Lighting FAQs

Why Are Many People Opposed to Incandescent Lighting?

• Incandescent lights have served a critical role in lighting up the world, and even as of 2011, they make up 85 percent of the world's lighting, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The downside is that although the technology is prevalent, it doesn't mean it's the best solution. Incandescent lighting is wasteful---losing up to 80 percent of its energy as heat, rather than light. Alternative sources, such as fluorescent lighting, can operate at a higher efficiency, leading to less wasted energy.

How Do Life-Spans of Incandescent vs. Fluorescent Lights Compare?

• Outside of being up to 75 percent more efficient, fluorescent lights also win the battle in life span. Incandescent lights are generally designed to last from 1,000 to 2,500 hours; however, fluorescent lights can last from five to 10 times longer, depending on the type. Compact fluorescent lamps, or CFLs, last around 10,000 hours, while straight-tubes---the type of lighting commonly scene in office buildings---last up to 24,000 hours.

Which Type of Lighting Saves Me the Most Money?

• Saving money depends on how you look at it---you can think of it as saving now or as saving over the long-term. If you're interested in saving the most money immediately, incandescent light bulbs are the cheapest type available; generally, CFL lights cost several dollars more than incandescent bulbs.

  If you're thinking more long term, then fluorescent lights are much more cost effective. Their energy efficiency means that your electricity bill will be lower and their long life span means fewer replacements, which requires fewer bulbs being purchased.

Are Solar Lights Effective?

• Solar lighting is a great concept in theory; after all, it operates on free electricity provided by the sun. Homeowners can install solar lights---usually used as outdoor lights---easily; each light operates off of a solar cell that converts sunlight into electricity, which it then stores in a battery that is utilized to power the bulb later. The main downside is lack of sunlight. In locations where sunlight is sparse, the operational time and power of the solar lights can be limited from 30 to 50 percent.