Light Bulbs

The use of more energy-efficient light bulbs is a definitive step toward reducing energy consumption, thereby moving to more sustainable resource use. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, lighting accounts for 38 percent of end-use electricity consumption in commercial buildings and about 10 percent in residential and manufacturing buildings. A 2006 study by the International Energy Agency estimated that grid-based electric lighting accounted for 19 percent of all global electricity consumption. Consequently, replacing general-purpose incandescent light bulbs can significantly reduce energy consumption; currently, compact fluorescent bulbs are the most economically viable option, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are even more energy efficient. In choosing an appropriate light bulb, the application, light intensity, energy efficiency, cost, resource depletion of source materials, and proper end-of-life disposal all ...