Top Two Green Lighting Choices
First off, Get a good bulb.
Don't waste your time with incandescents anymore.
It's not only eco-freindly but wills save you your hard earned cash.
Here is the bulb comparison diagram:
Cost Comparison between LEDs, CFLs and Incandescent light bulbs
LED
CFL
Incandescent
Light bulb projected lifespan
50,000 hours
10,000 hours
1,200 hours
Watts per bulb (equiv. 60 watts)
6
14
60
Cost per bulb
$35.95
$3.95
$1.25
KWh of electricity used over
50,000 hours
300
700
3000
Cost of electricity (@ 0.20per KWh)
$60
$140
$600
Bulbs needed for 50k hours of use
1
5
42
Equivalent 50k hours bulb expense
$35.95
$19.75
$52.50
Total cost for 50k hours
$95.95
$159.75
$652.50
Energy Savings over 50,000 hours, assuming 25 bulbs per household:
Total cost for 30 bulbs
$2398.75
$3993.75
$16,312.50
Savings to household by switching
from incandescents
$13,913.75
$12,318.75
0
Break those LEDs out
LEDs are my definitive choice in eco-friendly lighting.
They run with low wattage have good lighting content, And contain no mercury which plagues most lighting forms.
An LED light bulb can reduce energy consumption by 80-90% and last around 100,000 hours. They even light up faster than regular bulbs (which could save your life it there are LEDs in the brake lights of your car). They are almost always more expensive presently, but we have seen the cost go down steadily.
CFL: The better bulb
Compact florescent bulbs (CFLs) are those swirly little bulbs you are seeing everywhere now.
Economically they are great, but the downside is they have mercury content which pollutes the environment.
CFLs cost a bit more than an incandescent, but use about a quarter as much energy and last many times longer (usually around 10,000 hours). It is estimated that a CFL pays for its higher price after about 500 hours of use. After that, it's money in your pocket. Also, because CFLs release less heat, not only are they safer, but your cooling load is less in the summer. CFLs aren?t hard to find anymore, and many cities will give them away for free.
Equivalent wattages and light output of Incandescent, CFL and LED bulbs
Light Output
LEDs
CFLs
Incandescents
Lumens
Watts
Watts
Watts
450
4 - 5
8 - 12
40
300 - 900
6 - 8
13 - 18
60
1100 - 1300
9 - 13
18 - 22
75 - 100
1600 - 1800
16 - 20
23 - 30
100
2600 - 2800
25 - 28
30 - 55
150
Comparing the features of Incandescent, CFL and LED bulbs
LEDs
CFLs
Incandescents
Frequent On/Off Cycling
no effect
shortens lifespan
some effect
Turns on instantly
yes
slight delay
yes
Durability
durable
fragile
fragile
Heat Emitted
low (3 btu's/hr)
medium (30 btu's/hr)
high (85 btu's/hr)
Sensitivity to temperature
no
yes
some
Sensitivity to humidity
no
yes
some
Hazardous Materials
none
5 mg mercury/bulb
none
Replacement frequency
(over 50k hours)
1
5
40+
Cost Comparison between LEDs, CFLs and Incandescent light bulbs
| | LED | CFL | Incandescent |
| Light bulb projected lifespan | 50,000 hours | 10,000 hours | 1,200 hours |
| Watts per bulb (equiv. 60 watts) | 6 | 14 | 60 |
| Cost per bulb | $35.95 | $3.95 | $1.25 |
| KWh of electricity used over 50,000 hours | 300 | 700 | 3000 |
| Cost of electricity (@ 0.20per KWh) | $60 | $140 | $600 |
| Bulbs needed for 50k hours of use | 1 | 5 | 42 |
| Equivalent 50k hours bulb expense | $35.95 | $19.75 | $52.50 |
| Total cost for 50k hours | $95.95 | $159.75 | $652.50 |
Energy Savings over 50,000 hours, assuming 25 bulbs per household:
| Total cost for 30 bulbs | $2398.75 | $3993.75 | $16,312.50 |
| Savings to household by switching from incandescents | $13,913.75 | $12,318.75 | 0 |
Equivalent wattages and light output of Incandescent, CFL and LED bulbs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Comparing the features of Incandescent, CFL and LED bulbs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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