Although rising utility bills have cast a gloom over homeowners, builders can brighten lives one light bulb at a time with compact fluorescents. According to ENERGY STAR, homeowners can save more than $60 a year if they use Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) in just 5 light fixtures. This energy-efficient technology is a simple way that builders can help homeowners save money and protect the environment.
Many people, however, still rely on incandescent bulbs to illuminate their homes. When Thomas Edison developed incandescent bulbs, they were considered safe and practical for the home. 127 years later, they fare far worse than their fluorescent counterparts. Incandescent bulbs use more than 3 times as much wattage as CFL bulbs to produce the same amount of light. CFL bulbs are not only more efficient but safer, since they don’t use heat to create light, reducing the risk of burns and house fires. Instead, fluorescents use a gas that creates light when it hits the coating inside the bulb.
Besides safety and environmental advantages, CFL bulbs are more versatile than incandescent light bulbs, offering a spectrum of warm and cool light. No longer reserved for offices and commercial buildings, fluorescents now offer attractive options for the home. Builders use CFL bulbs to spotlight architectural features, create a warm atmosphere in rooms, and provide lighting for daily household activities.
Here are some tips for incorporating CFL bulbs into a home:
Design a lighting plan. Determine where CFL bulbs fit best in the home. Consider using compact fluorescent downlights for general and task lighting. CFL bulbs are also attractive as vanity lights and torchieres.
Choose appropriate CFL bulbs for fixtures. Look for CFL bulbs that can dim if the fixture has dimming capabilities. Also, check the size of the bulb, as CFL bulbs tend to be larger than standard incandescent bulbs. For a yellowish light, choose a CFL with a Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) of 2700 to 3000 K. Higher CCT bulbs will emit a bluish-white light.
Educate homeowners about how they can save energy and money. While CFL bulbs cost a bit more up front ($3-$28 more than incandescent bulbs), they will save homeowners considerably in the long-run and outlast incandescent bulbs. If homeowners understand that CFL bulbs will lower their utility bills and will need to be replaced less frequently, they will warm up to using them. Remind homeowners that the best practice for conserving energy is simply turning off lights when they aren’t using them.
By using Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs, builders demonstrate the value and ease of adopting energy-efficient practices. For more information, review the High Performance Lighting Guide from IBACOS, a building science research and risk management consulting company. Other Best Practices® related to electrical design and installation can be found in BuildIQ University’s online training course, Mechanicals: Electrical.
