Light Bulb Facts

Be green – and save some too – with LEDs and CFLs

Switching to light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) is an easy way to use energy safely and wisely.

Old-style incandescent light bulbs are being phased out of the marketplace, making now the time to switch to more energy-efficient light bulbs such as LEDs and CFLs. It’s a change that will go a long way in helping you to reduce energy waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and the amount you spend on energy costs.

• Light Emitting Diodes – LEDs offer significant advantages over incandescent bulbs, including lower energy consumption, longer lifetime, physical robustness, smaller size, and faster on-off switching. LEDs tend to be more expensive to purchase but are cheaper to use over their lifetime due to their long life and remarkably low energy use. LEDs have 35,000 to 50,000 hours of useful life. Click here to learn more about LEDs.

• Compact Fluorescent Lamps – Compared to general-service incandescent bulbs emitting the same amount of visible light, CFLs use one-fifth to one-third the electricity and last far longer. CFLs may cost more than incandescent bulbs up front, but they typically save over five times their purchase price in electricity costs over their lifespan. CFLs have 10,000 to 15,000 hours of useful life. Click here to learn more about CFLs.

Because these bulbs use less energy and last 10 to 50 times longer than comparable incandescent bulbs, they can help reduce your energy bills while also reducing greenhouse gases and fuel used to generate power.

For a side-by-side comparison of LEDs, CFLs and incandescent bulbs, click here.

Be sure to look for the ENERGY STAR symbol when purchasing light bulbs – ENERGY STAR qualified light bulbs have a warranty. Click here  to view the ENERGY STAR light bulb purchasing list.

 

Source: ENERGY STAR and NYSERDA

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