Quality CFL bulbs can last up to 15,000 hours while traditional bulbs burn out around 2,500 hours.
By Andrew Hunt
Ever since the first candle was dipped, we've been looking for ways to improve the quality and ease of indoor lighting. New technology has helped us make rooms and task areas brighter, lamps safer, and — with the advent of compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs) — more energy efficient. But the thrifty and environmentally conscious homeowner doesn't have to stop there. By using a combination of technology in the right places, you can keep your home bright and green.
Traditional incandescent light bulbs are actually small heaters that give off a little light as well. The incandescent light bulb uses a tungsten filament that burns upwards of 90 percent of its energy to produce heat, rather than light. When lights give off large quantities of heat, they put a greater load on air conditioning units and adversely affect the home's comfort and energy efficiency.
But high heat is less of an issue with CFLs. Though they will be hot to the touch, only about 15 percent of the energy used in a CFL goes to producing heat. In addition, quality CFL bulbs can last as long as 15,000 hours; traditional bulbs generally burn out after 2,500 hours.
The big win for CFLs, though, is that they use a quarter of the electricity to produce the same amount of light. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, switching just one incandescent bulb to a compact florescent can pay for itself in a matter of months and equate to $70 in energy savings over the life of the bulb.
Recent advances in design have made the lanky "pigtail" CFL shorter and sleeker, allowing them to fit easily in a larger number of lamps and fixtures. New CFL bulbs also allow the power-saving bulbs to operate at much lower exterior temperatures than before, so they are ideal for outdoor use in moderate to mild climates. The new styles even look more like traditional outdoor bulbs.
Beyond changing out bulbs, installing motion and light sensors is an easy and innovative way to reduce energy use around the home. By placing light-activating motion sensors in strategic places, you can make sure that the juice is flowing only when you need it.
Front and back entrances are ideal spots to install motion detectors, which also are handy for areas such as breezeways and hallways. New "screw-in" types can be spun directly into existing fixtures without any re-wiring required. This hands-free lighting in basements, garages and closets prevents wasting electricity and bulb life; they automatically turn off if no one is in the space. Many of the new models also incorporate light sensors so that they will only turn on after sunset and have programmable times so that once you leave the area they turn off in a matter of seconds.
On the downside, CFLs contain mercury, so it is imperative to use caution if one is broken and to properly recycle bulbs when they finally do expire. CFLs take a few minutes to fully illuminate, and over time they may lose their brightness. Some of the less expensive models on the market today have reduced life spans, which adversely affects the time to reclaim their additional cost.
Striking a balance between lifestyle and conservation keeps getting easier for the environmentally responsible homeowner, and lighting is an ideal way to make a big difference in both your energy bill and carbon footprint.
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