Did you know?

If you buy one low energy bulb (20W) to replace one standard bulb (100w) at a cost of between £3 and £7.50 you will make a saving in electricity over the life time of the bulb of around £98. They can also last 15 times longer than a standard bulb which also saves around £4 in not replacing them every few months.

If you reinvest this £98 in buying thirteen or more low energy bulbs, targeting high wattage and frequently used bulbs you can save a further £1,300 in electricity bills. Source: Marches Energy Agency

If every household in the UK installed three low energy light bulbs enough electricity would be saved in a year to supply all of the street lighting in the UK.
Source: Energy Saving Trust

Low energy light bulbs have improved a lot in the last few years, prices have dropped dramatically, the range has increased to include candle, spotlight and globe bulbs and problems with flickering have been overcome. Now there is no excuse, you can save money and help the environment, just by changing your light bulbs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are traditional bulbs so bad for the environment?

Many of us still use traditional (incandescent) bulbs around the house. These generate light by passing an electric current through a thin metal wire, which becomes hot and emits light. Only 10 per cent of the electrical energy is converted to light - that means 90% is wasted as heat.

How do low-energy bulbs work?

Low-energy bulbs, also called compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), are more efficient than incandescent bulbs because most of the electrical energy is used to generate light, instead of heat. They typically require around one-fifth of the energy to produce the same amount of light, as common incandescent bulbs.

How much longer do low-energy bulbs (CFLs) last?

Standard incandescent bulbs last around 1,000 hours, whilst CFLs can last anywhere between 6,000 and even up to 20,000 hours. Beware buying shorter life CFLs when there is an alternative with a longer life!

What wattage should I buy?

Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) are sold by the wattage, in much the same way as normal bulbs. However because they use a lot less energy, a lower wattage bulb will be needed to give out the same amount of light. The table below gives the approximate equivalents that can be used:

If you're replacing a 40 watt incandescent bulb, use a 8-11 watt CFL.
If you're replacing a 60 watt incandescent bulb, use a 11-15 watt CFL.
If you're replacing a 75 watt incandescent bulb, use a 15-20 watt CFL.
If you're replacing a 100 watt incandescent bulb, use a 20-24 watt CFL.

So how do the low-energy bulbs (CFLs) save money?

Although CFLs cost more to buy, they save money because they use far less electricity. Each CFL can reduce your electricity costs by up to around £7 per year. A CFL will typically pay for itself in less than one year. Prioritise replacement of your most often used light bulbs first but ‘ban the incandescent’ completely!

Why can’t I use CFLs with my dimmer switches?

Bulbs on dimming circuits or 3-way bulbs require CFLs specifically designed for those purposes. Using a standard CFL in a dimming circuit is a fire hazard. You'll need a dimmable or 3-way CFL for the appropriate application and they are a little more difficult to find. If it's not clearly marked for dimming do not use the CFL bulb on a dimming circuit, even at full brightness. The same applies for a 3-way CFL bulb -- it should be clearly marked -- if not, don't use it.

Hot news: See the amazing new Megaman dimmable 11 watt bulb which. works on conventional or dimmer light switches at www.ebulbshop.com

Should I leave CFLs on when I leave a room to keep saving money?

No! There used to be a general belief that because fluorescent strip lights used more power in their warm-up phase, then it was better to leave them on all the time. This was never true - an old style strip light (or non-electronic CFL) only uses as much energy in the warm-up phase as it does whilst operating for a minute or so, and modern electronic ballast CFLs use even less energy at the start. Although CFLs do not use much electricity it is still best to keep them switched off when not wanted - why throw money away on anything that is not needed?

Local stockists include:

Ludlow Homecare, Creative Lighting, Precious Earth

For more information see:

www.est.org.uk Government funded website with lots of useful advice

Some comprehensive websites selling CFLs

www.firstlightdirect.com
www.lowenergyworld.com
www.lightbulbs-direct.com
www.bltdirect.com/products
www.ebulbshop.com