The era of the traditional incandescent bulbs is drawing to a close thankfully. With emerging technology, we now have energy saving bulbs like the CFL (compact fluorescent lights) and LED (light emitting diode) to replace them. The traditional filament-burning light bulbs were energy guzzlers that gave off 90% of the energy consumed in the form of heat. And who needs more heat with global warming looming!

The modern energy saving bulbs, on the other hand, makes life much easier – even though they are comparatively more expensive than the traditional bulbs. They have a much longer lifespan that extends into years and consumes electricity that’s just about 5-10 times more than the cost of the bulb itself. This way, you end up lighting your home for less money. You still get a choice of colors and different light levels with these modern energy saving bulbs, but with lower electricity bills.

CFLs and LED lamps are also great for use as outdoor lights that need to be left on for long periods of time. Since they don’t use much energy, they can be enclosed in all-weather fixtures and used as floodlights. They are also suitable for use with modern technology as in motion sensors, dimmers, timers or automatic daylight shut-offs. They can even withstand extreme weather like snow or rain.

CFLs

These compact fluorescent lamps are simply miniature versions of the original cumbersome and long tube fluorescent lamps. They usually come in attractive curly shapes and use less electricity than the incandescent lamps. Typically, a CFL bulb can pay for itself within six months of buying, and hence onwards, you start saving money on your energy bills each month.

Though CFLs were earlier introduced in white tones, they are now available in warm color tones too. However, do note that CFLs contain a little bit of mercury and hence need to be recycled appropriately.

LEDs

These energy-efficient lamps use only 20-25% of the energy used by traditional incandescent lamps and have a lifespan that’s about 25 times longer. Though they were earlier used mainly as indicators or traffic lights, they look great when used stylishly in interiors too as recessed lighting, under-cabinet lighting, desk lamps, small track lighting, etc. Outdoors, they look great as pathway lights, step lights or porch lights.

Today, LED lights are one of the most advanced and energy-efficient lighting systems in the world that is being applied in all fields. Because of their durability, they can be used in all weather conditions outdoors, including snow. Though a little expensive, prices are expected to come down soon.