Replace Incandescent Bulbs

Affordability

Efficient lamps usually cost more upfront than incandescents (i.e. from $3 to $10 for a compact fluorescent lamp), although prices continue to drop as more models and technologies enter the market. The shift away from incandescent technology has opened up many innovations; it’s worth comparing prices, models, and lighting quality. Despite a higher price, efficient lamps boast remarkably longer service lives than incandescents, making their lifetime cost comparable or superior to old-fashioned lamps.

Cost savings

A CFL operating during typical business hours, totaling 2,500 hours or more per year, will pay for itself in less than 12 months through reduced energy costs, then save you money for the next seven to nine years. In addition, many lighting technologies qualify for incentives under BC Hydro’s Product Incentive Program, cutting the initial cost of switching.

Environmental considerations

The energy savings from replacing incandescent bulbs with CFLs reduces greenhouse gas emissions from gas-fired or coal energy sources and lessens the need for new energy generation facilities. In addition, CFLs last eight to ten times longer than standard incandescents, so there is less material and manufacturing required and fewer spent bulbs in landfills.

What you need to know

Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs)

• CFLs are the “curly bulbs” that are currently the most common replacement for use directly in standard incandescent lamp sockets. CFLs are easy on the eyes; they cycle much faster than old tube fluorescents, so there is no perceptible flicker. They’re available in a range of colour temperatures from soft white "warm" light tones similar to an incandescent to cooler blue tones for reading. Read more about colour temperature below.
• Today's compact fluorescent light manufacturers offer a wide variety of CFLs that deliver on light quality and convenience as well as energy savings – usually about 75% better than incandescents. Always look for the ENERGY STAR® label, which identifies products that have been tested to meet operating, reliability and energy efficiency criteria.
• CFLs are more expensive than incandescents, but replacing a 100-watt incandescent with a 25-watt CFL, for example, will save approximately $30 in electricity over the life of the CFL lamp.
• Many CFLs are designed to illuminate slowly to preserve the long life of the lamp. In settings where light is needed to switch on and off quickly (i.e. a supply cabinet) they may not be the best energy-efficient option and may prove frustrating to users.
• CFL products come with and without reflectors. Non-reflectorized lamps are usually used in table lamps, floor lamps and other fixtures designed to put out diffuse light. Reflectorized lamps provide a more directional light. CFLs may also be covered in various ways to mimic standard incandescent lamp shapes, such as A-lamps and PAR lamps.
• CFLs come in a range of power ratings, from 5 to 28 watts in screw-in versions and up to 55 watts in hardwired models. Manufacturers often claim that the lamps produce light output equal to a certain wattage incandescent; however, these ratings must be viewed with caution, since there are no formal standards for making such claims. One manufacturer's 18-watt product might be labeled as equivalent to a 60-watt incandescent, while a similar product from another vendor might be labeled as a 75-watt equivalent. As a rough guide, a 3:1 ratio, incandescent to CFL wattage, yields equivalent light output.
• CFLs last about eight times as long as incandescents – expect to replace them only every five to six years. Choose a bulb that best suits the situation; it will not burn out soon!
• Not all CFLs are dimmable. If you are buying for a fixture with dimming feature, ensure you buy a bulb that can dim.
• Read more about CFLs.

Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs)

• An LED lamp clusters multiple light-emitting diodes together to produce an effective source of light. They are highly efficient, using at least 75% less energy than incandescent lighting. They are also very durable, lasting a minimum of 25,000 hours, or 22 years based on average household use (approximately 35-50 times longer than an incandescent and about two to five times longer than CFLs.) Because of their efficiency and long life, they are being rapidly adopted in a variety of commercial and institutional applications, such as traffic lights, marquee lighting, restaurant and retail lighting.
• LEDs produce directional light, making them ideal when focused light is required. This also means that although there are a number of LED replacements  for standard incandescent lamps (which emit light in all directions), the technology is still evolving and there are not direct replacements for all incandescent forms.
• Compared to CFLs, LEDs provide more sparkle, making them preferable for some retail and decorative settings. They produce very efficient coloured light, and are the primary recommendation for holiday lighting. LEDs come on instantly when switched on. Dimmable products do not flicker.
  
  Because of their technology, LEDs are often most effectively implemented in purpose-designed luminaires (fixtures) rather than as a replacement lamp within fixture designed for incandescents. LED luminaires are emerging for a wide variety of applications and offer significant energy reductions over incandescents. LED fixtures come with a minimum three-year warranty — far beyond the industry standard.
• LEDs are recommended for use in Exit signs, which must remain on at all times – producing great savings in efficiency and maintenance costs.

Fluorescent tube lighting

• Long favoured for general overhead room lighting, full-size fluorescent (not compact) tube lighting is one of the most common types in use – and the most efficient. However, new tubes and ballast systems are increasing efficiency levels and are subject to Power Smart incentives.
• Ballasts – which convert current line current to the proper voltage – for fluorescent tube systems are also increasing in efficiency and come in various models. Ballasts can be the most expensive aspect of a lighting retrofit but are subject to incentives that help reduce the upfront cost.
• Mix overhead fluorescent lighting with daylighting controls and appropriate task lighting for an energy efficient mix.

Cold cathode, metal halide, high pressure sodium, halogen and more

• Lighting technology is evolving more rapidly now than it has in a generation. There are new options for both lamps and luminaires best suited to specific applications, with improvements emerging regularly. Consult a professional lighting designer who is knowledgeable about energy efficiency to ensure you get the best mix of efficiency and light quality for your company’s needs.
• Read more about HID lamps and track lights; and HID vs. fluorescent for high-bay lighting.

Colour temperature

• Colour temperature refers to the shade of white light, identified by correlated colour temperature (CCT) and measured by Kelvin (K). Warmer colours correspond to lower Kelvin numbers, while higher Kelvin numbers indicate a cooler, bluer light.
• The majority of CFLs on the market are 2700-3000 K and project soft white or "warm" light. These bulbs enhance warm colours (red, yellow and orange) found in the home.
• Bulbs with a slightly higher K rating (up to 3500 K) can be optimal for reading, but as that K rating increases (to 4100, 5000 and 6500K) the effect is increasingly white to bluish light that enhances cooler colours (blue, green, violet). The higher K-rated lights are often referred to as "daylight".
• You may also see some bulbs labeled by a CRI (colour rendition index), which indicates how true colours appear under a light. Bulbs with a CRI rating of 60 to 80 are suitable for offices, classrooms and supermarkets, but all Energy Star rated CFLs have a CRI rating of at least 80 and are better for home, retail, restaurant and lobby use.

FAQ

Since there is mercury in CFLs, is it more environmentally responsible to use incandescent bulbs?
Most CFLs contain less than 4mg of mercury, which is about one-fifth found in the average watch battery and less than 100th found in a typical amalgam dental filling. There are new bulbs on market with lower mercury levels, currently down as low as 1.4-2.5 mg per bulb.

CFLs can actually reduce mercury levels in the environment by decreasing energy use, particularly coal-fired energy generation, which is one of the largest mercury producers in Canada.

Although most of our energy in British Columbia comes from hydropower, we do import energy from other sources, including coal. When we reduce our energy use in B.C., the savings come out of the imported energy. Therefore, using CFLs reduces our contribution to greenhouse gases, energy consumption and mercury production.

However, it is critical to dispose of CFLs properly to ensure that mercury does not build up in the environment and damage our ecosystems. Find out how to recycle CFLs in your area.

Is the mercury contained in a CFL bad for my health?
The mercury that CFLs contain will not cause health or environmental issues while inside the tubes. It can only become a problem when you discard the tubes. Mercury in the environment is known to have adverse effects on fish, humans and other animals. To keep mercury from becoming a concern, always dispose of CFLs properly. Read the disposal information in this tip for more information and look for a CFL recycler near you.

What if I break a CFL?
If you break a CFL:

• Open a window if possible and vacate the area for 15 minutes.
• Use a wet rag to clean it up and put all of the pieces and the rag, into a sealed plastic bag or jar with a lid. Place all materials in a second sealed plastic bag.
• Contact your local recycling center to see if they accept this material.
• Wash your hands.

How do I dispose of a CFL?
Because they contain mercury, CFLs should never be sent to an incinerator, which would disperse the mercury into the atmosphere. Neither should they be disposed of in regular solid waste, where they would break. Save spent CFLs and take them to a qualified CFL recycler. (Due to their long life, you will have far fewer used CFLs than you are accustomed to with incandescent bulbs.) Find a CFL recycler near you.