The Best Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs for Home and Office

According to one report, nearly 90% of American households have embraced energy efficient light bulbs. Are you thinking about making the switch yourself?

If you’re still using traditional incandescent bulbs, you could be doing your home — and your wallet — a major disservice. Newer CFL and LED bulbs drain less power from your home, last for a longer period of time, and save you money on your monthly utility bill.

Are you ready to transform how you illuminate your home and office? Today, we’re taking a look at the best energy efficient lighting solutions for your commercial and residential needs.

Different Types of Lighting to Consider

If you want to find energy efficient lighting, it’s smart to shop around. As you do, you’ll quickly find that there are many different brands and manufacturers on the market.

All of those different bulbs fall into one of four categories. These include:

• Incandescent bulbs
• Halogen bulbs
• Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs)
• Light-Emitting Diodes (LED)

Of these, some lights are more energy-efficient than others. Whether you’re outfitting your home or your corporate office, it’s important to understand how your choices will affect the carbon footprint of the building. Let’s take a look at these different types of lighting in greater detail.

Incandescent Bulbs

Before energy efficiency became top of mind for homeowners and business owners around the world, most properties relied on incandescent bulbs for basic illumination.

Thomas Edison patented the first incandescent light bulb in 1879. He received a second patent in 1880 and began commercializing the bulbs one year later. Since then, they’ve been a reliable market mainstay.

However, that doesn’t mean they’re efficient. In fact, incandescent bulbs use up a ton of power. This is because they produce light by emitting energy in the form of heat.

When you look at one of these bulbs, what you’re actually seeing is the filament within it. It’s burning hot, and the flame is what creates the light. Not only are these lights not energy-efficient, but they can also get very hot and pose a burn threat to pets and small children.

Halogen Bulbs

Halogen bulbs are typically smaller than standard-sized light bulbs. They’re usually found in track lighting, and you can find them in commercial settings such as art galleries.

Of the four different types of light bulbs, these are the closest to incandescent bulbs. They are cylindrical or cone-shaped and filled with a special type of gas. When electricity interacts with the gas, it creates a glowing light.

The gases inside halogen bulbs help them last as long as possible. This makes them ideal for settings that require constant illumination but can raise the carbon footprint of a building.

Compact Fluorescent Lamps

Compact Fluorescent Lamps, or CFLs, are some of the most energy-efficient bulbs on the market today. They require only a fraction of the energy that incandescent bulbs need, but they still aren’t the best for home or office use.

These are the curly-shaped bulbs that were popular at the beginning of the 21st century. Today, you can still find the curly bulbs, but newer CFLs are designed to replicate the simple look of an incandescent bulb.

With a CFL, an electric current starts flowing through the bulb as soon as you flip the light switch. The current travels between two electrodes that are located on both ends of a tube filled with gas. The tube is coated in phosphor.

When energy contacts this phosphor coating, it transforms into light. One thing you’ll notice about CFL bulbs is that the effect isn’t instantaneous. It can take between three and 30 seconds for the action to occur, so you’ll experience a slight delay.

If a CFL bulb breaks, it’s important to follow proper precautions when cleaning it up. This type of bulb contains a small amount of mercury sealed inside of the glass tubing. If the bulb breaks in your home or office, the mercury can enter the air as gaseous vapor.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) outlines the steps to follow in this guide. If you have CFL light bulbs in your home, print this guide out and keep it in a central location so you’ll know what to do.

Light-Emitting Diodes

If you’re looking for the most energy efficient bulbs, then Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are the way to go. LED home lighting has evolved over the years, and it’s widely considered the most sustainable way to illuminate any property.

These bulbs contain a semiconductor inside of them. When electricity passes over the conductor, it produces visible light through a process called electroluminescence. While they’ve always been hearaleded for their low energy use, LEDs were traditionally considered too expensive for regular consumer use.

However, they are now more affordable and accessible than ever before. They’re also available in a wider variety of styles. Today, you can find LED bulbs in a range of different formats including:

• Dimmable bulbs
• Vintage-inspired bulbs
• Different color temperatures

For best results, look for LED lights that have an ENERGY STAR® label on their packaging. These lights can cut your normal energy use by up to 75%!

Another benefit of switching to LEDs? They can last up to 25 times longer than incandescent light bulbs! While they may cost a little more upfront, the ROI on these bulbs is impressive.

Find the Best Energy Efficient Light Bulbs Today

While they may look similar on the shelf, not all light bulbs are created equal. Now that you know how to find the most energy efficient light bulbs, you can help make your home or office as sustainable and eco-friendly as possible.

If you don’t have the time or money to switch out all the lights on your property, that’s OK. Take your time and buy new ones as you are able to. Even a small change can make a major difference!

Looking for more ways to spruce up your space? Check out the guides in our Home Improvement section!