Choosing the right bulb and fixture for energy savings has become a practical necessity for homeowners. On the flip side, homes for sale that are fully equipped with energy saving lighting are able to command higher prices in the real estate market. One way to add value to a home and increase the possibility of a sale in today's troubled housing market is to install energy saving light bulbs and fixtures.
Replacing old incandescent lighting with compact fluorescent lighting is an easy way to save money and energy, second only to improving the quality of a home's insulation, heating and cooling systems. The two forms of fluorescent lighting available for upgrading the home are the old style fluorescent light tubes and the new, more convenient Compact Fluorescent Light, or CFL. With strong support from government and environmentalists, the CFL is the hands-down winner. Each type of light bulb, compact or tube, has its own best application. Light tubes, for example, are best used in applications requiring a lot of overhead lighting.
Although fluorescent lights are energy saving alternatives to incandescent lights, they have largely remained unpopular in homes due to their unnatural light spectrum and their unattractive tube-shape. With the need to offset rising energy costs, fluorescent light bulbs have evolved into several different shapes and smaller sizes that yield the same amount of light as their less-attractive predecessors. These are commonly found where high intensity lighting is desired, such as over a work surface or any place that indirect lighting is required. Compact fluorescent bulbs are now replacing incandescent bulbs throughout homes and offices everywhere.
Long lasting and energy efficient CFL bulbs are now smaller than ever and suitable for almost every lighting situation. Each type of bulb produces a light spectrum that appeals to different lighting cases in home or office. Growing herb gardens and plants indoors is possible using full spectrum fluorescent lighting.
These days, the familiar incandescent light bulb is being replaced by the far more energy efficient CFL bulb in almost every situation. For example, a small CFL bulb will only use only 13-watts of power with a light output of 825 lumens, which makes it an ideal replacement for a 60-watt incandescent bulb that produces 850 lumens. One drawback to CFL lighting is that they cannot be used with a dimmer.
Compact fluorescent lights are no longer just curled up versions of their larger and longer tube-type forebears. The shapes and sizes of new CFL bulbs have enhanced their application and use throughout the home and office. Today's CFL bulbs are available as "Super Savers", "micro-mini", "Instant-On", "Soft White" and "Now smaller than ever". As with all leading-edge technology, CFL bulbs cost more at first, but the price is definitely coming down, accompanied by design and technology improvements. When buying CFL replacement bulbs, consumers should match the amount of light, or lumens, required for each location and the lowest power consumption, as measured in watts.
Another form of advanced lighting technology is the LED light. However these are more expensive and currently limited in design and application. Choosing the right bulb and fixture is more a function of the designer's taste and picking the best form of lighting to meet the requirements of the lighting situation at hand. Which ever type of bulb and lighting fixture is chosen, energy savings are sure to be realized over time.
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Hunter May is a freelance writer with years of home ownership, property management and home repair article writing experience. His articles are featured at PracticalRepairs.com and are focused on how anyone can make their own Practical Home Repairs. Looking for Home Repair Tips? Whatever your home repair problem is your can discover the best home repair tips at www.practicalrepairs.com
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