Light Bulbs for Saving Energy and Money
Note: This is mostly specific to North America, somewhat specific to the US.
New file 4/4/2022, update 5/20/2022.
General purpose LED light bulbs of A19 style (usual shape and size of medium base lightbulbs)
are available for low cost at Dollar Tree and at Ikea. Ones at Dollar Tree are now generally
available in nominal equivalents of 40, 60, 75 and 100 watt incandescent lightbulbs. My
experience so far with the Dollar Tree ones is that they are usually useful for a few thousand
working hours before they fail or noticeably fade in light output. Even though this is much less
than they are rated for, they are still a bargain because they consume a little less electricity
than CFL lightbulbs and about 21-24 % as much electricity as even the improved-efficiency
incandescents that became common in 2012-2014 (which are a kind of halogen bulbs) while costing
only $1.25 each.
Ikea's Solhetta series of LED light bulbs have extremely high overall luminous
efficiency / efficacy of mostly about 136-138 lumens out per watt in. I know of
two exceptions, both of which have higher claimed efficency of 152 or 160 lumens
per watt. I tested both of those models, and with the test equipment I have on
hand I confirmed at least 138 lumens per watt and was not able to refute the
higher claims.
To decrease problems with heat buildup
Light fixtures that have light bulbs enclosed in small enclosures, or that have light bulbs
pointing downward (in a base-up position) while being closely surrounded by downlight fixtures,
usually have heat build-up issues that are often a problem for LED and screw-base CFL lightbulbs,
especially if claimed light output is more than "60 watts incandescent equivalent". I have
recently seen Ikea's Solhetta series of LED lightbulbs as consuming less electrical power and
producing substantially less heat than all other general household use LED lightbulbs up to and
including "100-watt-equivalent" that I have seen so far. The 100-watt-equivalent Ikea Solhetta
LED light bulb is so efficient that it has localized heating only like that of 60-watt-equivalent
LED lightbulbs with actual power consumption about 8.5-9 watts.
UPDATE 5/20/2022: Ikea's Solhetta series 60 watt equivalent LED light
bulb produces 800 lumens from 5.9 watts, and runs much cooler than similarly
bright light bulbs that have actual power consumption ( rate of energy use ) of
8 watts or more.
There is the matter of R style floodlights, that are preferred in most recessed ceiling fixture
downlights. I have not paid a lot of attention to this in recent years, and I have been
disappointed by lightbulb technologies in general having less energy efficiency in R type
(and related) floodlamps than in other lamp types.
Written by Don Klipstein.
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