Some Keys For You To Choose Best Energy Save Lamp

Choosing from the many energy save lamp on the market today can be tricky. Gone are the days when all that mattered was bulb wattage and shape.By keeping these seven simple guidelines in mind, you'll be on a path to making smart decisions about what to buy to meet your needs for energy-saving light bulbs in this new green age: Pick your spots - if a fixture is completely enclosed or is lit for less than 15 minutes at a time and less than two hours a day, CFLs are a poor investment. Low energy, mercury-free halogens are available that are worth a look in these situations. Wait until the existing bulb burns out.Pay more, not less - to save money in the long run, your new green bulbs should be able to last for several thousand hours. If you buy the cheapest ones you can find, the odds are greater that they won't. Let's do the twist - spiral or "twister" CFLs are the least expensive type. If these green light bulbs are hidden behind a shade (though not totally enclosed), buying a spiral lamp will cut the payback period versus glass covered CFLs. Nobody likes the blues - the bluish light cast by many fluorescent tubes is not appealing to most homeowners. When buying CFLs and LEDs choose "warm white" or "soft white" labels for color that will look pleasingly familiar. Energy-saving light bulbs labeled "cool white," "natural light," or "daylight" are blue-hued and best for targeted applications like reading, task lighting and exterior fixtures, not for living areas, atmosphere or accent lighting.Dimming - most CFL and LED bulbs can't be used with dimmer switches. Look for green light bulbs that are boldly labeled "dimmable." And while the industry has made great strides in recent years, most energy-saving light bulbs do not dim as well as traditional incandescent bulbs. However, the big energy savings are compelling for most homeowners. Making the switch to dimmable CFLs or LEDs in a busy family kitchen can be a real money saver, including reduced cooling costs because neither type generates as much heat as incandescents. Last point: the dimmer switch should be compatible with the green light bulbs you buy. Stay out of the closet - most closets need short bursts of instantaneous light. This is usually true of powder rooms, basements, attics and garages. Among energy saving bulbs, CFL lighting in particular aren't suited for this purpose. Traditional bulbs (or again, low energy halogens) are best in these scenarios until something better comes along.Innovative, intriguing, expensive - mercury-free LED bulbs are the future of lighting, case closed. These green light bulbs use less electricity than even CFLs and they last 30,000 hours or more. However, current prices per bulb are as high as $100, which means the payback period for most home-based uses is too long to justify the price. If you are curious about this new technology and live in an area with high retail electricity costs, you might consider LED replacement bulbs for one or two fixtures that get a lot of use (6+ hours per day). Re-read Key #1 before you invest in these types of energy-saving light bulbs. Some Keys For You To Choose Best Energy Save Lamp