Do you find it hard to decide which energy-saving lightbulbs to buy because you’re unsure of how bright the bulbs will be? Incandescent, LED, compact fluorescent (CFL) and halogen bulbs all have a range of wattage (energy draw) and brightness (lumens) and other features as well. Figuring out which energy-saving bulbs will work in your light fixtures is worth it, however. According to Natural Resources Canada (link here), “In residential lighting alone, replacing conventional incandescent bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs could save Canadian consumers almost $600 million a year on their electricity bills.” Um, I think they mean all of us together, unless your energy bill is way bigger than mine.
So how to compare? Look at lumens, not the wattage of the various bulbs. How much energy a bulb uses has nothing to do with how bright it is, since the bulbs don’t efficiently convert 100 per cent of the energy into light. That’s why incandescent bulbs get so hot: they waste about 90 per cent of the energy used, converting it into heat instead of light!
Here are 7 questions you should ask when buying lightbulbs:
1. How bright is it? Lumens are the measure of brightness, so it’s good to get familiar with lumens as the way to compare various bulbs. Here are some common examples of equivalents. (Some bulbs may be more or less efficient than my list below, so you may see different wattage and lumen numbers on bulb packaging.) Bright to brightest:
25-watt incandescent = 220 lumens
7-watt CFL = 290 lumens
9-watt LED: 470 lumens
10-watt LED = 475 lumens
40-watt incandescent bulb = 495 lumens
9-watt CFL = 550 lumens
43-watt halogen = 800 lumens
13-watt CFL = 860 lumens
60-watt incandescent bulb = 800 to 1,000 lumens
20-watt CFL = 1150 lumens
75-watt incandescent bulb = 1170 lumens
16-watt LED = 2,500 lumens
2. What colour of light does it provide? You may want a warm-white bulb in some applications, where in others a bright or cool white bulb is more appropriate. Look for light colour options on the package.
3. Does it turn on instantly? Some bulbs take a moments to fully illuminate. You may want instant-on bulbs in some areas of your home.
4. Can it work at low temperatures? Some CFLs don’t work or last as long at sub-zero temperatures, particularly if used with motion detectors. Look for bulbs rated for lower outdoor temperatures if you plan to use them outdoors.
5. Is it dimmable? If you’re trying to create an intimate atmosphere, dimming is a must! More and more dimmable energy-efficient bulbs are now available.
6. How long will the bulb last? It may be worth it to you to pay a little more for high-quality bulbs that last longer. A good-quality LED bulb can last for 25,000 to 50,000 hours, so you may not need to change it for 15 years! How handy would that be for those tricky to get to ceiling-mounted lamps?
7. How much does it cost? Ah, the bottom line. But before you dismiss that pricey LED bulb, consider calculating the cost per hour, based on the bulb’s lifespan. A 40-watt / 495 lumen incandescent costs about $1, or $0.001 per lifespan hour. A 9-watt / 550 lumen CFL costs about $4, or $0.0004 per lifespan hour. A $40 10-watt / 475 lumen LED (with a 50,000 lifespan) costs $0.0008 per lifespan hour.
Have you turned out the inefficient lights in your home? Are you having any trouble figuring out which bulbs to buy?
Energy-saving lightbulbs contest CLOSED. Congrats to Vicki, who won a set of bulbs from IKEA! The contest closed at noon on Tuesday, February 8. Employees of Homemakers magazine and Transcontinental Media and their family members were not eligible to win.
