Nearly 20 percent of the electricity used to power the average American home goes toward lighting, according to Energy Star. Switching from incandescent bulbs to energy efficient light bulbs conserves energy and reduces the release of greenhouse gases into the air. You'd have to take up to 800,000 cars off the road to equal the environmental benefits of replacing just one bulb per household.
Types
Two types of energy efficient light bulbs qualify for the Energy Star logo--compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs, and light emitting diodes, or LEDs. CFLs move electrical currents through a gas-filled tube. That process creates ultraviolet light. A fluorescent coating inside the tube makes the ultraviolet light visible. LED bulbs typically contain multiple tiny lights, which are illuminated when electrons move through semiconductor material.
Applications
CFLs work in nearly any light fixture designed for traditional incandescent bulbs. In addition to bare spiral bulbs, you can buy CFLs covered with round or oval globes for vanities, ceiling fans and other fixtures with exposed bulbs. Flame-shaped CFLs work well in chandeliers and sconces. CFL bulbs compatible with dimmers and three-way fixtures are also available. Unlike the old fluorescent tubes that made everything look green, CFLs come in warm, neutral and cool light.
LEDs produce directional light, making them ideal for recessed spotlights, pendants, up-lights and track lights. The more tiny LEDs within the bulb, the greater the brightness and light dispersion. LED light bulbs will dim, but you may need to replace your dimmer switches with LED-compatible ones, according to Energy Star. Like CFLs, LEDs come in a variety of colors, from incandescent-like warm to cool white light.
Benefits
Both CFL and LED bulbs use 75 percent less energy than traditional incandescent light bulbs. They also produce less heat, which keeps your home cooler in the summer. Switching to either type will reduce your electric bill. Though CFLs and LEDs cost more per bulb than incandescents, they last significantly longer. CFLs last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, and LEDs last up to four times longer than CFLs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Concerns
Though mercury remains necessary to make CFLs energy efficient, the amounts used have decreased since the bulbs first became available. In response to consumer concerns about the mercury content, Energy Star assures that mercury isn't released as long as the bulb isn't broken, whether it's in use or not. To prevent breakage, hold CFLs at the base instead of on the glass, and avoid forcing them in or out of the light socket.
Future Developments
Organic light emitting diodes, or OLEDs, could emerge as the next generation of energy efficient lighting. OLEDs have thin layers of organic, carbon-based compounds. The layers glow when current passes through transparent electrodes. Once they become available, according to Energy Star, you'll apply OLEDs to the wall or ceiling. They'll look like a thin, glowing film.
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