Two Things To Look For When Shopping For Light Bulbs
Light bulbs are getting better. Newer bulbs like L.E.D.s (light emitting diodes) last longer and use less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs, saving you money on your energy bills. The two things to look at are how bright it the light bulb and what’s on the label.
DID YOU KNOW as of 2012, everyday light bulbs had to meet new Department of Energy standards for how much energy they use. Those bulbs that don’t meet those standards are now being phased out over the next few years.
Along with this move to more efficient bulbs came a new way to shop for them.
WHAT ARE LUMENS?
For years, people have chosen light bulbs by the watt, learning over time about how bright a typical 40-watt or 60-watt bulb is. But wattage tells you only how much energy a bulb uses, not how bright it is.
With newer light bulbs designed to use less energy, wattage is no longer a reliable way to gauge a light bulb’s brightness. That takes lumens.
lumens = brightness watts = energy
Lumens measure brightness. A standard 60-watt incandescent bulb, for example, produces about 800 lumens of light. By comparison, a CFL bulb produces that same 800 lumens using less than 15 watts.
HOW BRIGHT A LIGHT?
This chart shows the number of lumens produced by common incandescent bulbs. If you’re looking to buy a bulb that will give you the amount of light you used to get from a 60-watt bulb, you’ll now look for 800 lumens.
You can use lumens to compare the brightness of any bulb, regardless of the technology behind it, and regardless of whether it’s a halogen incandescent, CFL or LED. Using lumens helps you compare “apples to apples” when you shop for light bulbs. Once you know how bright a bulb you want, you can compare other factors, like the yearly energy cost.
A LABEL TO HELP YOU SHOP
When you shop for light bulbs, you’ll also want to think about light appearance, or color temperature. Light appearance ranges from warm to cool. Warmer light looks more yellow, like the light from a traditional incandescent bulb, cooler light appears more blue.
To find out the light appearance of a light bulb, look at the Lighting Facts label on the package. The Lighting Facts label gives you information you need to compare different bulbs. It tells you:
• Brightness (in lumens)
• Yearly estimated energy cost
• Expected bulb life (in years)
• Light appearance (how warm or cool the light will look)
• Wattage (the energy used)
• If the bulb contains mercury
The label may include the Energy Star logo if the bulb meets the energy efficiency and performance standards of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy’s Energy Star program. For more on Energy Star standards, visit www.energystar.gov.
Starting in 2012, Lighting Facts labels were put on most everyday household light bulbs.
ON THE BULB
The number of lumens will be printed on the bulb. If the bulb is a C.F.L. (compact fluorescent light), it may be on the bulb’s base. CFLs also will include a web address, www.epa.gov/cfl, for information on safe recycling and disposal. CFLs contain mercury, so cleanup and disposal require some care and attention.
WHAT TO DO NOW
My company, Service Detectives, specializes in electrical, heating and cooling services. We help many customers with their lighting needs. In fact one of our top services is replacing light bulbs. Do you have those outdated light bulbs mentioned above? Do you have a really high up light bulb in a hard to reach area? Are you elderly and just not comfortable getting on a ladder? We are here to serve you at the highest level so you can enjoy a safe and comfortable life, even if it’s just changing a light bulb.
If you call within 3 days of receiving this guide, I will give you 4 FREE energy saving LED light bulbs with any service we provide for your home AND $50 OFF any lighting upgrade package!
REACT QUICK! If you contact me within 24 hours of receiving this guide, I will not only give you 4 FREE energy saving LED light bulbs with any service we provide for your home AND $50 OFF any lighting upgrade package, I will also give you a FREE safety evaluation of your electrical, heating and cooling systems ($267 value alone). All you have to do is call 618.988.8731 or contact us through our website at www.ServiceDetectives.com. When you contact us, say this to the customer service expert that serves you, “I want 4 FREE Light Bulbs!” At minimum, you will get 4 FREE energy saving LED light bulbs, a thorough evaluation of your electrical, heating and cooling systems and a plan to make your home safer and more comfortable.
Thank you for your time. If there is anything I can do to help you out with your service project, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m here to serve you.
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We believe a good detective finds clues and solves problems, even problems that others have missed.
That’s what we do at Service Detectives. Our service experts solve problems and help people live in greater safety and comfort.
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This chart shows the number of lumens produced by common incandescent bulbs. If you’re looking to buy a bulb that will give you the amount of light you used to get from a 60-watt bulb, you’ll now look for 800 lumens.
To find out the light appearance of a light bulb, look at the Lighting Facts label on the package. The Lighting Facts label gives you information you need to compare different bulbs. It tells you:
