Today, one of the most prominent ways to save on energy costs is by upgrading to compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs. A standard bulb uses 75% less energy than a traditional light bulb and has a much longer life span - by changing out each bulb in your house, you can save an estimated $25 per bulb relative to the lifespan of a traditional bulb.
Estimated suggest that the energy savings from replacing just a few bulbs in each home could total nearly $1 billion, and save consumers billions in energy costs by making a simple change. Studies suggest that consumers can save even more by making these adjustments, which result in higher efficiency light bulbs, as well as more opportunities for environmental benefits. One of the primary benefits to compact light bulbs is that they result in less mercury, a hazardous chemical, by relying less upon the coal power plants which provide the majority of energy in American homes today.
Relative to the traditional 750 hours of use from standard light bulbs, most Energy Star approved light bulbs can last for up to 8,000 hours, providing energy for more than 5 years in most situations. The savings add up over time, especially when considering the various possibilities of exchanging light bulbs throughout the home. Today, you can find energy efficient light bulbs in most major hardware and superstores, including major regional supermarkets. Light bulbs are becoming standardized in the new efficiency, so they are likely to appear in a broader array of retail outlets, as well as through on-line vendors - commercial and residential property owners can save thousands each year by making the simple transition to CFLs.
The bulbs work by saving energy by transmitting the electric current through an argon tube which generated UV light, which is much more efficient than the heated filaments in incandescent bulbs. As a result, they are 75% more efficient and mechanically much more stable, resulting in broad improvements in commercial use nearly every day. Nearly every size and wattage is available in Energy Star certified light bulbs, ranging from traditionally 40 watt to 150 watt bulbs - most energy efficient bulbs have conversion scales that allow you to fully determine which bulbs are right for your particular use.
