The Light Bulb Comparison Chart: How to choose your new bulbs
Sooo…did you run out and change your light bulbs? Let me put your mind at ease for just a moment. Incandescent light bulbs are not BANNED and you will not incur any penalty for using them. In fact, there are still plenty of incandescent bulbs available to you. However, you will no longer be able to find the 60 and 40 watt variety, and by the end of this year, you will be out of options for 100 watts or more. The less popular wattage incandescents will still be around until 2016, however, they will cost you much more than before. Why? All in the effort to save energy. So do yourself – and the planet – a favor. The next time you need a new light bulb, make the switch. Not sure which type of bulb is right for you? Let us help. Use this light bulb comparison chart to help you make your decision:
A few other notes to help you make your decision – Check the labels!
- You want to look for wording like: “Equal to 60 watt incandescent” so you know what you are replacing.
- The label “Warm White” and “Soft White” are going to have the incandescent bulb glow. It may also say 2700K or 3000K.
- The term “Cool White, “ Daylight,” and “Bright White” are brighter, colder, and harsher. These may be good for areas of high traffic in your home or office. These may also list the numbers 4000K or 5000K.
- K = Kelvin (the color temperature)
- You may also see the term ‘Lumens.’ This refers to the amount of light that you want. More lumens mean brighter light than lower lumens. The same wattage of a bulb can have different lumens.
We hope this helps guide you to make the change without too much anxiety. If you have any questions or need more guidance, just drop us a line at wade@h2handypro.com What types of bulb are you going to use? Which areas of your home are you going to target first? Leave us a comment below. We would love to hear. For more lighting options, check out our Pinterest page right HERE.
Out with the old, in with the new: Your incandescent bulb replacement options
Have you heard? Your standard incandescent light bulbs are phasing out of production this year. Home Depot reports that they have about a 6 month supply left (as of January 2014), so if you really think you need them, you better get out there and stock up.
In effort to save energy and keep this earth turning, the EPA “light bulb” law went into effect in 2012 with the removal of bulbs with 100 watts or more. This year, the 60 and 40 watt variety are going by the wayside. The energy sucking incandescent bulbs are now being replaced by higher efficiency bulbs, including:
- LED
- Halogen
- Compact Fluorescent (CFL’s)
You may be worried about the cost of this change, as you surely got a dose of sticker shock the last time you looked at light bulb choices. It’s hard to justify paying $30 for a CFL or LED light bulb versus 50 cents to a dollar for an incandescent, especially if you are replacing bulbs throughout your entire home.
The good news is, the costs are coming down and the savings seems worth it. You can now get a LED bulb in different levels of brightness and warmth for $10! AND, if you use a LED bulb in your home, it could last up to 60,000 hours compared to 1,000 hours of an incandescent bulb. That can save you around $200 in replacement bulbs!
My Favorite Option
Let’s get with the times and embrace the change. Personally, I am a fan of LED lighting over incandescent for a few reasons.
- Their brighter, blue hue – very clean and clear.
- You also have a choice of warmer hues too.
- They are more durable with a life expectancy of 23 years with normal use.
- They are certainly more efficient, therefore, better for the planet.
- They just became more affordable.
Now that the LED bulbs are more affordable, I am definitely in favor of using LED lights throughout the home.
We only have a few months left before 40 and 60 watt incandescent bulbs will no longer be available. Make sure you take steps now to change out the bulbs in your home. If you need help or have questions, you can leave us a comment below or drop us an email at wade@h2handypro.com
Here is a light bulb comparison chart to help you make your decision.
We would love to know about your choice for light bulbs. Which option will you choose the next time you need to replace an incandescent? Please comment below.