Energy Saving Light Bulbs | How to Save Electricity

If you are looking for ways how to save electricity around the house, I encourage you to consider installing energy saving light bulbs. This energy saving tip ranks quite high as being one of the more simple ways to conserve electricity and consequently save money on electricity related costs. Replacing your existing incandescent bulbs with energy saving light bulbs, energy star qualified compact fluorescent lamps (CFL’s) to be precise, will enable you to start conserving electricity on lighting in your home.

Are you still not convinced with making this change? If so, I suggest you consider that on average about 12% or more of annual energy related costs can be associated with lighting in your home. For comparison purposes, this amount is about the same as the energy that a typical home uses on cooling and electricity for electronic appliances. Each of our situations and behaviors are somewhat different meaning you could be spending even more or perhaps less than this amount.

Another part of the story if you will is that incandescent light bulbs are a technology that has existed for over 100 years. They have not really changed or seen much innovation especially in terms of energy efficiency. If you would like to understand more, I suggest you read up a bit on the history of electricity to familiarize yourself with the timelines, milestones of the various discoveries and inventions.

The real question to understand is how will compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) help you to save money on electricity? The main benefit relates to the energy efficiency of the technology used in these energy saving light bulbs, known as fluorescent lighting. The advantage is that now you can make use of this technology within the standard incandescent or newer light fixtures.

In terms of energy efficiency, energy star qualified CFL’s are estimated to use up to 75% less electricity than our beloved incandescent bulbs. That in itself is a key opportunity to lower your electricity costs each month. That is not the only benefit in the sense that they are also know to last up to 10 times longer that our traditional light bulbs. So when you add this up, you have a much more energy efficient light bulb that should last longer than those you are using today. It is estimated that they can last up to 10,000 hours which means you should not have to replace them as frequently as normal incandescent light bulbs.

In summary, the savings on electricity will be compounded over the lifespan of the energy saving light bulb. There is another small added benefit; CFL’s are known to generate less heat than normal light bulbs. With this in mind, you could consider them to be somewhat safer to operate in terms of risk if touched for example.

So what does this mean in terms of your electricity bill? Some estimate that you can save between $30- $50 over the lifetime of each energy saving light bulb you install. This may sound too good to be true to some of you, hence the challenge with estimates overall. However, if you start to add this up in your home, assuming you replaced several light bulbs, you will surely save money on electricity costs related to lighting over the long term with only a small investment up front. We should also keep in mind that we will need to replace existing light bulbs anyway, therefore why not take the opportunity to install energy saving light bulbs at that time.

Can I install energy saving light bulbs throughout my house? In general, CFL’s are the most appropriate choice in areas where the lighting is required for extended periods of time. Therefore one of the first places you will want to consider is installing them in the living room, kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms. On the other hand, it may not be as beneficial to install them in a small storage facility or closet where the lighting is used only for short periods of time.

For reference, ENERGY STAR recommends using qualified CFL’s in areas where the lighting is typically used for at least 15 minutes. This should help you determine where they are most appropriate in your home. You should not forget that they can also be used for outdoor lighting as well. You will want to ensure that the energy saving light bulbs are certified for outdoor use, which is normally mentioned on the packaging. It may also be a good idea to ensure they are enclosed in light fixtures to minimize the sensitivity to temperatures.

When you are ready to choose, do keep in mind that energy saving light bulbs come in different forms and watts. The wattage levels are rated differently than normal bulbs and the comparison is normally mentioned on the packaging. The same can be said about lighting that is linked to a dimmer switch or three-way lighting fixture.

When it comes time for disposal, you will need to treat them differently than incandescent bulbs. The best approach is to check locally on any specific disposal restrictions or guidance. However the main recommendations are to enclose them in a seal plastic bag for disposal.

Taking the time to install energy saving light bulbs around the house should allow you to save money on electricity bills. Take the time to select the correct energy star qualified CFL bulb that corresponds to the area to be used. There will be a small investment required in comparison than normal light bulbs however the long terms savings should more than offset this. Think about this the next time you are faced with replacing a light bulb. Doing so will allow you to start conserving electricity around your home.

Once you have done this, take the time to evaluate using a digital programmable thermostat and at least one smart power strip in your home as well.There are loads of energy saving tips for the home that you can learns ways how to save electricity at home.