Spend six to seven minutes comparing the different products. light bulbsShoppers are not the only ones who shop. Research from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority NYSERDA found that 65 percent consumers believe choosing the right bulb can be a complicated process.
These simple steps will save you time, energy, and money.
Step 1: Determine the type of fixture you are looking for (table lamp, pendant, recessed lights or pendant), and then choose accordingly.Step 1.
Step 2 – Look out for the Energy Star label. While some incandescent bulb technologies, such as halogen are promoted as being energy-efficient, they are not better than traditional incandescents. These bulbs convert a lot electrical energy into heat, which is a waste of energy. Energy Star-certified CFLs and LEDs, which meet rigorous standards for quality and energy efficiency, can be switched to save consumers more than $10B annually. This is $143 per household. It also helps avoid the need to build 30 new power plants.
Step 3: To select the brightness of the bulb, read the Lighting Facts Label. For CFLs and LEDs you will need to consider lumens (abbreviated lm) instead of watts. Most packaging will display the correlation between CFLs, LEDs, and incandescent lamps. For a quick reference, 100w equals 1,600lm; 75w equals 1,100lm; 60w equals 800lm; and 40w equals 405lm.
Step 4: Select the light color that you like. This number is expressed in Kelvins. The number is expressed in Kelvins. Daylight is between 5,500K and 6,500K
Step 5: Select the Energy
You can choose from three lighting options: dimmable or three-way.
NYSERDA’s Bulbology resource offers more tips: www.nyserda.ny.gov/bulbology.
Lighting Patterns for Homes eBook from The Lighting Research Center will help you simulate lighting technology and patterns for your house: www.lrc.rpi.edu/patternbook/.
