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Let There Be Light
If every American home replaced just one light bulb with a light bulb that's earned the ENERGY STAR, we would save enough energy to light 3 million homes for a year, save about $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to those from about 800,000 cars.
Earning the ENERGY STAR means products meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Lighting products that have earned the ENERGY STAR deliver exceptional features, while using less energy. Saving energy helps you save money on utility bills and protect the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the fight against climate change.
Energy efficient bulbs are becoming more widespread in homes and businesses throughout the country. While these bulbs have a slightly higher price than regular incandescent bulbs, the savings in energy costs make the investment worthwhile. When choosing an energy-efficient bulb, make sure you know what to look for to find the right bulb at the right price.
- Consider where your new energy-saving light bulb will be used. The size and shape will need to be comparable in your old incandescent bulb. It may help to bring the old light bulb with you when looking for a new one
- Look at the current light bulb you are using that you would like to replace. Note how many watts it uses, and keep this information handy when you go to buy a new energy-efficient light bulb. Your new light bulb should use significantly fewer watts. (Therefore, it uses less energy.)
- Though the wattage will be lower, your new light bulb should produce the same number of lumens (how much light is generated). For example, a 40-watt incandescent light bulb produces 450 lumens. A compact fluorescent light bulb produces the same number of lumens using only 8 to 10 watts.
- Two types of energy-efficient bulbs have become widely used in both residential and commercial settings. Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs are widely used due to their low cost and high energy efficiency. CFLs have been adapted to almost all residential uses of regular incandescent light bulbs. LED bulbs are often composed of several small LEDs. These are more expensive than CFLs, but they also save more energy.
- It's important to check for the Energy Star© rating on your new energy-saving light bulb. This rating ensures that your new light bulb will meet energy-efficiency requirements. It also means that the light bulb has a manufacturer-backed warranty
- Compare the number of watts used by different CFL or LED bulbs to achieve the number of lumens you are trying to acquire. If you want 450 lumens, look for the bulb which produces that number using the lowest number of watts. Among the bulbs using the lowest number of watts, choose the one with the lowest price.
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