they truly are better light bulbs then no force is required to drive adoption. People acting for their own self interests will adopt the better bulb.

If however, they are not better ( in the eyes of the consumer, which is most important), then force is required.

Force is being used. Draw your own conclusions.

[MichaelAKD]

03:21 PM on 12/31/2011

that is what they said when the government forced the removal of lead from our gasoline or forced air bags on us, or forced the rea's into existence so those who didn't live in chicago, n.y. or l.a. could also have electricity. today we have an infrastructure that is outdated and quite literally cannot even meet current demand without investing hundreds of millions, billions that in the end we all will pay for. this is pocket change in comparison and people are whining? do they not remember last summer or all the other blackouts, brownouts, summer high usage fees, etc? one single blackout being stuck in traffic in an urban area with no traffic lights, burning up your time, your gas, that alone is reason enough in my book to make this insignificant change. such a small thing that allows us all to maintain our current standard of living without having to make enormous investments in our grid and power plants. this isn't a green thing, not a lefty thing it is just plain old fashioned common sense period. thankfully there was a consensus including all of the utilities which were united in support of this move. thankfully this was one of the few times when users and providers both found common ground on something and acted in unison on somethign that will benefit all of us in both the short and long run.

[The last sane American]

08:30 AM on 12/26/2011

I am somewhat perplexed as to why both Fluorescent and Floodlighting have not been considered

The movement away from traditional Fluorescent lighting in many homes were the harsh characteristics of light emitted. Fine for industrial and commercial applications where one only need to be exposed for short periods. The CFLs, to present, include that weakness as do halogens. There is promise that LED may offer a better long-term solution as that technology evolves.
That evolution is critical for all the continued recess lighting applications that continue in the home environment.
Curiously the complete ban of incandescents is quite counter-intuitive. Surely a revenue gathering tax on the choice to continue use those light forms, would fit better into the pursuit of Freedom espoused by this country?

[mater]

07:48 AM on 12/26/2011

If I were living in a museum or a hospital, this might be important to me, but in my tiny dwelling, it just isn't on the radar.

[PiedType]

10:14 PM on 12/25/2011

I'd be happy to change to more energy-efficient bulbs, and even pay a bit more to do it. But I resent being forced to change until there's an equivalent bulb available -- one that fits the same lamps and fixtures, puts out the same amount of light, works with dimmers and three way switches, doesn't take five minutes to warm up, doesn't make a humming sound, doesn't contain mercury or other toxic substances, doesn't put out weird greenish or bluish light, and can be turned on and off as I like without shortening their lives. As far as I know, only incandescents meet these requirements.

[Edward Standley]

11:34 PM on 12/25/2011

And I want "crab substitute" that tastes like real crab. I refuse to buy the crud sold today! :)

[PiedType]

02:32 AM on 12/26/2011

I'm afraid we've both been outvoted. :(

[yeti7]

07:47 PM on 12/26/2011

why not eat real crab?

[Yota Daga]

04:00 AM on 12/26/2011

There is now!

[deweaver]

08:36 PM on 12/24/2011

The most optimal bulb depends strongly upon how many hours/yr it is being used. If it is only an hour or so per year such as a remote storage area for X-mass tree ornaments, instead of the 1000 or so assumed in this table, the lowest cost bulb with the lowest manufacturing cost would use less resources, produce less carbon dioxide and cost less than any of the alternatives.

The political class prefers the one size fits all applications rules, where they get the power, money and glory of determining the exceptions.

Activists like the NRDC are equally self serving and silly. If they really wanted to decrease carbon dioxide and minimize our energy consumption, they would be pushing for massive oil and coal taxes, with a corresponding decrease in payroll taxes to increase employment. However for fund raising, nanny approaches are better for them than high fuel taxes impacting the SUV's of major donors, even if worse for the environment.

[Yota Daga]

03:57 AM on 12/26/2011

Who has the time to try to figure out what bulb is optimal and which one is not? Just simply change all of them, Leds are now breaking the $15,00 mark and last 7-10 years so it will not really matter. They also come in various "colors" from warm, cool, and lastly super bright white which is uncomfortable for most people unless it's an outdoors lamp. They only use 1/10th the energy of incandescents. As the chart shows payback in 2 years.

[SharonDoc]

10:16 PM on 12/29/2011

It's all horse hockey!

[CarlyQ]

01:52 PM on 12/24/2011

CFL's do NOT last 6-10 years.

I bought mine mid-December a year ago and I've had to replace almost ALL of them already.

With incandescents, of course, because I'm never buying a CFL again.

[jedonspring]

04:30 PM on 12/24/2011

You should have told the manufacturer. They're supposed to last that long - mine have. Incandescents are such a energy/wallet drain.

[CarlyQ]

04:57 PM on 12/24/2011

They do last that long....if they're left on indefinitely, apparently.

[Almondo]

06:43 PM on 12/25/2011

I have been using them since they hit the market and I have not had any last less than year, most are hitting 5+ years now and going strong. We don't leave them on continuously either. We originally embraced them when we lived off grid some years back when they were really expensive but we had limited power so they were really advantageous then.

Do you have power fluctuation issues? I am just wondering because I do know someone who has had issues similar to yours but he figured out that the spikes were taking out the inverters prematurely.

[CarlyQ]

10:08 AM on 12/26/2011

In fact, yes - I deal with power outages at least one a week and there are always surges (or drains). I live in farm territory with a big ol' greenhouse as a neighbor and winds of near hurricane variety.

Maybe that's the problem, then.

[loco48]

07:30 AM on 12/27/2011

The old type bulbs use the filiment as the light source and as the resistance to prevent the short of the AC. Since the filiment is like a hot wire on fire, it is more sesepatble to power surges. I live near an air force base. Before I went to CFL's I used to replace 25% of them every year. The vibration from the sonic booms would cause my filiment to break when on. The AFB acutallyuse to give out boxes of bulbs to area residents for free.

[Poltroone]

09:49 AM on 12/24/2011

Ya know, I replaced all the incandescents in a light bar over my bathroom sink with cfls. Then I had to turn up the heater to replace the heat emitted by the old bulbs...think about that for a bit

[IMOPINIONH8D]

11:08 AM on 12/24/2011

Heat=Energy Energy makes heat, I think they call it science try thinking about that.

[Poltroone]

09:20 AM on 12/27/2011

Imo:
Ya missed the point. I am saving the world with ctf's but the energy I saved caused the temperature I was accustomed to to fall enough that the room is colder requiring heat ( energy) from another source. It was a bit of humor too

[Steelheadangler]

02:40 PM on 12/24/2011

If you are suggesting that your home heater is less efficient that a light bulb I would suggest that you either rethink your statement or replace you heater. The simple fact is that the utilization of incandescent bulbs as a heating source is foolish.

[Poltroone]

04:44 PM on 12/24/2011

You are over thinking my comments friend. To re-iterate... I said think about it a bit. That's all. Like many of my left wing cliff dwelling friends you are sorely lacking a sense of humor

[yeti7]

07:55 PM on 12/26/2011

Every had an egg incubator? Regular old bulb was more cost efficient than an infrared light bulb.

[motoGpifupleez]

08:47 PM on 12/23/2011

I'm full CFL. The most enjoyable aspect of having them is the look on the faces of the detractors when they are informed that the lights they claim to be so inferior are all that they are experiencing.

Reality ALWAYS trumps the ill-informed talking point.

[JBS]

10:48 AM on 12/23/2011

I have pretty much replaced incandescent bulbs with CFL lamps where possible, but have also noticed that the "equivalents" are not that good. To really replace a 100W incandescent, you need at least a 30W CFL instead of the 23W CFL that is supposed to be "equivalent".

Plus when you turn on a CFL lamp it takes time for it to warm up, with significant changes in brightness and color temperature while it does so. I have to reach into the room and turn the lights on then come back after a few minutes or it causes me serious eye strain.

[CrzyRussell]

08:28 PM on 12/23/2011

I use incandescents in living areas, they are the best of all. Everywhere else I have cfls.

[IMOPINIONH8D]

11:09 AM on 12/24/2011

Why bother then?

[mtview]

07:39 PM on 12/24/2011

That's my main complaint about CFLs (along with the mercury). If you just need a light on for a short time, they really aren't up to the task.

[mzrecycle]

08:04 AM on 12/23/2011

When CFL's came out I was all for them. Even tho they were a lot more $$. Over time, I found the touted savings just didn't happen. I've learned a few things: Have to buy a name brand bulb or they don't last, don't give the light they say they will. I also learned that with CFL's, it's best to keep them on all day, otherwise they burn out quickly. I just can't seem to do that. I was taught to turn the light out when I left an area.
I have a dark stairway where I don't want to have leave light on. I first bought CFL's to put in the ceiling fixture. Since I'd turn them on at one end of stairs, then turn them off at the other, they never lasted. Big ladder, climbing up to change the bulbs...a few decades ago that would be ok, but not now.
I bought a chandelier type fixture, and incandescents. I can stand to the side at the top and, using a boat hook, pull fixture toward me and change the bulb.
In all other places in my home I have the CFL's. I hope they can continue to improve on reducing the size of high lumen bulbs. Many of my ceiling fixtures have a bowl cover. The high lumen bulbs won't fit in them. I'm far sighted and need all the lumens I can get.

[CarlyQ]

01:55 PM on 12/24/2011

I went on a CFL kick a year ago and replaced all my incandescents with them.

I've had to replace almost ALL of them already - because apparently they do need to be left on for long periods of time.

Begs the question - just how much energy do they actually save if they have to be left on all the time so the bragged about "6-10 year" lifespan actually means something?

[carrotandstick]

12:03 AM on 12/23/2011

Uh, the kind that light up?

[catbite]

09:56 PM on 12/22/2011

I just want something that gives off enough light. Those made-in-China, mercury energy efficient bulbs don't do the job.

[GhostOfFDR]

10:38 PM on 12/22/2011

Buy better ones. The ones from a brand you've never heard of aren't going to be very good. If you're worried about brightness, by a 75 watt equivalent to replace a 60 watt or a 100 to replace a 75. A 150 or 225 watt equivalent might not fit a a table lamp. In some cases you might want to buy a fluorescent fixture. Enclosed fixtures can burn through bulbs fast.

[Rodger leMonde]

09:49 PM on 12/22/2011

If we were smart we would wire all new homes with a 12 volt system as well as 120 ac.
The adoption of LED technology would be cheap and painless.

[ScienceGuyOrg]

10:09 PM on 12/22/2011

Interesting idea, the DC circuit would be good if there was PV panels supplying some of the electricity. I wonder about the line loss on the lower voltage DC.

[GhostOfFDR]

10:44 PM on 12/22/2011

Given the number of wall warts and items with inefficient internal power supplies in my house, DC wiring sounds like a fine idea. The problem is the number of voltages. -5, +5,+9,+15,+28 (unregulated) on a 6 pronged plug? If there was a standard, devices could be designed for it, and they could use DC-DC converters when a step up or step down is necessary.

[loco48]

07:28 AM on 12/23/2011

The line loss on an average home would not cause a voltage drop of more than 1 tenth of 1 % . 11.9 volts at the worst and that would not be a factor. Now if you have a 30K sq ft house then you might run into a problem but that could be solved with step up transformers installed in long distance cable run outlet (plug). Most electrical appliances, computer, phone have a plus or minus 10% loss or gain to operate properly. You can calculate voltage drop by using IRV formula.

[loco48]

09:30 AM on 12/23/2011

Your house is already wired for DC. Your AC wiring is a thicker gauge than DC wires. You can split up outlets as DC or AC and divert to a DC power source at the breaker panel. The plus is that the thicker copper AC wiring will cause less resistance and voltage drop if used for DC.

[Moose Luck 99]

09:52 AM on 12/23/2011

If you use DC wires for Home theater amps it will not work. wire too thick too expensive.Look at car amps only big thick lots of copper wires work!

[Rodger leMonde]

12:19 PM on 12/23/2011

Which makes retrofits relatively simple.
The big energy hogs, are usually centralized. With supply geared up, crews of two or three guys could accomplish the retrofit in a day.