Up until now we were advocating for compact florescent light bulbs (CFL) on all our projects. While the amount of electricity (watts) used per lumen (brightness) was relatively low, color was always an issue. Enter the LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs. They have an even better watt per lumen ratio and the color of the light is much better. Recently many of the utility companies have been subsidizing the cost of these bulbs to bring down their costs. You can now buy these bulbs from the utility company or even easier, at Home Depot. The bulbs can be dimmed using the normal wall switch dimmers you already have. A 65 watt equivalent LED bulb costs $20 at Home Depot and is designed to last 50,000 hours while burning about 10 watts. A 65 watt equivalent CFL flood bulb will burn 16 watts and cost about $12 and will last about 8000 hours. A field of 4 incandescent recessed lights in your living room ceiling will burn 260 watts per hours, a filed of 4 65watt equivalent CFLs will burn 64 watts, and 4 LEDs will burn 40 watts.
Gotta Have One (or more) of These!
By Steve on February 5, 2013 in Building & Energy Performance, FYI, Green Building, New & Cool, Products & Finishes
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