Energy Efficient LED Light Bulbs
Replacing five of your most frequently used traditional light bulbs with LED ENERGY STAR models can save you $75 a year. They also use significantly less energy.
The most common LED colors are soft white and bright white. Soft white produces a yellow, candle-like glow while bright white is closer to daylight.
Energy efficiency
The most common energy efficient bulbs on the market are LEDs. They consume 75% less energy than incandescent light bulbs, last 25 times longer and are fully compatible with smart home systems. They also have a wider range of colors and filament styles to choose from.
Unlike traditional incandescent bulbs, which waste most of their energy as heat, LEDs convert the majority of their electricity into light. This means that if you replace your standard 60-watt incandescent bulb with an LED that is equivalent in brightness, it will only add about $7 to your annual energy bill.
When shopping for the best LED bulbs, make sure to look for ENERGY STAR certification, which indicates that they meet the EPA’s strict energy efficiency guidelines. This will help you save money and avoid the harmful effects of climate change.
Another way to save energy is by using a timer or dimmer to control your lighting. Timers can automatically turn lights off at certain times, while dimmers can reduce the amount of light used in each room.
Finally, you can also reduce your energy consumption by buying bulbs with a lower color temperature. Warmer bulbs have a yellowish glow, while cooler bulbs have a more bluish hue. Our top pick, the Feit 60W-Equivalent Bright White Dimmable A19 LED Light Bulb, is rated at 3000 Kelvin, which is closer to the yellowish shade of traditional incandescent bulbs.
Long lifespan
LED bulbs are among the most energy-efficient lighting solutions available today. Their long lifespan means you don’t need to replace them as frequently as other types of light bulbs. Their longevity also reduces maintenance costs and saves you money on electricity bills.
Many LED light bulb manufacturers include a lifetime estimate on their packaging, but these figures can be misleading. The actual time it takes for a bulb High Bay Sensor to fail can vary widely depending on how often it’s turned on and off, as well as other factors like temperature. For example, a bulb that’s kept on for an extended period of time in a mudroom will wear down much faster than the same bulb left on in a spare room.
LED lights are more resilient than incandescent bulbs, but they can still wear down over time. The reason for this is that turning a light on and off stresses the circuitry inside the bulb, and this can shorten its lifespan. This is why you should try to avoid frequent changes between on and off. The best way to prolong the life of your LED bulbs is to keep them in a cool place, and to clean them regularly with a duster or cloth. This will help to reduce the amount of dirt and dust that builds up on the bulbs, which can increase their heat and cause them to work less efficiently.
Fittings
When it comes to replacing old bulbs in your home with energy efficient low wattage LEDs you will find that there are a lot of different styles of light bulb fitting to choose from. These range from Edison screw, bayonet style caps and two prong GU10 style bulb caps. Each of these types has a code which usually consists of letters or numbers and identifies how the bulb is attached to the fitting.
Edison screw bulbs use a twist and lock action and are one of the most commonly used in household lamps, with the main codes being ‘E27’ and ‘E14’ (the number indicates the diameter of the fitting in millimetres). These bulbs tend to be frosted and work well with light fittings that have a shade or diffuser over them.
Two prong GU10 bulbs are also very common and have 2 thin pins on each side that slot into available holes in a lamp or fixture. These are mains voltage and suitable for 230/240V lighting. They are easily changed by lining up the pins and slotting them in with a slight click.
Some GU10 bulbs come with dimming capabilities allowing you to set the mood using your existing dimmer switch, however you will need to ensure that it is an LED compatible dimmer. This is because many dimmer switches led light bulbs are designed for high wattage bulbs and will not operate efficiently with LEDs.
Connectivity
When LED bulbs first hit the market, they were pretty pricey. But with a few years of development and competition, they have come down to the point where you can find them in hardware stores for about $5 apiece. The upfront cost is still higher than incandescent bulbs, but the energy efficiency and long lifespan more than make up for it in the long run.
Most smart light bulbs connect to a home network via Wi-Fi, though there are also Bluetooth, SmartThings, Z-Wave and Zigbee-compatible options. Some even have built-in sensors to add extra functionality, such as motion and presence detection. Some models even support voice commands from a connected smart assistant.
To determine which model to buy, it’s important to know how you use your lights and what you want to do with them. If you want to control them with a voice assistant like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, make sure the bulb you choose works with that platform.
Another factor to consider is the color-rendering index (CRI) score. This metric isn’t foolproof, but it is generally a good indicator of how well a light will render colors. For example, a bulb with a high CRI score will produce richer reds and yellows, while one with a lower score will produce more wan colors. Finally, you should look at the bulb’s size and base connection. Make sure it fits the fixture you plan to put it in.