A New Look at Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

During the past two years, energy efficient light bulbs have seen a complete revolution. Not only are manufacturers designing stylish covers for the twisted tubes that pack up to 10,000 hours of light and need changing only after five to seven years, but they’ve made the bulbs smaller and closer in color to the familiar-yet-inefficient incandescent light-without the pesky flickering that characterized prior generations of fluorescent lighting.

The fluorescent lights burn about 75 percent less energy than standard bulbs, and when used to completely displace incandescent throughout a home, can save the homeowner up to $2000 in utility bills over the long life of the bulbs.

Flourescents pack more lumens per watt than your ordinary bulb. They are more energy-efficient than incandescents partly because they emit far more light—lumens—than heat energy—watts. And they do not create as much heat as they burn. Because incandescents waste up to 85% of their energy producing heat, they burn themselves out in short order. So users are paying for heat they don’t need, and that can force air conditioners to work harder during warmer months.

Earlier versions of fluorescents came in awkward colors and were notorious for hesitating and blinking. The newer versions have been manipulated so they can screw into the same table lamps and overhead sockets as their energy-wasting competitors. Plus they are available in a wide variety of colors and shapes that can easily mimic and replace the incandescents wherever the homeowner or business has lighting.