How do I determine which new bulbs to buy if I am switching to CFL/ LED bulbs?

In general we recommend going to LED rather than CFL, LED has become more affordable and offers better longevity than CFL bulbs. There are now good looking LED bulbs available for almost any application even retro style “Edison” bulbs. There are a few older application or small bulbs that remain most appropriate for a Halogen or incandescent bulb, mostly small bulbs found in appliances; refrigerator bulb, range hoods, some low voltage track lighting etc., but otherwise try switching to LED as you replace household bulbs

Look for bulbs from a reliable manufacturer, big names like Phillips, GE, Halo and Lutron, these may cost a bit more but offer better quality than unknown brands. If they offer a warranty, check to see if it applies only to the diode or if it covers the ballast/drivers as well. 

Fixtures are rated for either dry, damp, or wet locations, the same goes for bulbs and it will lessen the lifespan of the bulb to put an indoor bulb in an outdoor fixture. In addition, be careful to read the label on your fixture or bulb to see if it's dimmable. CFL's and LED's can blink, buzz and have a shorter lifespan if they are installed on an older incandescent only dimmer. We recommend changing your dimmers to a Lutron brand "CL" type for all CFL's and LED's. Some specialty LED fixtures require an "ELV" dimmer which cost more because it is more effective at dimming LED's. 

Over time switching your bulbs to LED is a great way to conserve energy as well as spend a bit less time changing bulbs, even making the swap in your most frequently used lights can have an impact. 

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Which light bulbs should I switch for energy efficiency first?

Most people transition to newer LED or CFL bulbs on a gradual basis as old incandescent bulbs burn out.  Think about which lights are on most often in your home and start there. For many homes these are lights in the kitchen or living room. Another area that can provide some energy savings is outdoor lights especially if they are on all evening on a regular basis. 

The other area we recommend doing first are any fixtures that are hard to access or require a ladder, switching these to a longer lasting energy efficient bulb not only saves money but saves the hassle of changing them on a more frequent basis.

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Why do my new LED/CFL lightbulbs not last as long as the package says?

We hear complaints all the time about new “long life” bulbs needing to be replaced or burning our prematurely. A couple of factors come into play here:

First the claims made on packaging are often for a 3 hour per day usage. A bulb that claims a 10 year life may burn out much quicker if it is being used for a kitchen or living room light that is on most of the time. If the bulb is on for 8-9 hours a day then the manufacture would estimate a 3 year lifespan based on the number of hours. It is always an estimate at best and individual bulbs when combined with fixtures/especially older ones may not meet the average as determined under laboratory settings by the manufacturer.

A second factor is the cost/quality of the bulb. With CFL and LED technology being relatively new there is a wide range of quality vs cost as these bulbs become more accessible to the public at a relative price range.  Components other than the bulb itself may fail and cause the bulb to “blow”, with CFL this is commonly the ballast and with LED it is a driver, both these parts regulate voltage to the bulb and can be affected by heat, vibration or other external factors and become the weak link in the functioning of the bulb.

A third factor in overall bulb life is the condition of the fixture and working environment itself. This is often harder to determine but some older light fixtures may simply be harder on new lightbulb technologies. Older dimmers and touch sensitive lights may be incompatible with new energy efficient bulbs and cause bulbs to burn out or not respond correctly. Enclosed fixtures may allow newer bulbs to overheat. Another environmental culprit may be vibration and loose or insecure connection in the fixture itself, kids romping around in a playroom above the kitchen or a wild dance party upstairs may be shaking the light fixture below, better quality bulbs may be unaffected but cheaper bulbs may fail as a result. 

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