Bulbology

Stop wasting energy and money - with the newest generation of energy-efficient light bulbs

In most homes, lighting accounts for nearly 12 percent of electricity use. But you can easily reduce that amount of electricity you use in your home - without compromising on quality or convenience. Simply switch to ENERGY STAR^® qualified light bulbs. Here’s what you should consider:

• Lumens (not watts)
  Lumens indicate how much light a bulb produces. The more lumens, the brighter the light. Buy bulbs with the appropriate lumens for your particular lighting needs. Here’s the comparison chart between lumens and watts.
• Lighting Facts label
  All bulbs come with a Lighting Facts label to help you buy the best bulb for your needs. This label will indicate brightness (lumens), estimated energy usage and cost, and light appearance (color). Learn more at nyserda.ny.gov/FTC-label.
• ENERGY STAR label
  Bulbs with this label have met rigorous EPA standards for lighting efficiency and quality. Find a retailer near you selling ENERGY STAR qualified lighting.
• Bulb design
  Choose from a wide variety of ENERGY STAR qualified bulb styles and shapes.

Advanced Bulbology

Learn More:

• Lighting Overview 
• How do I choose? 
• Lighting choices to help you save 
• Choosing the right CFL 
• Frequently asked questions 
• Lighting facts label 
• Lighting standards 
• Mercury content and recycling 
• Ways to save 
• Federal lighting standards 

Visit the LUMEN coalition for more information on energy-efficient lighting.

Turn it off (or not)

Don’t forget—you can always save energy and money by turning lights off. Most incandescent and halogen lights produce heat and are not energy efficient, so turn them off when you leave the room. With CFLs, turning them on and off frequently could decrease their lifespan, so leave CFLs on if you plan to return in less than 15 minutes.