Percentage of Energy Used by Incandescent Light Bulbs in Homes
Incandescent light bulbs have been used to light homes for more than a century. Although the design of the bulb has improved over time, it is essentially the same concept. A filament that gives off light and heat is set inside a bulb and powered by electricity. Does this Spark an idea?
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Energy Used in Lighting in Homes
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The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates 15.3 percent of electricity and 6.2 percent of energy used in homes was for lighting in 2009.
Incandescent Percent
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The percent of lights in households that are incandescent is declining, as some consumers switch to compact fluorescent lights. ENERGY STAR reported in March 2009 that 11 percent of household fixtures were using CFLs, leaving a 89 percent share for incandescent lights. Note: this excludes other types of bulbs, such as halogen or fluorescent tubes.
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Energy Used for Incandescent Lighting
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Assuming that 89 percent of lighting energy is for incandescent lights in homes, approximately 13.6 percent of electricity and 5.5 percent of energy used in homes for lighting in 2009 is from incandescent light bulbs.
A Bigger Picture
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This estimate can be put in terms of national energy consumption. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the residential sector accounted for 37.1 percent of total electricity and 21.4 percent of total energy delivered in 2007. Incandescent lighting would account for roughly 5 percent of total electricity and 1.2 percent of total energy.
Calculation Method to Determine Light Bulb Energy Use
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Energy used by a particular light can be calculated based on the incandescent light bulb rating and the time it is used. For example, a 60-watt light bulb that is on for one hour uses 60 watt-hours of electricity. This can be compared to monthly bills to determine the percent used by a particular light.
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- Photo Credit Image by Fotolia.com, courtesy of Petr Gnuskin
