Energy Efficient Lighting Saves on Cooling Costs
Traditional light bulbs are becoming a thing of the past, which is great news for your utility bills during the summer. Traditional incandescent bulbs use a lot of energy to produce light. In fact, 90% of the energy given off by these outdated bulbs is in the form of heat.
During the warmer months of the year, the last thing you want is your light bulbs to be using an exorbitant amount of energy and emitting heat – which will only cause you to crank up the A/C. It’s time to make the switch to energy-efficient light bulbs, which are now readily available and come in a variety of colors and light levels.
With home lighting comprising of about 10% of the average electricity bill, switching to energy-efficient bulbs is a no-brainer. Simply changing out 15 old light bulbs for bulbs of an energy-efficient variety can save you about $50 per year. Choose an ENERGY STAR-qualified light bulb and you’ll use about 75% less energy and the bulbs will last 10-25 times longer.
Read on for more information about some of the most popular energy-efficient lighting options available today.
Halogen Incandescents
Halogen incandescents meet the minimum energy efficiency standards for light bulbs, yet they still use 25% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. Halogen incandescents save energy with a capsule inside of the light bulb that holds a gas around the filament, which increases bulb efficiency.
Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs)
Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are basically small, curly versions of the fluorescent lamps that you’ll typically find in your garage. However, most of these light bulbs don’t emit the same harsh fluorescence that their long tubed cousins do. CFLs are a great option because they can typically pay for themselves in less than nine months and then start saving you money on energy bills. ENERGY STAR-qualified CFL bulbs use a quarter of the energy and last 10 times longer than a traditional light bulb. They use about one-third the energy of a halogen incandescent bulb.
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are one of the most energy-efficient lighting options available today. LEDs are a type of solid-state lighting that uses semiconductors to convert electricity into light. LED lighting is extremely versatile, durable, and is available for many different types of indoor and outdoor home uses. LEDs use 20-25% of the energy and last a staggering 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.
Making the choice to switch to energy-efficient lighting is a smart move for your wallet, the planet, and your air conditioner. With your light bulbs emitting less radiant heat, you’ll be less likely to reach for the thermostat. Want to ensure your air conditioner is as energy efficient as your light bulbs? Give us a call for all of your air conditioning maintenance and replacement needs. We’re here to help make your HVAC system as efficient as possible.