Making the switch to energy-efficient light bulbs

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This article was published 02/12/2014 (4056 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Choosing a light bulb used to be easy. Did you want a 60 or 100-watt bulb? Now the choices facing Manitoba consumers are many and shopping for a new bulb can be a daunting task.

Over the past 15 years, energy-efficient bulbs have become ubiquitous on store shelves in Canada. Most people think of the spiral shape common to compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), but halogen bulbs save more energy than incandescent bulbs, and light emitting diode (LED) bulbs even more.

“Everyone’s sort of afraid of change,” said Frank Gallo, Electrical Applications instructor at the Manitoba Institute of Trades & Technology. “It’s hard to pick a light bulb.”

Canadian consumers face a dwindling supply of incandescent bulbs as the federal government banned the manufacture and importation of 75- and 100-watt bulbs at the beginning of this year, and are placing the same restriction on 40- and 60-watt bulbs as of Dec. 31. The number of these bulbs on store shelves will gradually decrease over the next few years.

Concerns about CFLs
Some consumers might be reluctant to turn off their incandescent bulbs and invest in the new technology because they aren’t aware of all the energy-efficient varieties available. They could have concerns relating to the proper disposal of CFLs and danger they present if broken. A CFL contains about four milligrams of mercury.

Michael Lee, marketing specialist with Manitoba Hydro, said he believes the hazard has been over-blown.

“There’s a big misconception out there,” he said.

While CFLs do contain mercury, it’s a very small amount — about 100 times less than is contained in an old-fashioned glass thermometer, he said.

Instructions for cleaning up a broken CFL are available at http://www2.epa.gov/cfl/cleaning-broken-cfl

However, despite the minimal danger, Lee said people should follow proper disposal practice and take their used CFLs to a disposal site for household hazardous waste. A list of sites can be found on the Manitoba Hydro website at https://www.hydro.mb.ca/your_home/lighting/how_to_dispose_of_cfls.shtml

When CFLs were first being brought into the Canadian market, they weren’t compatible with fixtures using a dimmer switch, but that problem has been addressed. Packaging indicates if a bulb can be safely dimmed.

Another complaint is that a CFL takes longer to power up in a cold environment, such as outdoors in a Manitoba winter.

LEDS for more than holiday decorating
Anyone who’s reluctant to change to CFLs can consider replacing their incandescent bulbs with LEDs. Lee said LEDs aren’t new technology, as they’ve been used in various ways for many years. In fact, consumers are likely to have strung them on a Christmas tree or used them in an outdoor light display.

While there were some complaints about the first LED bulbs introduced for household lighting being too bright and harsh, Lee said the manufacturers have brought in a range of brightness levels, from soft, indirect light to bright light.

“There’s an LED option for every socket in your home,” Lee said. “You can really customize your living space with light.”

The colour temperature of light is measured in degrees Kelvin, with 2,700 Kelvin being the measurement for an incandescent bulb, seen by the human eye as a softer, golden light, and 5,000 Kelvin being equivalent to daylight’s bluer hue that’s viewed as being cooler.

LED bulbs have a plastic cover which makes them more durable than incandescent bulbs or CFLs. The LED bulb’s exterior doesn’t heat up as do incandescent and halogen bulbs, making them a safer choice for families with young children. Many are compatible with dimmer switches.

“They’re instantly on and LEDs work well in the cold,” Lee said.

So why don’t consumers unscrew their incandescent bulbs and replace them with LEDs? Checking the store shelves will provide the answer — cost.

Pay more, save more
Lee said an LED light is considerably more expensive than the other types, but its long life results in long-term energy cost savings. For example, the average life of a 60-watt incandescent bulb might be 1,000 hours, or one year if it’s used 2.7 hours a day. While the cost per bulb is about 50 cents, the average annual energy cost is $4.43. In comparison, an equivalent LED bulb measures between eight and 14 watts, costs about $12 and lasts for about 25 years, with an average annual energy cost of 89 cents.

“The more bulbs you replace, the higher the savings you’ll have,” Lee said. He noted that the cost of CFLs and LED bulbs is gradually coming down, and expects that this will continue.

Gallo said a relative of his recently replaced all the bulbs in the pot light fixtures in his home’s cathedral ceiling with LED bulbs. Because these lights were difficult to reach, he decided to pay the extra cost as a trade-off for the bulbs’ long life.

“If you can’t easily access a light fixture, the energy-efficient bulbs are good,” Gallo said.

Lee said, while LED bulbs give the best value for money over the long term, if a homeowner has already installed CFLs, they should stick with those.

“We’re not suggesting replacing CFLs with LEDs,” he said.

Read information on packaging
Lee recommends that consumers look for the Energy Star symbol on light bulb
packaging as it shows that the bulbs have met federal standards in terms of their
output and life span.

“Read the package and look for something with the Energy Star,” he said. He also
suggests that consumers hold onto their receipt for energy-efficient bulbs as they have a three-year warranty and the manufacturer will replace faulty bulbs.

Information on the packaging will also indicate watts (power consumption), light output measured in lumens, light appearance, estimated life and annual energy cost.

A comparison of various bulbs’ wattage versus lumens is available at http://www.thelightbulb.co.uk/resources/lumens_watts

If a consumer wants to ensure that the energy-efficient bulb they are buying is the correct choice to replace an incandescent bulb in an existing fixture, they can bring their bulb to the store to match the size and base shape.

Manitoba Hydro’s website has information on lighting tips at hydro.mb.ca/lighting or call 1-888-624-9376, or 204-480-5900 in Winnipeg.

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Cost of home lighting choices

Manitoba Hydro provided the following information on cost comparisons:

A 60-watt incandescent bulb sells for about 50 cents and carries an average annual energy cost of $4.43, with a one-year lifespan based on 2.7 hours of use per day.

A 43-watt halogen bulb sells for about $3 and incurs an average annual energy cost of $3.17, with a three-year life span based on the same daily use.

A 13-watt compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) sells for about $5 and has an average energy cost of 96 cents over an eight-year life span.

A 12-watt light emitting diode (LED) bulb sells for about $12 and carries an average energy cost of 89 cents over a 25-year life span.