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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/apr/28/eco-appliances-energy-saving-hints-when-buying-lightbulbs
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Eco appliances: energy-saving hints when buying lightbulbs | Eco appliances: energy-saving hints when buying lightbulbs |
| (4 months later) | |
| The average UK home has 34 lights. Seems like a lot? Whether or not that statistic has been skewed by the 40,000 lightbulbs in Buckingham Palace, if you count all of the lights you have around your home, you’d probably be surprised at the number you find. | The average UK home has 34 lights. Seems like a lot? Whether or not that statistic has been skewed by the 40,000 lightbulbs in Buckingham Palace, if you count all of the lights you have around your home, you’d probably be surprised at the number you find. |
| All of these lights use energy and, as well as remembering to turn them off when they’re not needed, replacing older, less efficient lightbulbs is one of the simplest ways we can reduce our energy consumption at home and save on our bills. | |
| If you’re not sure where to start, here are some things to consider: | If you’re not sure where to start, here are some things to consider: |
| Know your bulbs | Know your bulbs |
| There are now three types of main types of lightbulb available to buy; LEDS, CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) and halogens. Halogen bulbs are the least efficient, using three times as much energy as CFLs and four times as much as LEDs. What’s more, most of them are designed to last for only two years, so if you are buying replacements, we would advise steering clear of them. | There are now three types of main types of lightbulb available to buy; LEDS, CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) and halogens. Halogen bulbs are the least efficient, using three times as much energy as CFLs and four times as much as LEDs. What’s more, most of them are designed to last for only two years, so if you are buying replacements, we would advise steering clear of them. |
| Look at the energy label | Look at the energy label |
| The best performing bulbs available are A+ rated. Try to aim for an A or A+ rated bulb if you can. | The best performing bulbs available are A+ rated. Try to aim for an A or A+ rated bulb if you can. |
| Check the lifetime | Check the lifetime |
| When you are thinking of changing a lightbulb, it’s very important to think about "lifetime cost". A relatively more expensive LED might last up to 20 years, CFLs last up to 10 years, and halogen bulbs around two years. Where the initial outlay can feel expensive, you are likely to see an LED bulb paying for itself in under three years and a CFL within a year. | When you are thinking of changing a lightbulb, it’s very important to think about "lifetime cost". A relatively more expensive LED might last up to 20 years, CFLs last up to 10 years, and halogen bulbs around two years. Where the initial outlay can feel expensive, you are likely to see an LED bulb paying for itself in under three years and a CFL within a year. |
| What about watts? | What about watts? |
| Think about the rooms you are lighting and what you need. For CFL bulbs, 14W is equivalent to an old 60W bulb while 23W is equivalent to 100W. See this handy guide for working out what lighting you need. | Think about the rooms you are lighting and what you need. For CFL bulbs, 14W is equivalent to an old 60W bulb while 23W is equivalent to 100W. See this handy guide for working out what lighting you need. |
| Whether you go for CFLs or LEDs, make sure you recycle your old lightbulbs correctly. | Whether you go for CFLs or LEDs, make sure you recycle your old lightbulbs correctly. |
| Turn them off | Turn them off |
| Modern lightbulbs turn on instantly and warm up in less than a minute. So for domestic lamps it is never more efficient to leave it switched on, even if you’re only leaving the room for a few minutes. | Modern lightbulbs turn on instantly and warm up in less than a minute. So for domestic lamps it is never more efficient to leave it switched on, even if you’re only leaving the room for a few minutes. |
| Dim the lights | Dim the lights |
| Dimmable versions of both CFL and LED retrofit bulbs are available. Some require a dimmer switch to be installed, but some don’t even need that meaning your lounge can become a sophisticated boudoir by simply replacing one bulb. | |
| For more advice on getting the most from your appliances, visit the Top10 website. | For more advice on getting the most from your appliances, visit the Top10 website. |
| Lizzie Kenyon is from Keep Britain Tidy. | Lizzie Kenyon is from Keep Britain Tidy. |
| Interested in finding out more about how you can live better? Take a look at this month's Live Better Challenge here. | Interested in finding out more about how you can live better? Take a look at this month's Live Better Challenge here. |
| The Live Better Challenge is funded by Unilever; its focus is sustainable living. All content is editorially independent except for pieces labelled advertisement feature. Find out more here. | |