Do you often get confused by the many ranges of light bulbs available? Do you ever wonder what the difference is and which ones are the best ones for you? Here, you will find out more about energy saving light bulbs and how they can help improve your lighting. You will also find out how they can save you money at the same time.
Let’s be honest, energy saving light bulbs can be confusing, right? We all know they are great in helping us to save money and that they are better for the environment but realistically, how much do we all know about the bulbs themselves? Do we know which ones are best for us and which ones aren’t? Are we using the wrong bulbs or the right ones? I’m writing a quick post to let you know about the three main energy saving light bulbs that you will probably deal with.
The MR11 and MR16 low voltage dichroic bulbs are popular with most people. However, did you know they are now available in LED? Using LED light bulbs is a far more cost efficient way of lighting your home. They also last a lot longer, so you don’t have to suffer the inconvenience of constantly changing bulbs.
LEDs use far less power than the old low volt version for the same quality of light. Most are available in daylight, cool white or warm white to suit your decor. Also, the beam angles can be either spot or flood which means you can control the light in any application. And, because they have no filament and few glass parts they are not easily broken.
The GU10 with its twist and lock base is another popular lamp in common use. They are also available in LED and can be used with most downlights and track lighting.
Because LEDs are very low wattage it means they generate virtually no heat. There are two benefits to this, first, no heat means they can cause no damage to the light fitting. Second, when they blow they quickly become cold and are therefore easier to change.
There are two versions of LED available, the dimmable and non-dimmable. The dimmable versions can be used for mood setting in rooms like the lounge and bedrooms. The non-dimmable can be used in fixed light applications like bathrooms.
Compact fluorescent lamps, also known as CFLs come in all shapes and sizes. They can be stick, spiral or globe shaped to meet your particular needs. They are common in business environments but most homes have them as well.
CFLs are another range of energy saving light bulbs with a long life. They can last up to 10,000 hours which is ten times longer than the standard incandescent bulbs. When CFLs are used in combination with LEDs you could reduce your lighting costs by 75% or more. But not only will you save on your electric bills, you will also save on time spent maintaining your lighting.
This post is in collaboration with David from Cannon Electrical Supplies, an online electrical wholesalers, supplying business, trade and DIY since 1986.