The common light bulb has gone through a transformation in recent years – now lasting longer and using less energy. The traditional incandescents that lit lamps and fixtures for generations have given way to more energy efficient alternatives because of new efficiency standards that were instituted five years ago for bulbs between 40 and 100-watts. Introduced as an alternative most similar to the traditional incandescent, the halogen incandescent bulb now joins compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light emitting diodes (LEDs) in energy-efficient bulbs. According to the Department of Energy, these energy-efficient bulbs typically use up to 80% less energy than traditional incandescents, and they can last 3 to 25 times longer. While they may cost a little more upfront, they last longer which means you don’t have to replace them as often. Here’s a quick comparison. The traditional incandescent 60-watt bulb lasts about 1,000 hours. A 43-watt energy-saving incandescent provides about the same amount of light as a 60-watt incandescent but lasts up to 3,000 hours and uses 25% less energy. So, you could get an extra 2,000 hours of bulb lifetime and drop energy costs by a fourth of the regular cost. More energy-efficient options make an even bigger difference. For a similar amount of light, a 15-watt CFL uses 75% less energy and lasts for 10,000 hours, while the 12-watt LED uses 80% less energy and lasts for 25,000 hours. To learn more about energy-efficient lighting, give us a call. 401-397-3415.
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