You may be considering LED light bulbs because of their long life and low power consumption, but their high cost may be prohibitive. A light bulb that uses an LED array may cost several times as much as a comparable compact fluorescent or incandescent bulb. While this difference may not have much of an impact if you’re replacing one bulb, the price of purchasing LED light bulbs for use throughout your home or business can add up quickly.
Different Bulb Types
Depending on your specific needs, you may find a low watt incandescent or fluorescent bulb a more affordable alternative to LED light bulbs. Small incandescent bulbs consume little energy and are useful in applications such as night lights, reading lights and small lamps. Compact fluorescent bulbs use even less energy than incandescent bulbs of comparable luminosity.
Natural Sunlight
If energy savings are your goal, you can light your home or office with no energy consumption during the day simply by letting natural sunlight in through the windows. The ideal windows to light a room with sunlight are larger and face either east or south, but if your windows are smaller or face other directions you may still find that they let enough daylight in. Another advantage of using natural daylight is that the sun’s heat also enters through your windows, supplementing your home heating system and reducing your energy consumption during colder seasons. The use of windows for natural heat and light is known as passive solar energy.
Candlelight and Lamplight
When looking for a non-electric light source at night, consider using candles or oil lamps. Small candles, such as tea light candles, are an inexpensive source of light. Larger candles may produce higher flames and, consequently, more light. You can also use scented candles to cover unwanted smells or create a desired aromatic effect. Use an oil lamp with an adjustable wick and you can vary the amount of light produced. The base of your lamp will need to be refilled with new lamp oil from time to time. The length of time between refilling will depend on the amount you use your lamp and the brightness at which you burn it. Like candles, oil lamps can also be used for aromatic effects by filling them with scented oil. When using candles or lamps for light, never leave them unattended while burning.
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