Energy Star Lighting
Energy Star Lighting
Electric lighting consumes up to 25% of the average home energy budget. The electricity used over the lifetime of a single incandescent bulb costs 5 to 10 times the original purchase price of a cfl bulb or compact fluorescent light bulb.
CFL Bulbs – Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs are simply miniature versions of full-sized fluorescence. They screw into standard lamp sockets, and give off light that looks just like the common incandescent bulbs – not like the fluorescent lighting we associate with factories and schools.
CFL bulb styles – Spiral Lamps Continuous tube in a spiral shape which has similar outside shape and light casting qualities to a standard incandescent light bulbs. Spiral CFL bulbs are made in several sizes to fit most common fixtures.
CFLs are four times more efficient and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs. A 22 watt CFL has about the same light output as a 100 watt incandescent. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use 50 – 80% less energy than incandescent light bulbs.
Although initially more expensive, you save money in the long run because CFLs use 1/3 the energy and last up to 10 times as long as incandescent. At 8 cents per kWh, a single 18 watt CFL used in place of a 75 watt incandescent will save about $45. This does not even take into consideration of the energy savings you will get on cooling costs as the CFL puts off less than 1/6 the heat of an incandescent.
Pollution Reduction By replacing a single incandescent bulb with a CFL you can keep a half-ton of CO2 out of the atmosphere over the life of the bulb. If everyone in the U.S. used energy-efficient lighting, we could retire 90 average size power plants.
Newer Compact fluorescent light bulbs give a warm, inviting light instead of the “cool white” light of older fluorescence. They use rare earth phosphors for excellent color and warmth. New electronically ballasted CFLs don’t flicker or hum.
Versatility Compact fluorescent light bulbs can be applied nearly anywhere that incandescent lights are used. 3-way CFLs are also now available for lamps with 3-way settings.