New Developments in Lighting

Generally speaking, about 30% of your electricity bill is spent on lighting in your house. You can reduce this expense by using energy efficient light bulbs. By using the energy saving light bulbs you can decrease the amount of your electricity bill by getting the same amount of light like the standard light bulb with the use of less electricity. These new developments in technology tells us that energy saving light bulbs can be up to 8 times more efficient than the standard light bulbs. Energy efficient light bulbs use very low energy for the lighting purpose and provide you with a number of varieties of energy saving bulbs as well as fittings. You would generally get the same amount of light using less wattage. These bulbs and fittings are best suited for your outdoor as well as indoor lighting. You can also get a wide choice of LED fittings and LED bulbs. You should know that the working of energy efficient light bulbs depends upon some special units. Some will not work with the standard dimmers, timers and sensors. Check the capabilities of each type of bulb before installation. The different types of domestic light bulbs are as follows:* Halogen Bulbs- they have a small pocket full with halogen gas that emits a bright and a white light. A great degree of light is emitted as compared to the standard light bulb having similar wattage and using less electricity at the same time. In addition, they also a longer time of burning, about 2000 to 3000 hours. The old units of halogen needed a transformer and ran at a low voltage. Thus, their output was limited to about 20W. But now the halogen bulbs are available that do not need a transformer any more and at the same time would give you better outputs.
* Standard Fluorescent Bulbs- these are thin and long tubes that are generally found in the offices of garages. They are considered as more efficient as compared to the standard light bulbs as heat is not produced in them. They have a burning time of about 10,000- 20,000 hours. They can last for about 10-20 years long due to this longevity in life time.
* Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs- this fluorescent bulb is recommended greatly over a regular bulb. It produces about 4 times more light as compared to the regular bulb of the same wattage. The lasting period of the fluorescent light bulbs is about 10,000 hours. If you are thinking of replacing the standard light bulbs in your house with an energy efficient bulb, then the compact fluorescent light bulb will be one of the best options available to you.
*LED Lighting-Perhaps the most exciting development in energy efficient lighting is the development of LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting. Small and highly efficient, these products are highly efficient at converting electrical energy to lighting energy, about 80% efficient as opposed to 20% for incandescent bulbs. While cost has historically been prohibitive, the cost has been dropping dramatically as technology and production improves. Also, the lifespan of many LED products can be in excess of 40,000 hours.
There have also been some interesting developments with high efficiency fluorescent fixtures, such as T5 & T8 bulbs, more about that later. Everything has it’s cost and everything has its return. Contact Benchmark General Contractors, Inc. for information of how these energy savings devices can improve the performance of your building or home and save you money!.