LEDs use 90% less energy than traditional light bulbs. LEDs also help save the environment. If every person in the U.S. replaced one traditional light bulb with an LED, the energy savings could light an estimated 2.5 million homes.
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These bulbs are most widely used in household lighting. These LED bulbs work well for ceiling lights, lamps, vanity lights, kitchen lights, closet lights, porch light fixtures and many more. These bulbs are in the “A” group.
Flood LED bulbs are designed to emit a strong beam of light with a hard edge in a spot or flood beam pattern. They are most often used in outdoor and landscape lighting such as architectural lights, driveway lights, path lights, gazebo lights and paver lights that have weatherproof housings. These bulbs are in the “PAR” group.
Decorative bulbs are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Common decorator bulbs include chandelier bulbs, bullet bulbs, conical bulbs and flame style bulbs.
LED globe bulbs have a full, round shape and are available in various sizes. They are used as foyer lights, kitchen lights, chandeliers and ornamental fixtures. The most common type is the large G30 bulb, which is used in bathroom and makeup vanities. These bulbs are in the “G” group.
An LED retrofit is used to add LED bulbs to your existing recessed lighting fixture. These kits convert your light cans to ones that are compatible with modern LED bulbs. DIY installation is simple and instructions are easy to follow.
The Lighting Facts label is like a nutrition label. It helps you pick the bulb with the right color of light that saves you the most.
A. Brightness
How much light the bulb provides. The higher the number, the more light.
B. Estimated Yearly Energy Cost
What it costs to use the bulb each year.
C. Life
How long the bulb will last.
D. Light Appearance
The color of the light. Lower numbers are warm/yellow light. Higher numbers are cool/blue light.
E. Energy Used
How much energy the bulb uses, not the brightness.
These bulbs are tested and certified to save energy and perform as promised.
The appearance of the light is measured in Kelvin (K). The difference in the Kelvin number will be the difference of “soft white” or “daylight.”
If you want a light most like the warm glow of an incandescent bulb, choose a bulb with a temperature around 2700 Kelvin (also read as 2700K). For brighter task lighting, choose a higher temperature around 3500 Kelvin. The higher the color temperature, the whiter the light will appear.
WARM OR SOFT WHITE
2,700 – 3,000 Kelvin
NEUTRAL OR COOL WHITE
3,500 – 4,100 Kelvin
SUNLIGHT OR DAYLIGHT
5,000 – 6,500 Kelvin
LEDs come in all shapes and sizes! Choose the right ones for you.
Look for lumens, not watts. Watts measure how much energy a bulb uses—not the bulb’s brightness. Lumens measure the amount of light, so the higher the number, the more light. For example, a 60-watt incandescent bulb and a 10-watt LED have the same brightness—800 lumens.
Here’s a wattage equivalence chart, but note that lumen-per-watt ratios can range mildly, even from LED to LED products.
Energy-saving LEDs can be used almost anywhere incandescent bulbs are used: in recessed fixtures, table lamps, ceiling fixtures, porch lights, vanity bars and more. However, it is important to select the right type of bulb for the right fixture application.
LEDs can be thrown directly into the trash. Also, some localities will allow LEDs to be recycled. Check with your local waste management provider to see if old LEDs can be recycled. Your local store may also have recycle bins for old LED bulbs.
Finding an ENERGY STAR qualified LED that will put out the same amount of light as your current incandescent bulb is easy. You can find product equivalency information right on the light bulb packaging to help you choose a bulb that produces a similar amount of light.
Here’s how to compare bulbs. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3 …
No. Not all LED bulbs are equal. To ensure you are getting the best-quality LED bulb, look for the ENERGY STAR logo on the packaging. To qualify for ENERGY STAR, LED lighting products must meet these rigid criteria:
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. ENERGY STAR’s goal is to help you save money and to protect the environment through energy-saving products and practices.
The ENERGY STAR logo signifies that the product has been tested and meets the following criteria:
To learn more about ENERGY STAR light bulbs, visit the ENERGY STAR website.
Yes. Always read the packaging to be sure of a bulb’s proper use. Some bulbs are qualified to be used in three-way and dimmable fixtures like chandeliers, recessed lights or track lighting.
Most LEDs are dimmable, just like traditional incandescent bulbs, with no special switches or circuits required. Always check the packaging to be sure.
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