BROWSE HOW TOs

How to Buy Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Energy-efficient light bulbs are the unsung heroes of energy conservation. They use up less energy than conventional light bulbs and last much longer.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step1

Determine what kind of lighting your rooms need. Dining rooms and living rooms, for instance, need ambient and accent lighting for both illumination and creating suitable atmospheres, while kitchens will also benefit from task lighting in order to make food preparation easier. While trying to select the perfect light bulb sounds more suited to an interior decorator, you can easily determine what kind of lighting is best for your rooms simply by looking at the existing light bulbs and taking notes on their colors and intensities.

Step2

Select the light quality you desire. Buy energy-efficient light bulbs with a good color temperature and color rendition for your room, and make sure that the glare from the light bulbs is not excessive. Note that buying energy-efficient light bulbs for ambient and accent lighting will require a greater selection of products than when you want to buy light bulbs for task lighting.

Step3

Educate yourself about the various lighting terms. Both regular and energy-efficient light bulbs are used for different purposes, have different quantities and qualities of light and also consume energy at different levels. The United States Department of Energy provides a comprehensive, easy-to-understand guide of light principles and terms (see Resources below).

Step4

Buy energy-efficient light bulbs that have an extended lifetime. Most energy-efficient light bulbs are marketed as lasting longer than traditional light bulbs, but how long they last ranges from 750 to 24,000 hours. Try to buy the light bulbs that last longer, as they will not only save you energy, but they will also save you more money and will cut down on waste production.

Tips & Warnings

Know the difference between indoor and outdoor lights. Outdoor lights are sturdier than indoor lighting, and may also have longer life spans. However, they also tend to be brighter than indoor lights, produce more glare, and are less suitable for indoor ambient and accent lighting. If you are unsure, consult a representative at your local home improvement or hardware store as to which light bulbs to buy.