Let There Be Light

My wife will tell you that I am kind of obsessed with lighting. 

Close to a decade ago, I swapped out all the incandescent light bulbs in our home for lower-wattage CFLs (compact fluorescent lights).

The reason is that I wanted to lower the electrical pull on the older fuse box running electricity throughout the house, and see if maybe we could save a bit of money.

We did lower our electrical use and saved money in the process.

The main issue with the CFLs is that the light produced by the bulbs hasn't necessarily had the same "brightness" as incandescent counterparts (and many models were slow to warm up). Other drawbacks include the fact that most I encountered weren't designed for fully-enclosed fixtures, and many weren't able to function with dimmers.

But, I liked the fact that they used about one-quarter the wattage of a comparable incandescent.

The issue facing consumers the past few years is that the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 essentially redefined efficiency standards for bulbs. The legislation phased out certain watt incandescent bulbs between 2012 and 2014.

The past 18 months I have been swapping out CFLs for the latest-generation LED lamps -- and recently completed refitting all fixtures with LED bulbs, other than a lone fluorescent tube light and lights in our closets (which aren't on enough to justify a pricier LED at this juncture). Thirty-six bulbs in total have been changed around our house -- covering the interior and exterior of our home.

These bulbs use one-half to one-third the energy of the CFLs (in most instances).

The lumens (total quantity of visible light emitted) is vastly superior to the CFLs, and they are "instant on" in nature.

You can buy LEDs designed for fully enclosed fixtures (which includes 10 fixtures in our home), and there are many dimmable models available.

Couple quick things to keep in mind:

1. Warm-colored bulbs have a color temperature of 2700k to 3000k, so look for that on the packaging. Cooler-colored bulbs (meaning "bluer" light) tend to have a temperature closer to 5000k. 
2. While the "lit part" of LEDs tends to be cool to the touch, the aluminum base (heat sink) can get hot. The efficiency in LED bulbs comes from the fact that energy isn't lost to infrared heat (as it is with incandescents and fluorescents), but energy is still used to power the mechanics in the bulb.
3. Look for sales on bulbs. Many models are pricey, and it is a good idea to be patient and shop around.

I'll talk more about LED lamps in the future.

I can safely say that the overall quality of light in our home has improved significantly since the switch to LEDs -- things are much brighter (which is beneficial for 40-something-year-old-eyes).

The other advantage is that all 36 LED bulbs consume around 327 watts -- or the equivalent of about three of those old 100-watt incandescents.

Read yesterday's blog post: Food From a Really Nice Camper