5 Easy Steps to buy the Perfect Energy-Efficient Light Bulb

5 Easy Steps to buy the Perfect Energy-Efficient Light Bulb

Here are a few easy steps to buy the right bulb. Hope they are helpful!

Step 1: ENERGY STAR Means Energy Savings
First look for the ENERGY STAR label. It means that the bulb you're selecting is
certified to save energy. ENERGY STAR bulbs are available in all shapes and sizes,
and some are even dimmable.

Step 2: Location
Ask yourself, where is this light bulb going? A table or floor lamp? A ceiling fixture?
The following chart can help you pick the best bulb for each fixture.

Step 3: Lumens Not Watts
Next, look for lumens on the Lighting Facts Label. Since you are buying an energy-efficient
bulb, you have to look for lumens rather than watts to discover how bright your bulb will be.
Watts indicate energy consumed and lumens indicate light output. An ENERGY STAR bulb will consume
fewer watts and still provide the same level of brightness. For example, a 100 watt incandescent bulb
is about 1,600 lumens.

Step 4: Mood lighting
You're almost there, but first you have to pick your color. Energy-efficient bulbs now come in a range of colors.
The light appearance (color) is displayed on the Lighting Facts Label as a number on the Kelvin (K) scale. Warm or
lower K means the light will have more yellow/orange hue. A warm white, about 2,700 K, is roughly the standard color
of an incandescent light bulb. A cooler white light, around 7,000 K, will look more like natural daylight.

Step 5: Buy It, Install It, Enjoy It
You are ready to go. You've selected the perfect bulb for your home and you're ready to save energy. Now you have to fork
over the cash, but if you think your perfect bulb is too expensive, think again! The operating cost of an ENERGY STAR CFL
is roughly $1.20 a year and an ENERGY STAR LED is $1.00—much less than the $4.80 per year that it costs to run a 60W traditional
incandescent. AND your energy-efficient bulb will last 3%-25% longer! If you replace 15 old incandescent bulbs, you could save $50 a year.
So no more grousing about how difficult it is to pick out the perfect energy-efficient light bulb. Brighten up your home and save money and
energy in the process!
 

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