Tip of the Week

Lightbulbs Simplified

In the past, I have gone to replace a burnt out light bulb and been utterly lost standing in the light bulb section.  It is so confusing.  Not only which bulb for which purpose but also the type of bulb, the size and the colour of light it gives off.  Inevitably I end up leaving without anything. I'm writing this post for me and for anyone else in the same boat.

Here we go...

Incandescent Light Bulbs - (on the right in the photo) these are the traditional lightbulbs that we all once had in our homes.  The choices now have increased and it's a little confusing which bulb is the best way to go.

CFL - (middle in photo) Energy Star rated compact fluorescent lamps use less than 75% of the energy in a regular bulb and last 8-10 years longer.  They give off a 1/4 of the amount of heat of an incandescent.

Halogen Incandescent Bulbs - use 20-30% less energy than a regular bulb and last only 3 times longer than a regular.

LED - (left in photo) Light Emitting Diodes are the most energy efficient and the most cost efficient bulbs.  These use 75% less energy than the regular incandescent light bulb.  We just replaced some of our kitchen lighting with LED lights.  The bulb is much heavier and the weight makes me believe the claim that it is said to last up to 22 years.  The drawback is the cost at around $35.00.  This may be a lot to swallow for a tight budget but if you think long term you end up saving in Energy and the cost of replacement bulbs of the other kind.  These lights don't have the lumen output that may be needed in some cases but technology is moving quickly and will likely catch up to the other lighting options before long and will likely also bring the price down.

As for the light that bulbs emit, there seem to be three categories. If you are lucky, you'll find a store that have some lights plugged in so you can see which is which. In general though,

Warm White/Soft White is the traditional colour of the incandescent light bulbs with a yellow tint
Cool White/Bright White is the best for kitchens and work spaces and has a white tint
Natural/Daylight is good for reading and has a more blue tint

So there you have it simplified. If you have any questions, feel free to comment and good luck next time you are in the bulb aisle!  I hope this helped.  I feel much more knowledgeable.