Choosing the Right Light Bulb

One of the biggest, most often overlooked, costs for a homeowner are the utilities. It’s a monthly, albeit necessary, drain on your wallet, and the bills can add up. This is especially true when it comes to lighting. While it may be tempting to light up your home with the cheapest (incandescent) light bulbs at the store, in fact you’d be doing yourself and your dwelling place a disservice. Here’s why you should pick energy saving light bulbs over standard light bulbs:

The Cost

While an incandescent light bulb is cheaper at the point of sale, you’re going to get more bang for your buck (or from your bulb, even) over the long run with an energy efficient fluorescent light bulb. This is because the energy efficient light bulbs tend to last two to five times longer than your average bulb. So, while it may be more expensive up front an energy efficient light bulb, you have to buy fewer of them, so it saves you money in the long run.

Better Performance

Not only are you saving on the cost per light bulb, but you’re also saving money due to a lower energy bill. An incandescent light bulb works by having electricity running through a filament. This then turns the electricity into heat. It’s not particularly efficient, as the purpose of a light is to generate light, and not heat. The end result is a paltry 15 lumens per watt of input power.

A fluorescent light, on the other hand, produces 50 to 100 lumens per watt of input power. It does this by creating light through argon and mercury vapor, not heat. The end result is a light bulb that’s four to six times more efficient than an incandescent light bulb. This is why you can buy a 15 watt fluorescent light bulb and get the same amount of light as a 60 watt incandescent bulb. You’ll save hundreds of dollars each year, not to mention fewer light bulb changes.

Better for the environment

Choosing an energy efficient light bulb not only saves your household money, it’s also better for the environment. Because fluorescent light bulbs last so much longer, that means there are less light bulbs in the landfill. It’s a way to reduce your carbon footprint, all by the simple act of purchasing a different kind of light bulb.

As you can see, energy efficient light bulbs beat out incandescent light bulbs. They’re cheaper in the long term, reduce your energy bill, and they also help out the environment. It’s a cheap and easy way to upgrade your home.