Home > Product Category List > Home Furnishing > Light Bulbs

Light Bulbs

What To Look For

The recently passed Energy Bill was highly successful in getting light bulb manufacturers to clean up their acts, so to speak. Although the bill didn't render incandescent bulbs obsolete, the new requirements will make it hard for incandescents to survive, and they'll most likely be replaced with newer technologies, such as compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and halogens.

LEDs are incredibly efficient--some last as much as 60,000 hours--but at the moment, the LED bulbs on the market don't provide the quality of light most homeowners are looking for in their day-to-day operations. LEDs are best suited for reading lamps and task-specific lighting, such as under-cabinet and shelf lighting. For better LED reading lamps, see "Energy Efficient Lighting."

Halogen lights still produce a good deal of waste heat, as incandescents do, so for this Buying Guide, we've focused specifically on CFL bulbs--remarkably efficient but frustrating at the same time, if you don't know what to look for. Here are a few of the major criteria you should use to pick a better bulb:

Shape

Beyond the spiral coil, CFLs now come in a shape to fit every look and fixture.

-Ideal for desk and reading lamps, the smaller triple-tube bulb provides high light output in small spaces.

-Flood lamp CFLs work well for recessed and track lighting.

-Globe shapes work well in bathrooms and above vanity mirrors where aesthetics are important.

-Torpedo-shaped candelabra bulbs fit nicely in small light fixtures such as sconces and designer lamps.

-Dome-shaped CFLs, similar in look to conventional incandescents , are a better fit for lamps whose shades clip onto the bulb.

Lumen Output

Incandescents and CFLs run at different wattage ranges but still provide the same amount of light, which is measured in lumens. Because light output relative to wattage varies among CFLs, lumens give a more accurate number for light. To maximize energy savings, choose the product that provides the most lumens at the lowest wattage. Energy Star lists common lumen equivalencies for CFL and incandescent wattages.

Kelvins

A CFL's color is indicated by the Kelvin (k) temperature (listed on the package). Higher Kelvins, 5000k or 6000k, correspond with cooler, bluer colors, while lower Kelvins, 2700k or 3000k, give off a warm, cozy glow similar to incandescents. Unless you want a blue living room, pick a warm-colored CFL for any living space. If the package doesn't list the Kelvin temperature, look for descriptive phrases like "warm white" and "soft white." Rooms that are more utilitarian, like garages and storage spaces, can get away with higher Kelvin temperatures. Full spectrum CFLs, which closely emulate natural light, have a Kelvin temperature of 5000 or higher.