Understanding Wattage Equivalence in Energy-Saving Lamps in CFL and LED technology

The change from incandescent lighting to energy-efficient alternatives being offered such as CFL and LED has introduced a new way of thinking about light output.  In the past consumers would rely on wattage to determine the brightness of a light but with this updated technology lumens are now what needs to be referred to to determine the brightness of the light you are looking to purchase.

What are Lumens?

To compare bulbs of different types of technology it is easiest to compare the Lumens between each one. Lumens measure the amount of light that is produced  If you compare the lumens instead of the wattage when choosing an energy saving replacement you can’t go wrong. A lot of energy saving bulbs will list an equivalent wattage.  This is to help consumers choose the correct replacement bulb without them having to look at the lumens.

For example if you have an LED bulb that consumes only 8 to 12 watts but produces 800 lumens this would be considered as equivalent to a 60-watt incandescent bulb.  It is easy to see how much more energy efficient energy saving bulbs can be with this comparison.   When purchasing an energy saving replacement bulb make sure you compare the lumens and the equivalent wattage advised to your previous bulb.

Which light bulb saves the most electricity?

LED bulbs will save the most electricity compared to any other type of lighting technology available.

LED lighting uses up to 90% less energy than incandescent technology as well as CFL fluorescent technology and still produces the same amount of light. This will mean a significant reduction in energy use and costs over time when you choose to use LEDs.  

Is it cheaper to leave an LED light on or turn off?

For LED lights it will always be cheaper to turn them off when you leave a room even if it is for a short amount of time.

Previously it was advised for CFL and incandescent bulbs that it was worth leaving them on if returning to the room within a few minutes. This is because it was believed that the brief surge of electricity upon turning them on could sometimes be less economical than the minimal electricity used whilst they were briefly left switched on.

LED technology however does not have this issue due to the below:

1. Minimal Startup Surge: LEDs do not rely on heating a filament or gas turn on therefore do not experience a significant electrical surge when they are turned on. 
2. Extended Lifespan: The lifetime is calculated by the average operating hours not the switching cycles (how many times it is tuned on/off).  Switching cycles have much less impact on LED bulbs than the incandescent or fluorescent bulbs.
3. Maximum Efficiency: While an LED uses much less wattage than incandescent and fluorescent lighting that energy is still being consumed whenever the light is switched on making it worthwhile to turn it off whenever it is not required.

In conclusion it is always worthwhile turning off LED lighting when leaving a room as it will save you more money in the long term and will not have an impact on its longevity.