How to Choose the Right Energy Saving Light Bulb

According to Utilita Energy, an average household can save up to £30 a year just by switching to energy-saving light bulbs. In this article, we're going to explain why you should use these bulbs in your home and how to choose the right one for your home.

As well as saving you money, energy-saving bulbs can last around 10-15 times longer than standard bulbs. It's super easy to switch as these bulbs are available to fit most light fittings, you just need to know what you're looking for. Read our advice or watch the video below for more information on choosing the right energy-saving light bulb for you.

There are a few different types of energy-saving light bulbs including Halogen, Zenon and LED, but by far the most common are Compact Fluorescent Lamps or CFLs. To get the best CFL bulb to suit your household, there are a few things you need to know:

The first thing to check is that you get the right fitting for your CFL. There are two main types of fittings: Bayonet cap and Edison screw, both come in a range of sizes. The most common size of the Bayonet cap is 22mm, which is often just known as 'BC'. The most common sizes of Edison screw are the standard Edison screw, which is often just called the 'ES' and the small Edison screw which is often just called the 'SES'.

CFLs normally come in a tubular or helix design, but you can get ones that are designed to look more like incandescent old-style bulbs if you'd prefer.

The wattage is a measure of how much power the bulb uses. With old-style bulbs, the wattage would indicate how bright the bulb would be, but with CLFs, this is no longer the case. It is now simply a measure of how energy efficient the bulb is. So, before you purchase a CLF bulb, check the wattage on the packaging, The lower the number the better and you'll also find an energy efficiency rating, with A being the best. The packaging should also give you an indication of long the bulb will last - a CFL bulb can last up to 8 years and LED bulbs last up to 10 years.

The brightness is now measured in lumens, a number typically between 400 and 1400. So to give you an indication, an old 60-watt incandescent bulb is equivalent to approximately 700 lumens and an old 100W bulb is approximately equivalent to 1400 lumens. Some manufacturers will put the number of lumens on the packaging, whereas others will give you an indication of the brightness by comparing it to an equivalent incandescent light bulb.

The next thing to take note of is the tone of the light. With old incandescent bulbs, they would use different types of glass, such as clear, frosted, or pearl to give a different feel to the light. With CFLs, different bulbs have different colour temperatures to achieve the same effect. So, colour temperature is measured in Kelvins or K, and the numbers typically go from a few thousand up to in excess of five thousand for CFLs. The higher the number, the more cold or blue the light is, and the lower the number the more warm or orangey the light is.

So if a bulb has a colour temperature of 4000K, it’s a colder light and therefore is really good for workspaces. If a bulb has a colour temperature of 2700K, it’s a warmer light and therefore is really good for living spaces, like bedrooms.

Remember, when replacing a lightbulb, make sure that the light switch is in the off position. Also, if a lightbulb is blown or has been on for a while, place a dry cloth or rag over your hand as these tend to be quite hot.

It's also worth noting that not all CFLs and LED bulbs are dimmable, so if you are planning to use dimmer switches make sure to get a dimmer-compatible one.

So that's all you need to know about how to choose the right energy-saving bulb for you. You can purchase CFL bulbs, as well as LEDs, Halogen and Zenon, on the eSpares website.