Energy Saving Lamps – Illumination Without The High Cost




Energy conservation and efficient use of energy are very difficult to implement and yet are very important to reduce electricity costs. In this contest, it is better to start reducing energy consumption by switching over to a more efficient energy saving bulbs and focus on those light-fittings that are lit most often and for longer durations.

Energy saving bulbs, technically called Compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) is a fluorescent lamp designed as a substitute for an incandescent lamp. Some of these lamps will fit into light fixtures earlier used for incandescent lamps. As compared to regular incandescent lamps, for emitting the same amount of light, CFLs use much less electric power and have a longer life.

Although a CFL is much more expensive than an incandescent lamp, it can save much more than its purchase price over its life-span through substantial reduction in costs Green or environmentally-friendly light bulbs reduce energy consumption: CFLs are available in as many patterns as indoor lights and are used mainly for security lighting, ‘accent lighting’ and ‘convenience lighting’ and in many instances one light-fixture is used for different purposes.

Enormous savings not only in energy costs but also in minimizing harmful carbon emissions are achieved by installing energy-saving light bulbs in any light- fixtures that are lit for the whole night but they are not regulated by any ‘motion sensor’. The examples of such light fixtures are a floodlight over the driveway or rear deck or ornamental lanterns on both sides of the front entrance.

Energy saving bulb is also used as lamp post lights that are generally lit the whole night. While selecting energy-saving light bulbs, it is important to keep in mind that maximum efficiency rated bulbs only will help in reducing energy consumption substantially and also have profound ecological effect.

For example, at 60 watts and 850 lumens, the efficiency of incandescent bulb would be mere 14 lumens per watt, with an annual usage of 2,920 hours or 8hours/ day. The annual cost of lighting with an incandescent bulb is around $20, with a carbon dioxide emission level of around 349lbs. Let us now consider a 15 watt energy-efficient bulb.

Although it has a lower-wattage and utilizes less power, the output of the light is identical. Similarly, even though the lumens are lower at 825, the efficiency is higher at 55 lumens per watt as compared to 14 lumen per watt in respect of incandescent bulb.

The annual cost of lighting also reduces to $15 and carbon dioxide emissions are almost three-fourths lower. With $15 saving annually per socket, there is enough justification to change the light- fittings to energy saving bulbs to decrease overall energy consumption and the investment on energy efficient lamps will be recovered within a year due to reduced power costs.

Energy saving lamps or CFLs is ideal for lighting at home. These types of lamps are available in extensive range of wattages, shapes, sizes and colors and have a very long life of more than 8000 hours. However, one disadvantage with energy saving light bulbs is that surrounding temperatures cause adverse effects on these types of bulbs.

For those living in a colder climate, it is advisable to purchase CFLs with ‘amalgam’ technology for outstanding performance or purchase energy-efficient bulbs with the next corresponding wattage of traditional bulbs. For instance, if one is trying to replace a 60 watt incandescent bulb, it is better if he purchases a CFL corresponding to a75 watt bulb.

It is important to make sure that the fixture one intends to purchase is weather proof and if it is not, it is essential to choose a bulb rated for use in damp places. Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamps are very popular these days for their outstanding potential to minimize energy consumption and very long life-span. Surprisingly, LEDs do not emit ultraviolet light and do not attract insects. For a light-fixture near a door during nights, an LED is a very good substitute to ‘yellow bug lamp’.

Those buying LEDs should ask for only UL listed LEDS for good protection. Energy-saving light bulbs for Motion Sensors and Electronic Timers: For several reasons, energy-saving light bulbs or CFLs are not suitable for fixtures that emit light automatically by ‘motion sensors’.

These are basically utilized for security lighting, but are also useful as garage door openers. CFLs are not designed to emit sudden bursts of light and therefore, a conventional incandescent bulb is a better choice. When the present bulb fuses out, it is advisable to purchase a highly efficient halogen lamp to decrease power consumption.

The energy saving bulbs available at present is 30 to 40% more efficient in energy usage than the conventional incandescent lights and the producers of light fittings are constantly striving to enhance the technology of halogen bulbs in order to meet more stringent requirements of lighting efficiency that will take effect later in 2012.

While LEDs attain maximum glow immediately on switching on, they are still very expensive and therefore, they are not preferred for the short spurts of light produced by motion control sensors. However, with the increase in popularity and consequently the demand, the prices are expected to fall.

It is, therefore better to wait for sometime before buying LEDs. Some people depend on electronic timers to turn on external lights at nightfall. However, CFLs are not suitable for this purpose. This is because once the light is on; it will remain lit throughout the night.

LEDs, which normally function with ‘electric eyes’, are a perfect choice to minimize energy consumption and ensuring long life as compared to incandescent lamps.



Are you looking for more ways to conserve energy and reduce your monthly electricity bills? If you are, check out the Earth4Energy ebook by Michael Harvey. For more information, read up on Earth4Energy review on the web to understand that the guide has to offer.

Renewable Energy Sources – How Are We Progressing?




A renewable energy source is energy available from natural resources such as sunlight, wind and tides, which are renewable or naturally replenished. As distinct from fossil fuels, which take millions of years to develop, sunlight, wind, rain and water are natural resources available in abundance.

Many people consider the use of solar energy, the widely known clean energy is of recent origin. However, the solar panels were utilized to generate electricity in the 1920s to heat water instead of using costly conventional electrical heating systems.

Renewable Energy from Past to Present

When fossil-fuels were discovered, the use of solar energy was discontinued giving way to the more affordable and dependable fossil-fuels at that time. However, these petroleum products had an adverse effect on the environment causing pollution due to emission of harmful gases and added to that their levels also started depleting.

These factors contributed to the resurrection of renewable energy resources. Currently, solar power plants, wind farms and solar thermal plants are extensively utilized to provide energy to the whole towns and cities. The population using alternative sources of energy has cropped up all over the world with Canada taking the lead as the first country to take pride in having an entire community utilizing only solar power.

Apart from this, the technology is rapidly changing and with that the term, ‘renewable energy’ is being redefined.

The Future of Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is generated when natural resources such as wind, water and sunlight are harnessed though propulsion. However, the movements of humans are also being regarded as clean energy resources. For example, New Energy Technologies is at present carrying out tests to generate kinetic energy from ‘speed bumps’.

The ‘bumps’ are in fact a reverse of the classic ‘motion inhibitors’. These flat panels dip a little into the ground when a car passes over it. The difference in height between the road and the dropped panel causes the bumps.

Under the panel, 2000 watts of instantaneous energy is generated for every car that passes over the speed bump. With 1000 cars passing over the speed bump every day, 2,000,000 watts or 2,000 kilowatts of electric power is generated every day.

During the course of a month, this figure touches 60,000 kilowatts. This is sufficient electric power to cater to 60 homes on an average for the whole month.



This method of generating kinetic energy is not restricted to speed bumps alone. Israel is testing the roadways that generate small amounts of electricity as cars pass over the specific roadway surface. The amount of energy generated is only 400 kilowatts per kilometer (0.6 mile). Although this does not appear to be a significant amount of energy, if the whole of the interstate system of the US were to be utilized to generate kinetic energy, the 75,000 km stretch of the roadways generate 30,000,000 kilowatt of energy.

This undoubtedly is another unique definition of renewable energy. The new concept of treating kinetic energy as a renewable energy is gaining ground all over the world, with Tokyo is installing flooring that harvests power from the visitors who visit subways daily.

Dance clubs are making use of the energy generated from the movements on the floor to produce electricity. Even asphalt is being regarded as the major material for garnering thermal energy in desert climates when roadways can reach very scorching temperatures. There are plenty of sources for supplying new and unique renewable energy solutions to assist us in the transitional phase to shift to more long-lasting and environmentally friendly energy sources.

Even at present, there are numerous new technologies that can facilitate heating the houses, recharge our batteries and illuminate the entire backyard using ‘green’ energy sources.

First Step To Getting Your Home Off The Power Grid




Solar energy technology is an old concept and was developed years ago, it has capability to meet all your energy needs without being dependent on the grid for your power needs. You may be wondering how can you enjoy watching big screen television, using multiple refrigerators or even enjoy cool breeze of air conditioners in those hot months.

All this can be met using solar power to your advantage as the technology has further developed. Getting off the grid has become a reality these days especially for residential or commercial buildings. These days most of the solar panel technology has become quite efficient and affordable that you can easily install it for your homes.

This is also a fact that that the initial investment could be very high as compared to the conventional power. With the rising prices of fuel and utility, solar energy is now the only viable solution to meet your power demands.

Many new buildings constructed these days have the solar panel array on the roof tops which look good as compared to large solar panels in the past. The solar panels these days are not only more efficient but are small in size so that less space is required to install the solar power system. Today you will find Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels more attractive and modern, thanks to the development of technology.

Generating electricity using solar panels is really a new concept, many houses which have solar panels installed are also connected to grid, this ensures drastic cut in their energy bills as they are using mixture of both solar power and conventional power. There are some houses which in fact produce surplus power using PV panels and earn handsome money by selling this power to the utility companies.

Installing solar array is not that costly as most people think, there is subsidy and incentives offered by the federal and local governments to the people who are interested to install the solar panels. There are almost ten federal incentives which you can expect when you install the solar panels. These are in the form of tax credits, corporate and private exemptions and special loans and grants.

In addition you can also get local solar rebate, property tax incentives and much more. In some of the states 70% of the costs are borne making installation much easier for the common home owner.

Solar Panels for Homes

Solar panels or Photovoltaic system convert sunlight into electrical energy, each solar panel contains about a group of 30 to 40 solar cells which are made of silicon or some other material which absorbs sunlight. The material is so efficient in absorbing light that it immediately converts the solar power into electricity.



Each solar panel is a series of solar cells which are connected all together; the entire panel is sealed to save it from the moisture. The part of the solar cell which absorbs the electricity is negative and the bottom is considered to be positive.

When the sunlight is absorbed into silicon cells, electrons are knocked loose and travel from negative to positive layer and the electrical energy is passed through the contacts in the top layer and is routed through the circuit array thus producing power.