Energy-Efficient Incandescent Lamps

Although incandescent lamps use more energy than other types of lamps to produce the same amount of light, there are some situations where they are appropriate. They have the sparkle and definition of sunlight, and they are best suited for frequent on-off situations. The following are ways to reduce energy costs with incandescent lamps.

High-Efficiency Incandescent Lamps

High-efficiency incandescent lamps can yield substantial savings. For example, a new 67-Watt replacement for a 75-Watt lamp produces only 5% less light, yet uses 11% less electricity.

Krypton-Filled Long-Life Lamps

For hard-to-reach places where changing the lamp can be difficult, krypton-filled long-life incandescents are an excellent choice. Krypton-filled lamps will last as long as standard long-life incandescents, but use less electricity.

Ellipsoidal Reflector Bulbs

An ellipsoidal reflector (ER) lamp can be a wise replacement choice for a reflector floodlamp in a deeply recessed ceiling downlight fixture, where 50% or more of the light may be trapped inside the fixture. The lower powered ER lamp is designed to project more light out of the fixture than the floodlamp. A 75-Watt ER replacing a 150-Watt regular floodlamp often yields more light, and uses half the power. Energy savings can be substantial. If you need more light, try a larger ER lamp, or a socket extension that brings the front surface of the lamp closer to the opening of the fixture.

Replacing Two With One

In many cases you can use a single, more powerful lamp where you now have two or more. The larger the lamp, the more efficient it is; higher wattage = more lumens of light produced per watt. (This is true for all except fluorescents). For example, two 60-Watt incandescents (1,680 lumens) can be replaced with one 100-Watt lamp (1,800 lumens) that yields more light and saves 20-Watts of electricity. . A 20-Watt reduction saves 15 kWh of electricity over the life of a new lamp, enough to justify replacing lamps before the old ones burn out.