The light bulb has been around for a couple of hundred years. Improvements have been made over time, but arguably the most significant changes have taken place in the last few years. Incandescent bulbs are increasingly being phased out and replaced by energy efficient light bulbs. These new versions of the traditional light bulb are saving consumers a great deal of money and significantly reducing energy use.
These new energy saving light bulbs are essentially mini fluorescent lamps. They come in the size of a standard light bulb and can save you a surprisingly large amount on your electric bill. They are said to produce approximately the same amount of light as more traditional bulbs while using significantly less energy. You can often find a bulb that will produce the equivalent to the wattage that you are currently using, thus the light should be as bright.
People have mixed reviews when it comes to replacing standard light bulbs with the energy saving bulbs. The first consideration is the initial cost. Energy saving light bulbs can cost several times the price of a standard light bulb. This initial cost is more than made up for over the life of a bulb but it can be a bit intimidating if you plan to convert all of the lights in your home or office. A second consideration is that while the light is said to resemble the light of a standard bulb, you can often tell the difference between the two. Sometimes the light looks more fluorescent or is not as bright even when you purchase the appropriate energy saving lightbulbs.
That being said, many people are most pleased when they get their electric bill and it is much lower than what they are used to. Lighting costs can account for ten to twenty percent and more of total electricity costs so when you reduce these numbers you will definitely see an impact on your utility costs. This is a welcome change for most consumers.
So you will have to decide whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages when it comes to upgrading the lights in your home or office to energy saving lightbulbs. One suggestion is that you purchase several of the energy efficient light bulbs and see if you prefer them. If not then you can always continue using the traditional bulbs. But if you do appreciate the light and the savings that you get from the energy savers then you might consider turning over the rest of the lights in your home or office and save money on your electric bills while doing so.
Most people are happy after they adjust to the new look in their homes. If, however, you are very particular about the light that you use then you will want to consider sticking with the older options but trying to be conscious about not leaving lights on or using timers to decrease energy use in your home. Perhaps over time new technologies will improve the light produced by the energy saving bulbs and then you can make the switch at that point.