What's With All These Light Bulbs?

The light bulb aisle is not what it used to be. That is a fact of life. It isn't just, "Oh, I'm going to pop in for a replacement bulb for my mother's old table lamp," anymore. There are so many choices. One could be stuck in that light bulb aisle, face filled with confusion and frustration, trying to decipher what all those weird new shapes are; typically waiting on a sales associate that will never show up. One might ask, "Why does this swirly light bulb cost $29?!" Do not fret, readers, because with this blog I will attempt to clear the air. 

First of all! We are not limited to Lowe's and Home Depot. Many fine retailers, such as Crate and Barrel, carry bulbs. Now, if they carry light fixtures, chances are they also carry bulbs to properly fit.

These bad boys are the Plumen 001 Original 11W CFL Light Bulb at $29.95 a piece. An 11 Watt CFL (compact fluorescent lamp) puts out around 550 Lumens (measurement of light as opposed to the Watt, which measures energy) and lasts for 8,000 hours. A typical incandescent bulb would take 40 Watts to distribute the same amount of Lumens and only last 1,000 hours.    

There are also Halogen bulbs, which are more efficient versions of the typical incandescent bulb. They can save up to 25% more energy than their predecessors by putting off less heat. A Philips EcoVantage 72-Watt Halogen A19 Soft White Dimmable Light Bulb (4-Pack) will only run $5.97 at Home Depot. Each bulb will have about 1,000 hours of life. 

LEDs (light emitting diodes) are the most energy saving lighting option. These use around 75% less energy than our favorite old school incandescent friends. This Ledare LED Bulb from IKEA costs $9.99 per bulb, gives out 600 Lumens (equivalent to a 60 Watt incandescent), and lasts for about 25,000 hours. 

There is an attempt to phase out incandescent bulbs all together, however it is not that simple. Currently, there are no more 40 Watt or 60 Watt incandescent bulbs in production. It is not illegal to stock or to purchase these, but they will only last for as long as we have a supply of previously manufactured product. For more information on this legislature and other ways to save on energy in your home, visit Energy.gov.