Energy Efficient Lighting – Shine Brighter, Save Smarter

Last updated on December 12, 2023

Energy efficient lighting improves the consumption of energy significantly by reducing energy used and carbon dioxide emissions while improving the quality of light in your home.

Energy efficient LED bulbs are an amazing upgrade from traditional light bulbs because they save both energy and money. These LED bulbs shine brighter, last longer and effectively reduce your electricity bill.

Also Read: NSW Schemes For LED Upgrades – $33 LED Upgrade

The most common energy efficient light bulbs are light emitting diodes (LEDs), compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), and halogen incandescent lamps, however LEDs are the most energy-saving, and this article will be centered around them.

Also Read: 10 Benefits Of LED Lights Over Traditional Lighting

LED bulbs help reduce the carbon footprint in your home by about 12 times compared to traditional bulbs.

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The first-generation energy saving bulbs were the halogen lamps and the major problem they had was being cold, harsh, and ultra-bright.

This problem was solved when the first LED bulbs hit the market and provided options of warm and soft white light variations. CFL lights also had a drawback of taking time to reach maximum brightness, which was also solved with the introduction of LED bulbs.

Also Read: Incandescent Vs. CFL Vs. LED – Which Should You Buy?

Types of light bulbs

The journey from traditional light bulbs to newer, more innovative solutions is an impressive one. The original bulbs were made of tungsten filament attached to the base with a glass globe surrounding it.

The bulb gets extremely hot and can be harmful to touch after it has been on for a while, as it might cause skin burns. This heat emitted by the bulb was one of the major ways it dissipates energy. Below is the evolution of energy effective light bulbs:

Halogen bulbs: These light bulbs used a similar technology as did traditional bulbs, however they offered an improvement. The glass globe was filled with halogen gas and the filament is enclosed in a glass envelope.

This extra layer of gas holds the heat and prevents the bulb from becoming extremely hot to touch, thereby saving energy. This reduced energy consumption by about 20W compared to the traditional bulbs.

Fluorescent bulbs: These bulbs are also called Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CLFs) which were made popular due to their use in greenhouses and their ability to illuminate without causing significant changes in temperature.
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs): LED bulbs are referred to as solid-state lighting devices given that they do not require gasses to operate as is the case with incandescent and fluorescent lighting. LEDs operate by passing energy through a semiconductor which then emits visible photons (light).

What are LED Bulbs?

LED bulbs are referred to as solid-state lighting devices, since they do not require gases to operate like incandescent and fluorescent lighting. They operate by passing energy through a semiconductor which then emits photons (light) that we see.

Why LED Bulbs?

The evolution from traditional bulbs to halogen bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs and finally to LED bulbs was all driven by the need to solve problems.

The solution at every evolution point was carried on to the next generation, hence, LED bulbs don’t have any of the problems of previous generations of bulbs. Let’s discuss the benefits of LED bulbs below:

1. They last longer

LED bulbs are more durable than all the other types of light bulbs. LED bulbs can last up to 7 years under normal usage, and they are immune to damage due to falling.

They don’t burn out as in the case of incandescent and halogen bulbs which tend to dim over time even under normal usage. This saves you money in the long run, because it drastically reduces the rate at which you need to replace bulbs.

2. They are energy efficient

The energy efficiency of LED bulbs is through the roof with about 90% energy saved compared to previous types of bulbs. Traditional light bulbs and incandescent light bulbs lose almost all their energy in the form of heat, which leads them to use more energy than needed because the brighter the bulb, there more heat is dissipated.

LEDs provide all the lighting you need for your entire house at half the energy used by all the previous generation of bulbs.

Also Read: Do LED Lights Get Hot – How Hot Are LED Bulbs?

3. They cost less

One of the perks of LED bulbs is their lower prices because the cost of production is much less than that of all other bulbs. Older bulbs required glass, which was brittle and costly, but LED bulbs rarely use glass rather plastic.

Not only is their cost lower, but LED bulbs also reduce the electricity bill drastically because of the low energy consumption.

4. They have more flexible designs

With the older generation light bulbs, you had only one option of light type and there was usually one or two structural designs because glass was used. However, with LED lights you could have a single light bulb with different light variations.

Dimming also became a feature of LED bulbs where you can reduce the brightness of light bulbs and they still maintain integrity, a feature none of the former light bulbs possess.

In addition, older generation light bulbs could only accommodate one color, but with RGB LED lights you can have different colors in a single bulb.

Also Read: Choosing The Right LED Color Temperature – Color Temperature Chart

5. They are much more durable

All the other light bulbs are fragile and easily affected by harsh weather, shocks, vibrations, and abrasion. LED bulbs on the other hand are break resistant mostly because they’re made of a type of plastic which in turn makes them ideal especially for outdoor light.

Also Read: What Color LED Light Helps You Sleep Well?

How to Choose The Right Energy Saving Bulbs For You

The three main factors to consider when selecting the right energy saving bulb are the type of bulb you want, its lumen value and the color you want.

➜ Type of bulb: depending on whether they are to be installed indoors or outdoors, your choice of light bulbs differs. Indoor installations such as chandeliers, dimmable lights and spotlights work best with LED lights, while outdoor installations could use LED or CFL lights.

Also Read: Are LED Light Bulbs Dimmable?

➜ Lumen Value: The lumen value of a light bulb is the measure of its brightness. In older bulbs, this was measured in watts. Different parts of your house require different brightness, for example, outdoor lights are generally brighter than those in your bedroom.

So, once you map out the levels of brightness you need for various locations, then you can select the right bulb based on the lumen values.

➜ The color of the bulb: this property also depends on the location of the bulb and personal preference, but here are a few expert opinions. If you require natural light, then soft or warm light is the best way to go. For areas that require more brightness such as spotlights or garages, then cool or pure white light is your best option.

Tips to Save More Energy in Lighting

Always switch off lights when you leave a room. This single tip can save you a lot of money in electricity bills because most of us are in the habit of leaving lights on for hours in rooms that are empty.
Install light switches where they will be easy to access, because if they are hard to reach, you might be too lazy to switch them off.
You could install outdoor lights with sensors which remain dimmed until they sense a person or an object.

Also Read: How To Save On Electricity – Quick Energy Saving Tips

In conclusion, lights are an integral part of any household and must be installed in almost every part of the house. To better manage electricity bills, it would be a good idea to get lights that cost less and reduce energy consumption.

With their lower cost and durability, energy efficient lighting brings that to the table, and they also provide more room for customization than older generations of light bulbs.

The common myths about energy saving light bulbs

Myth #1: They are too expensive and hard to maintain.

Reality: This is actually wrong, all energy saving bulbs are a major improvement from traditional bulbs with LEDs being the most cost effective in terms of cost and maintenance.

Myth #2: They don’t work well in colder temperatures.

Reality: This is only true for CLFs but not for Halogen and LED lights. So, it would be best not to use them for outdoor lights.

Myth #3: Leaving a light on uses less energy than when it is off.

Reality: This may only work for the first few minutes when the light is on, but anything over 15 minutes leads to wasted energy and slowly increases your electric bill.

The future of energy saving light bulbs: trends and innovations

The evolution of light bulbs promises a pathway for tremendous improvements, with a bright future. Future light bulbs will likely cost less to manufacture and will gradually consume less and less energy. They are also projected to last even longer while ensuring higher illumination levels.

Intensive research is underway by companies and manufacturers to slowly and gradually improve the feautres and output. .

COMPLETE RESIDENTIAL LED LIGHTING UPGRADE FROM AS LITTLE AS $33

LED Brilliance Starts Here, Just $33. Shine Brighter, Save More!

Our Team of Experts Will Guide You Through The ESS Lighting Upgrading Process To Ensure You Achieve The Most Effective Energy Efficient Improvement Possible, GUARANTEED!

A Brighter Home, A Brighter Future!