Great Energy-Efficient Lightbulbs For The Home

Household expenses are on the rise – anyone who has perused a news site will be aware that the cost of living is only going to continue for the foreseeable. In the face of this ever-escalating financial pressure, homeowners are in search of ways to trim household expenses.

One of the contributing factors to household overheads is electricity. That will become readily apparent should place your monthly electricity next to each other and track the change over the past year. Lighting contributes around 15% of electricity use in an average home.

Energy- efficient lightbulbs can significantly reduce the impact of lighting on household finances.

However, choosing just which type of energy-efficient bulb would best suit your individual requirements can be challenging. There are different types of energy-efficient lightbulbs on the market today and a variety of leading manufacturers.

Let’s take a closer look at the types of energy-efficient bulbs that are easily available – and some of the makes and models (in each class) that have received excellent consumer reviews.

The first type of energy-efficient lightbulbs on the market is the Light emitting diode (LEDs).

These bulbs are known as ‘solid-state’ lighting. Meaning they convert electricity into light using semiconductors. Advances in LED lightbulb design have resulted in these bulbs becoming the most energy-efficient lightbulbs that money can buy. The statistics are staggering. Studies have shown that a house fitted with LED bulbs can cut its lighting bill by 90%. In addition, these lights last for 25 times longer than old-school incandescent bulbs.

These are some LED lightbulbs worth considering:

1. The Cree 60W Equivalent Dimmable DaylightLED Light Bulb. Scores consistently high with consumers due to its clear light and dimming ability.

2. The Energetic A19 LED Light Bulb – 2700K Soft White. If you want to save money upfront then this budget choice is for you.

The second class of energy-efficient lightbulbs is ‘compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs). These bulbs supply light by passing an electric current through a mix of Argon and Mercury vapor. This process results in the emission of ultraviolet light that strikes the fluorescent coat on the inside surface of the bulb, emitting visible light.

These bulbs are cheaper than LEDs – but they also do not cut down on household electricity as efficiently as LEDs. The bulbs can still deliver a still impressive 70% reduction in energy use. They do require a very short period of time to allow the optimum flow of electricity – but then that 70% saving kicks in.

Some Excellent CFL Choices:

1. The SYLVANIA 48″ T8 Octron 32W Fluorescent Tube ‘Ecologic’ Lamp. High marks for color rendering and incredible value for money.

2. Philips CFL Energy Saver Light Bulbs. Great price and available in various wattage/color temperature variants.

Using less energy is great for your household budget – but it’s also an eco-aware choice. Energy-saving lightbulbs last longer than traditional bulbs and are available in models that allow you to adjust brightness – or if that is not required then there is an incredible range of lightbulbs that emit various levels of light.

Monthly savings have never been this easy. Switch to energy-efficient bulbs and change your life – not your bulbs.