Top Two Green Lighting Choice

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+