You don't see the old style incandescent light bulbs in the shops anymore and there's a good reason for that. Since 2012, there has been a phasing out of this style of bulb to more energy efficient lighting options such as LED or CFL's. Incandescent light bulbs waste up to 90% of the energy they use in heat, that means only 10% of the power used to light your home is actually lighting your home.
Energy efficient lighting
So your old bulb in the kitchen has finally blown and now you need to hit the shops to replace it. Unfortunately, the new light bulbs are not measured in watts, the new measurement is in lumens. Lumens is a measurement of the amount of light the bulb puts out rather than watts, which was a measurement of the amount of power the bulb used.
A little bit of reprogramming of your gray matter (brain) is needed at this stage, just like learning to use a video player, we all (well, those of us old enough to live in the video era) managed it after several attempts. Some companies have caught on to the need for transition and have labeled their bulbs with the approximate equivalent in the old measurement. However many have not.
Here's the Watts = Lumen's cheat sheet (all approximate):
- 100W = 1600 lumens
- 75W = 1100 lumens
- 60W = 800 lumens
- 40W = 450 lumens
Shape
Another thing to keep in mind when shopping for new bulbs is the shape of the bulb. CFL's and LED's come in all shapes and sizes, make sure the one you buy is going to fit in your light fitting/shade. There is an energy efficient option for all your lighting needs from spot lights to replacing halogen downlights.
Cost
Yes, LED and CFL bulbs are more expensive to buy than incandescents were. But, they will last a lot longer and use so much less power to run you will be saving money by not replacing bulbs anywhere near as much, and the electricity bill will be a lot more pleasant to receive.
Colour
Unless you're looking for party lighting (which you can also get in LED and CFL) there are often two colour choices in your standard bulb. Cool or warm. Why do they insist on making this so difficult? I hear you ask. Just think of where you will be using the light. Is it for the kitchen or office? This is called task lighting, or lighting in a spot where you need it to be clear and bright to carry out a task. A cool coloured bulb works well in these areas. A warm bulb is perfect for ambient lighting such as in the lounge, hall or bedroom. Anywhere needing a more subtle light.
Home Lighting
Clear as mud? Give it a go. Just like learning to use record on the video player, you'll be filling your home with energy efficient lighting like a pro in no time.