Newfangled bulbs save in many ways

Buying a light bulb used to be easy. And it used to be something you did several times a year.

But now, “a lot of people are starting to look at light bulbs as an investment,” says Jaclyn Pardini, a representative of Lowe’s Home Improvement stores.

The common incandescent bulbs in wide use ever since Thomas Edison received a patent for his version in 1880 are being phased out. A federal law passed in 2007 set the end of 2014 as the deadline to halt the making and importing into the United States of the bulbs, although stores will be allowed to keep them on shelves until they’re sold out.

In their place are more energy efficient versions that come in a dizzying array of hues and shapes.

But you’ll want to choose carefully. Those CFLs might be with you for the next nine years or so. And if you spring for an LED bulb, you’re really in it for the long haul.

“From the time a child enters kindergarten to the time that they graduate from college, that bulb will still work,” says Pardini of LEDs.

THE OPTIONS

So as those last incandescents flicker out in your lamps and light fixtures, how do you decide what will replace them? Read on:

Incandescent

Cost: (one bulb) Less than $1; (to run for one year): $7.32

Life: 1,000 hours

Pros: It’s the warm, soft light you grew up with.

Cons: A hot-blooded energy hog. Federal law phased out 40- and 60-watt incandescents Jan. 1.

Halogen

Cost: (one bulb) $2-$3; (to run for one year): $5.18

Life: 1,000-3,000 hours

Pros: This new energy-efficient bulb is closest to the soft glow of an incandescent light. They’re now “the designer’s choice in bulbs,” says Lowe’s representative Pardini.

Cons: You’re not gaining much in lifespan or efficiency over incandescents.

CFL (compact fluorescent lamp)

Cost: (one bulb) $1-$2.50; (one year): $1.57

Life: 10,000 hours

Pros: Here’s where energy efficiency really steps up. CFLs use two-thirds less energy than incandescents.

Cons: Early CFLs got a bad rap for being slow to warm up and casting harsh light. But they’ve improved alot. Still, you reduce the lifespan a bit if you turn the light on and off a lot (less than 15 minutes of on time). Using CFLs in an enclosed fixture can also reduce their lifespan, but some newer models have overcome this.

Check the packaging for the bulb you’re considering.

Disposal can be a hassle. Each CFL contains a small amount of mercury, so you need to recycle old bulbs. Several retailers offer this service, and many municipalities allow drop-off at their household hazardous waste facilities. (Check search.earth911.com for listings.)

LED (light-emitting diode)

Cost: (one bulb) $10-$30; (one year): $1.50

Life: 20,000-50,000 hours

Pros: Extremely long life. Cutting-edge technology.

Cons: Much higher upfront cost than other bulb types. But, Pardini says, “the potential return in energy savings and your time in changing out light bulbs is far greater over time. So it’s more of a longer-term investment.” Like CFLs, some LED bulbs can deteriorate in the heat of an enclosed fixture, so consult the packaging.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT HUE

CFL and LED bulbs come in a variety of colors (“color temperature” is the correct term) that will really affect the look of the room you’re illuminating.

Here are your options, with tips on what will put each room of your home in the very best light.

Soft white/Warm white

Where to use: Living areas, bedrooms, dining spaces. This is the most common color temperature, and closest in color to the traditional incandescent bulb. Works well with earth tones like brown and tan.

Cool white/Neutral/ Bright white

Where to use: Office and work areas. Fine for general lighting. Works well with neutral tones like gray and beige.

Natural/Daylight

Where to use: Reading areas or for display lighting. Complements bold colors like blues, greens and purples; shows color with the most accuracy.

COST SAVINGS

Here are some statistics from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program, which adds its stamp to light fixtures and bulbs that are at least 75 percent more efficient than traditional lighting.

By replacing your home’s five most frequently used bulbs, you can save $70 each year.

The average U.S. home has about 30 light fixtures; a switch to Energy Star lighting can save more than $400 a year on your electric bill.

If every American household replaced its five most frequently used light fixtures or the bulbs in them, the national savings would be $8 billion each year in energy costs, and that action would prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions from 10 million cars.

Dimmable and three way lights

You can save energy in three-way and dimmable fixtures, too. Look for CFL and LED bulbs in packages marked “dimmable” or “3-way” to make sure you’re getting a bulb that will work.

Cost figures are averages and based on 60-watt-equivalent single bulbs. Annual cost and lifespan based on three hours of use daily.

SOURCES: Lowe’s Home Improvement, Home Depot, energystar.gov, eartheasy.com, Consumer Reports

HomeStyle, Pages 38 on 01/11/2014

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