Lighting is one of the largest energy consumers worldwide. Electricity for lighting accounts for 20% of the world’s energy consumption and 6% of CO2 emissions. Many people are switching to energy-efficient lighting not only to save energy costs but also to protect the environment. 

Energy efficient lighting and energy efficient lamps have significant benefits for homeowners and large cooperation owners. These lights provide energy savings and cut down on carbon emissions. Many governments are pushing forward with green efforts by introducing energy efficient lighting. If you want to reduce lighting energy costs, here is everything you need to know about energy efficient lighting. 

What Are Energy Efficient Lights?

Energy efficient lights reduce the energy usage of the light model without affecting the final lumen output or brightness. 

Energy efficient light fixtures such as energy efficient ceiling lights consume less energy to perform the same function as a standard light. These qualities are at the core of energy efficient lighting. It is important to understand that energy consumption does not correlate to the quality of brightness. 

Energy efficient lighting can help you save energy while providing high-quality illumination. There are several ways to implement energy efficient luminaries. You can simply conduct a re-lamping. This includes replacing old traditional lamps such as incandescent bulbs with energy efficient LEDs or fluorescent light bulbs. 

You can also introduce better and more efficient lighting controls. These controls give you precise control of your light energy consumption. Some external lighting components automatically turn off your lights when they are not in use, especially during the day. 

Energy efficient lighting also has better structural integrity than another lighting. These luminaries have better circuitry than conventional lights as it stops electricity wastage. A common component in some energy efficiency lights is a dimmer switch. This switch provides even more efficient use of your energy. 

Apart from replacing your light bulbs, you can also follow alternative methods of using your light efficiently. Many homeowners introduce energy efficient lighting in their households to reduce energy bills; however, you can also implement such lighting in a larger application. 

Energy efficient lighting in commercial buildings and public luminaries will have a much bigger impact on energy savings and carbon emissions. Many government legislatures are implementing the use energy efficient lighting on a larger scale to cut back on energy consumption and reduce environmental harm. Check out our blog on Energy Saving Bulbs!

How Do Energy Efficient Lights Work?

Energy efficient light bulbs were introduced as an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional light bulbs. These energy saving luminaries use significantly less electricity to produce a similar level of lighting as a traditional light bulb. 

There are several types of energy efficient lights on the market; however, the two most common are LED lights and CFLs lights. Energy efficient LED lights are a great cost-effective choice for light fixtures in both households and commercial properties. 

LED refers to light emitting diode, and this LED component uses electricity to create illumination. Energy efficient LED lights are often considered one of the best energy saving light bulbs worldwide as they consume less energy and last a long time. 

Since LED technology is constantly improving, modern LED lights will be much more efficient than their older counterparts. Despite having a smaller size, these LEDs are highly efficient. LED lights are manufactured with a grouped cluster with a diffuser lens. This configuration broadens the application for energy efficient LED light bulbs in homes and other areas. 

Even though energy efficient LEDs have a high upfront cost, they are far more economical than other light bulbs, energy saving due to their longer life span. CFL light fixtures are another popular energy efficient option that is commonly used in larger applications such as commercial properties and public lighting. 

CFLs are compact fluorescent light bulbs and smaller versions of full-sized fluorescent bulbs. Energy efficient CFL lights screw into a conventional lamp socket, and they give off an illumination that looks similar to a standard incandescent light bulb. Despite the fluorescent makeup, these lights are not as harsh as the light bulbs in factories and other industrial buildings. 

Why Are Energy Efficient Lights Important?

Many people might be a little apprehensive about energy efficient lighting due to its high costs; however, these lightings are extremely beneficial for anyone who uses them. 

Lighting is a basic requirement of any building, whether it's residential or commercial. Lighting is a major part of our daily life and impacts our day-to-day activities. Since lighting is so important, it also consumes a significant portion of energy. 

Such high levels of energy consumption are not sustainable, and you will experience higher energy costs in the future. To combat such issues, energy efficient lighting is crucial. 

Industries' energy consumption accounts for 26% of Europe’s total energy usage. A major part of this energy goes towards lighting. In a household, lighting accounts for 15% of the total electricity consumption. Due to these factors, lighting is an important area where energy must be conserved. 

Energy efficient lights play a key role in energy saving areas. Traditional incandescent lightbulbs are responsible for high energy consumption due to lighting. These traditional light bulbs not only waste energy but also produce a lot of heat which damages the light bulb and requires frequent replacements. 

Once you install energy efficient lighting, you might not see a lot of savings immediately; however, you will experience a major reduction in your energy bills after some time. 

With these qualities, we can see that energy efficient lighting is necessary because it:

• Reduces electricity consumption leading to lower energy bills.
• Makes efficient use of electricity instead of wasting it.
• Reduces energy consumption during peak electricity hours.
• Lowers greenhouse gasses and protects the environment from harmful emissions.

The History Of Light Fixtures

Even though traditional lighting consumes a lot of energy, it is important to look back at the history of lighting fixtures to understand that modern technology has come in terms of luminaries. Looking at the history will also give an indication as to how the light industry will keep developing in the coming years. 

Incandescent Light Bulbs

Traditional or incandescent light bulbs were invented over 100 years ago. Incandescent light fixtures have a piece of hard metal wire, and this wire has an extremely high melting point. The wire is generally made from tungsten, and a glass cover surrounds it. These types of light bulbs are extremely high energy consumers and are highly inefficient. 

One of the biggest problems with these bulbs was their structural components. An incandescent light bulb contains a hard wire with an extremely high melting point. This wire is made from tungsten, and it is surrounded by a glass cover. 

When electricity passes through the light bulb, the wire glows and produces light. This light is what we see when the bulb is turned on. These components make up the structural form of an incandescent light bulb. These light bulbs were effective in the earlier time period as many people did not have sufficient light sources. 

However, due to our environmental efforts and modern technology, these incandescent or traditional light bulbs are now considered highly inefficient. It is also important to note that these bulbs are not as bright as modern LEDs, even at the same wattage. 

Only 10% of the electricity used by an incandescent lightbulb is converted into visible light, while the rest is lost. This figure shows that roughly 90% of your electricity goes to waste with traditional light bulbs; therefore, you spend a lot of money on wasted energy. 

In comparison, energy efficient lights with a similar wattage use almost all of the energy consumed. Additionally, traditional incandescent light bulbs have a far shorter lifespan than energy efficient light fixtures. 

The filament in an incandescent light bulb burns out quickly due to heat emissions. To solve such inefficiency issues, manufacturers came up with several other ways to make light bulbs more efficient. The next step to improve light efficiency was halogen light bulbs. These bulbs are thought to be more efficient than a traditional bulbs. 

Halogen Light Bulbs

After incandescent light bulbs, halogen lights were considered the next most efficient light bulbs. Halogen light bulbs use a similar filament technology as traditional light bulbs, but these luminaries run at a higher temperature. 

Despite these mechanisms, halogen light bulbs are only slightly more efficient than incandescent light bulbs. Halogen lights were also more bright than incandescent bulbs. Halogen lights contain a small amount of halogen gas which mixes with the tungsten vapor from the wire. 

The mixture makes its way back onto the filament instead of going inside the bulb. This process allows a halogen bulb to shine brighter than a traditional bulb. Additionally, it extends the lifespan of the bulb slightly longer than an incandescent light bulb. 

Halogen light bulbs are mainly used in spotlight fittings and sockets. However, manufacturers are forgoing these light bulbs for even more efficient light bulbs. Along with traditional or incandescent light bulbs, lower-level halogen light bulbs are being removed from the market for more energy efficient alternatives. 

After the halogen light bulbs, modern replacement models were designed that produced the same level of illumination but used less electricity. The use of halogen bulbs has been on a steady decline, and the UK is set to phase out these lights by 2018 completely. 

Due to modern technological advancements and environmental concerns, many governments started backing manufacturers that produced an even more efficient form of lighting. After the halogen, we see far more advanced lighting fixtures on the market. 

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

Compact fluorescent lamps or CLFs were the first light bulbs that were specially designed as energy efficient luminaries. 

CFL bulbs have a much longer lifespan than both incandescent and halogen light as they can last over 8000 hours. Compact fluorescent lamps use approximately 70 to 80% less electricity than incandescent light bulbs. These light fixtures have a much different structural makeup. CFLs light bulbs have a gas called argon inside a glass tube. 

This gas also contains small amounts of mercury vapor. This process creates ultraviolet light, which is invisible to the naked eye, but once this light passes through a fluorescent coating in the tube, it emits visible light. CFL light bulbs marked a big step toward energy saving light bulbs. However, these were still not as efficient as LED lights. 

Energy Efficient LED Light Bulbs

After CLFs, manufacturers designed an even more efficient light model. These were called light emitting diodes or LED light bulbs. In most cases, LED lights have replaced CFLs as the more energy efficient light model out of the two. 

When it comes to energy efficient lighting, many people prefer using LEDs instead of another lighting. Energy saving LED light bulbs are used for both domestic and commercial applications. These bulbs come in a linear fluorescent lamp or strip light format, which is commonly used in the workplace and industrial settings. If you're thinking; does a lamp use less electricity than a ceiling light? the answer is there is no difference in energy consumption if the wattage is the same. The size or shape of a luminaire doesn't determine its energy consumption. 

As mentioned before, the structural component plays a key role in a light’s efficiency, and an LED bulb is no different. Due to their physical makeup, LED lights are far more efficient than other light bulbs, especially incandescent lights.

LED light has a robust light bulb structure that is highly energy-efficient. When these LED bulbs were first created, they were produced with a single-bulb structure. Early LED light bulbs were used in electronics, instrument panels, pen lights, and more. Once these lights were produced in small grouped clusters, they had a wider appeal in terms of applications. LED lighting has since gained popularity since they are best known for being lights that save energy. 

More recent use of energy efficient LED light bulbs includes indoor headlamps, string lighting, and Christmas lights. With the rising popularity of energy efficient lighting, LED bulbs are becoming one of the most popular light sources worldwide. 

For domestic and household purposes, LED lights to come with a standard base fixture similar to other bulbs. Another great feature of LEDs is the lens. The diffuser lens is a crucial component as it helps the light spread in a wider beam. 

One of the major features of early LED light bulbs is that the light emission is directional as opposed to traditional incandescent bulbs, which spread light in a spherical direction. This type of lighting direction works well with recessed lighting or under cabinet lighting fixtures; however, directional lighting may not favour table lamps. 

Modern LED light bulbs are created to address directional light limitations. These newer LED lights use a diffuser lens and a reflector to distribute illumination in multiple directions, similar to an incandescent light bulb. 

Despite the high energy savings with LED light bulbs, these bulbs have a high upfront cost for many consumers. LED light bulbs also have a high production cost which is a major roadblock to the widespread use of LED bulbs. 

However, modern research and technology are rapidly evolving to design much more efficient and cost-friendly LED light bulbs. Even if you purchase a more expensive model of LED bulbs, you will experience savings in the long run. 

How Much Power Do LED Bulbs Consume, And How Long Do They Last?

As mentioned before, LED lights are far more efficient than any other light product on the market. LED bulbs use 90% less energy than an incandescent or halogen light bulb of similar brightness. 

For example, a 4-watt LED light bulb can achieve a similar lumen output comparable with a 50-watt halogen light bulb. This is because LED bulbs are much more efficient at converting electricity into light energy. 

The structural component of LEDs makes a key difference in this conversion because, in other light models, most of the energy would get wasted as a heat emission. However, LED lights do not produce heat; therefore, they make much better use of the energy consumed. 

Another great benefit of using LED light bulbs is the longer lifespan. Since there is no thermal emission, the LED bulb does not suffer any damage and therefore does not need constant replacements. A well-built LED light bulb can last 25 times longer than any other light bulb.

Want to save energy in your home? Check out our blog on How to Save Energy at Home. 

How To Implement Energy Efficient Lights?

Now that you understand what energy efficient lighting is and how it works, here are some ways you can implement energy efficient luminaries in both residential and commercial properties. 

Re-lamping Your Lights

One of the easiest ways to get energy efficient lighting is by replacing your traditional light bulbs with efficient models. Since traditional lighting consumes far more energy, it is important to make the switch to more efficient luminaries. 

You can choose between a CFL bulb or an LED bulb. Since LED bulbs make much better use of electricity, they are an ideal choice for any type of property. LED technology is constantly evolving; therefore, you might find even better LED models in the future. 

When you are making the switch between light models, make sure to check the fitting base to identify whether it will work with the replacement. Most CFLs fit into the fixtures of standard incandescent lights; however, they cannot fit into long tube light fixtures. 

If you are replacing a traditional light with LEDs, you won’t face many installation problems. This is because LED bulbs come with various ballasts and fixtures that can fit into almost any socket. 

When looking to replace an incandescent bulb with an LED, make sure to look for the lumen output instead of the wattage. LEDs measure their performance by lumens instead of wattage as they do not consume a lot of energy.  

Improve Light Controls

Instead of replacing your lamps, you can start using your pre-existing lights efficiently by installing better control. 

Motion sensors and other sensory features are important to control components that will let you use your lighting efficiently. Some common sensor control features include automatic timers, infrared sensors, PIR, ultrasonic sensors, and dimmers. These sensors detect the presence of a person or the time of the day and act accordingly. 

For example, if the motion sensor detects that there is no one in the living room, it will automatically turn all the lights off in that particular room without manual operation. Alternatively, if the sensors are set to detect timings, it will automatically turn on the lights when it starts getting dark outside. 

Street lighting is a major source of energy consumption, but there are ways to make this lighting more efficient with better controls. Street lighting and outdoor lighting can also benefit from photo sensor controls as these monitor the daylight conditions and send signals to the main control unit to turn the lighting on/off. 

Check out our blog on Smart Switches and Sockets! 

Replacing Ballasts And Fixtures

Replacing the ballasts and fixtures of your lighting with better replacements can make lights work more efficiently. Energy efficient fixtures and ballasts give better energy savings, reliability, and longevity. 

The main function of any light fixture is to direct, distribute and diffuse light. Therefore, if the fixture is not working properly, you might risk wasting electricity. Some inefficient ballasts can absorb a significant portion of the illumination emitted from a bulb. This process severely reduces the efficiency of the lighting. 

Highly efficient fixtures will emit more brightness and ultimately save energy and money. If you want to install better fittings, look for fixtures or ballasts with a reflector, as these will direct light in your desired direction. 

Some inefficient fittings can also cause power loss and raise the temperature of the lamp light during operation. So, a proper ballast must be chosen to avoid such issues and reduce inefficient use of lighting. 

What Are The Best Energy Efficient Lights On The Market?

If you are interested in purchasing energy efficient lighting, you can find a wide range of options at Meteor Electrical. At Meteor, you can find both LED lights and CFL lighting that are highly reliable and use energy efficiently. 

Browse the Kosnic range at Meteor for energy efficient lighting solutions. Kosnic is a leading manufacturer of energy efficient lighting that provides high-quality luminaries worldwide. If you are looking for dimmable LED lighting, be sure to check out the Aurora lighting range at Meteor Electrical. 

Here are some of the best energy efficient lights Meteor has to offer. 

1. Kosnic 9W LED Light Lamp.

If you are starting out with energy efficient lighting, you will prefer the Kosnic 9W LED light lamp. This bulb is a great addition to any household or commercial property and will help you reduce your energy bills in the long run. 

This bulb has a total lumen output of 730, and it can last for 20,000 hours. With these specifications, you will not have to worry about the bulb’s brightness or the replacement costs. 

2. Kosnic 4.5W LED Lamp

Replace your halogen lamps with the Kosnic 4.5 LED lamp. This light fitting offers high energy savings without compromising on brightness. This Kosnic lamp is incredibly high-performing with a 390 lumen output. You can use this LED lamp for both household and hospitality purposes. 

3. Kosnic 4 Watt Bayonet Candle LED Light

The Kosnic 4W filament candle light is highly efficient and functional as it provides 100 lumens per wattage. With this light, you get high-quality brightness and major savings without compromising on brightness. This light has a more traditional aesthetic compared to other modern, efficient lighting. However, it has high-grade technology with a lifespan of over 20,000 hours. 

4. Kosnic 26 Watt Compact Fluorescent Lamp

For consumers looking to purchase CFL lighting, you will prefer the Kosnic 26 Watt Compact Fluorescent Lamp. This high-grade lighting solution is perfect for multiple retail or office environments. The Kosnic CLF is energy efficient and provides quality brightness that is perfect for larger spaces. This light provides 1,800 lumens of light, and it has a lifespan of 12,000 hours. 

5. Aurora 8 Watt Dimmable LED Smart Lamp

For energy efficient lighting smart capabilities, Aurora brings you the 8 watt dimmable LED smart lamp. This light is a Bluetooth-powered lamp that is easy to use and very cost-effective. 

You can control this lighting with remote control for added functionality and efficient control. If you are looking for a light with a range of colours this Aurora lamp provides 6 RGB colours. The lamp has a beam angle of 160 degrees, and it has an average lifespan of 25,000 hours. 

Final Takeaway

Many people are making the switch to energy efficient lighting due to energy-saving purposes and environmental concerns. There are several ways you can introduce such lighting into a household or more public spaces. Be sure to follow these energy efficient lighting tips to make energy-conscious changes to your lighting system.   

Want to reduce your energy savings with heating too? Check out our Smart Heaters blog and Tips on how to Reduce Heat Energy!