Which light bulb is better - LED or energy-saving? Comparison of LED and energy-saving lamps. How to choose an energy-saving lamp What types of energy-saving lamps are there

Energy-saving light bulbs are products shrouded in a halo of mystery. It would seem that the main advantage of using them is obvious even from the name - buy and be happy.

However, many of our compatriots are in no hurry to acquire “miracle developments”, wanting to first find out:

what is their structure;
what is their “frugality”;
Are they dangerous?
why such familiar and “native” incandescent lamps fell out of favor.

A number of users are also confused by the fact that reviews of the performance of such light sources are not always the most flattering.

All these doubts are fair and have a right to exist. Therefore, we will talk in detail about the advantages, disadvantages and subtleties of operating luminescent “housekeepers”. And also about how to choose the right energy-saving lamp, if for you its advantages still outweigh the disadvantages.

Construction of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)

The first linear fluorescent lamps were produced in the United States in the late thirties of the last century. They began to be actively used in the fifties and sixties - they became a successful solution to the issue of lighting in industrial enterprises and administrative buildings. Unfortunately, linear fluorescent lamps could not become a “household breakthrough” for quite obvious reasons - their sizes are not very “homey”.

Therefore, it is not at all surprising that manufacturers want to significantly reduce the size of the development. They succeeded in this “venture” only in the eighties, after new, higher-quality phosphors had been created. The diameter of the tube was reduced to 12 millimeters, and it itself was bent several times. Over the years, specialists managed to reduce the weight and size of fluorescent lamps so much that they became serious “competitors” to traditional incandescent lamps.

A modern compact fluorescent lamp consists of two key elements - a curved bulb and a base.

The CFL bulb contains tungsten electrodes “coated” with activating substances (a mixture of barium, strontium, and calcium oxides). The flask is filled with an inert gas with a small admixture of mercury vapor.

When voltage is applied to the lamp, a charge arises between the electrodes (which is quite natural) and it lights up. But almost all the radiation it generates lies in the ultraviolet range. In order for this radiation to be “transformed” into light visible to the human eye, the inside of the flask is coated with a special substance - a phosphor.

The composition of the phosphor directly determines the color characteristics of the resulting light, i.e. “high-quality phosphor = efficient lamp.”

Interesting! The compact fluorescent lamp is the absolute record holder among all light sources in terms of the number of common names. Whatever they call it - “klshka”, “energy saver”, “housekeeper”...

Advantages of housekeepers over incandescent lamps

The first and main advantage of compact fluorescent lamps is the highest light output. About five times larger than incandescent lamps. If we talk about specific numbers, this means that the light output of a 100 W incandescent lamp will be equal to the light output of a 20 W fluorescent light source. The main advantage of such a purchase, as you might have guessed, lies in the ability to reduce electricity consumption for lighting by about 80%. Reducing your energy use is not only good for your wallet, but also for the environment. By reducing our consumer demand for it, we are reducing the amount of harmful gas emissions that are an “inherent” by-product of electricity production.

Important! Throughout the civilized world, the importance of preserving the environment is a key motivating factor for the transition to energy-saving light sources.

The classic cause of failure of incandescent lamps is the burnout of the tungsten filament. The operating principle and structure of CFLs are radically different. This allows them to be used 6-15 times longer. The average work life of housekeepers is 6-12 thousand hours.
Since CFLs need to be replaced much less frequently than “Ilyich light bulbs,” they are very convenient to use in hard-to-reach lamps (for example, in apartments with high ceilings).
Housekeepers not only consume less electricity, but also emit less heat. This allows you to safely install them in chandeliers and lamps with temperature restrictions. Now you don’t have to worry that the cartridge, finishing elements and wire will “float”.
Energy-saving lamps allow for softer and more uniform lighting.

Disadvantages of energy-saving lamps

It can be quite difficult financially to replace all the regular light bulbs in a house at once. One CFL will cost 10-20 times more than a conventional incandescent lamp.
Too frequent on/off switches significantly shorten the life of the housekeeper.
Standard CFLs must not be used in luminaires that are controlled by dimmers (light controllers). For these purposes, there are special CFLs with adjustable brightness, but needless to say, they cost an order of magnitude more than the already expensive “ordinary” housekeepers.
CFLs contain mercury and other toxic substances - they must be disposed of accordingly; You cannot throw them in a regular trash can.
It takes some time for the housekeeper to warm up to full power. In a normal room environment - up to 45 seconds.
When using compact fluorescent lamps outdoors, it will not be possible to achieve the same bright light as indoors.

High-quality energy-saving lamps - how to choose and what to pay attention to?

Have you weighed the pros and cons? Have you decided that this development definitely deserves consumer attention? So, it's time to go to the store to buy. But which energy-saving lamp should you choose if there are so many of them on the shelves?

There are a number of parameters by which you can determine the best samples for each specific case.

Power

Power is the first parameter that you should decide on when choosing an energy-saving light bulb. Considering that the light output of a CFL exceeds the light output of a conventional incandescent lamp by about five times, it is necessary to use this “translation” rule - divide the required power of a “classical” light source that is familiar to you by five. In practice, it will look like this: if your chandeliers “flaunt” 75-watt incandescent light bulbs, then a power saver of 15 W will be quite enough.

Note! The “law of division by five” does not always apply. Some Chinese manufacturers can “please” buyers with only a fourfold increase in power. Therefore, the information on the packaging should be studied more than carefully.

Base type

The vast majority of modern housekeepers, intended to replace outdated incandescent lamps, use the “traditional” Edison base. Such energy-saving lamps are designated E27.

Sconces and small lamps may require light sources with an E14 base - pay attention to this. It differs from the classic one in having a slightly smaller diameter.

Large energy-saving lamps with an E40 base are suitable for powerful and large lighting fixtures.

Colorful temperature

Unlike incandescent bulbs, CFLs can produce different types of glow. This is why some housekeepers seem to be uncomfortable on the eyes.

Such visual irritation occurs due to the incorrect color temperature of the lamp selected for a specific room.

For office premises and classrooms, lamps with a color temperature of 6000-6500K will be optimal. They emit cool white light with a hint of blue;
For the living room and children's room, it is advisable to choose housekeepers with natural white light (4200K). This tone is very close in spectrum to natural light;
For the kitchen and bedroom, the ideal solution would be CFLs with a color temperature of 2700K. Lighting from such a source is very similar to the atmosphere created by an incandescent lamp.

Price and service life

You shouldn't be tempted by an indecently cheap housekeeper. Otherwise, you risk running into a “specimen” that is unable to work even thousands of hours out of the stated four to six.

Guarantee

The warranty period for an energy-saving light bulb can range from 6 to 36 months, depending on the manufacturer. Naturally, the larger it is, the better.

Be sure to ask where you purchased the product for the terms and conditions of the warranty. As a rule, you need to keep the receipt and the box for the product.

Form

The shape of luminescent housekeepers can be quite varied:

U-shaped;
spiral;
semi-spiral;
flask-shaped (pear, ball, candle).

Choose the one that best suits your aesthetic preferences and overall interior design.

Worth knowing! The most popular are U-shaped and spiral-shaped housekeepers. The shape of the product does not in any way affect the quality of its work, which cannot be said about the price. Spiral-shaped ones are usually more expensive than U-shaped ones due to more complex production technology.

Helpful advice! When buying fluorescent light bulbs for the first time, do not try to take a dozen at once for all rooms of the house. Take two or three with different color temperatures, test them, see if the purchased samples don’t tire your eyes. And after a couple of days, buy additional lamps to the required quantity.

Which company should I choose an energy-saving lamp?

While deciding on the power, color temperature and type of base is not particularly difficult, choosing a manufacturer usually poses difficulties. What are the best energy-saving lamps to choose, given that brands are “like stars in the sky”?

Experts are unanimous - preference should be given exclusively to those brands that have been on the market for many years and that can boast exclusively positive reviews from consumers.

The best energy-saving lamps, according to experts, are Philips, Osram, DeLux, Navigator, Camelion, Era.

Philips

Philips is the first company to offer new energy-saving light sources in the eightieth year. Since then, it has been actively and fruitfully developing the field of energy-saving technologies. Philips energy-saving lamps always have a wide range and beautiful appearance. And also excellent quality and durability.

Osram

Osram is another “pioneer” of the housekeeper market. The company released its first lamp back in 1985. All Osram energy-saving fluorescent lamps have a long service life (up to 15,000 hours) and can easily withstand an impressive number of restarts (5,000 - 500,000).

Navigator

Energy-saving lamps Navigator appeared on the domestic market in 2006. The range of products under the name Navigator includes about a hundred items, including: U-shaped, spiral-shaped, and decorative light sources.

Camelion

The Camelion range of energy-saving lamps can satisfy the wishes of any buyer with any income level. Three series of housekeepers are produced under the Camelion brand:

Camelion ECO;
Camelion Classic;
Camelion PRO.

Camelion ECO offers standard sizes, a six-month warranty, high brightness and a service life of 6,000 hours.

Camelion Classic is compact in size, 1 year warranty, service life - 8000 hours.

Camelion PRO is ultra-compact in size, exclusive range, warranty - 1 year, service life - from 10,000 hours.

Era

Energy-saving lamps Era first appeared in Russia in 2008.

Their current range allows you to easily replace absolutely all incandescent lamps - regardless of the shape and type of base.

Incandescent lamps

The oldest lighting devices are more than a century old. They provide light that is pleasant to the eye, but during operation they get very hot, as they have low efficiency - about 97% of the energy is spent on heat generation. Therefore, lighting using conventional incandescent lamps is expensive. It is for this reason that many decide to replace them with more economical ones, while deciding which lamps are better for their home and wallet.

There is another unpleasant property of incandescent lamps - their service life is not very long. On average it is about 1000 -3000 hours. Since the price of these lighting fixtures is low, it is a small burden on the wallet. However, frequent replacement can be nerve-wracking - you have to always have a couple of pieces in stock.

A widespread trend - traditional incandescent lamps are being replaced by more economical ones

It is also worth taking into account that, due to the design features, they are produced only with a screw base, but they operate from a 220 V network and do not require any converters or special devices. Due to the large amount of heat, they are not used for lighting furniture; they are not compatible with all suspended ceilings, and they are not at all friendly with suspended ceilings. In general, this is a classic lighting, but not ideal.

Halogen

Halogen lamps are a type of incandescent lamp. They differ in that the flask is filled with halogen vapor (most often iodine or bromine), which increases the service life by 2-3 times. The design allows them to be made not only with a screw base, but also with a pin base. Different bulb shapes and the use of reflective coating make it possible to create light sources with different scattering angles. Therefore, at one time, they were widely used as built-in ceilings or furniture.

Halogen incandescent lamps - a more “advanced” option

Since these are also incandescent lamps, they have almost the same disadvantages - significant heat generation. And that's the problem. But the energy consumption is less (about 2-3 times). So they are more economical compared to the classic design. But they have an additional disadvantage - they do not tolerate contaminants on the flask. A fingerprint can cause burnout. Therefore, installation must be done with gloves.

Luminescent: tubular and compact (housekeepers)

The operation of these lighting devices uses another principle - the property of certain phosphor substances to emit light under certain conditions. Structurally, it consists of a glass tube coated with a phosphor. Inside the tube there are electrodes and a certain amount of mercury vapor. An electric charge is created on the electrodes, the energy of which is converted into light radiation using a phosphor.

To create and maintain an electrical charge, fluorescent lamps need a starting and regulating device - a voltage transformer and a starter. In the standard version, these devices are mounted on the body of lamps, which can only work with this type of lighting fixture.

Available in two types:

If we talk about comparison with incandescent lamps, they are 3 times more economical and hardly heat up. A serious disadvantage is that due to the pulsation, the light is unpleasant for the eyes and potentially hazardous to health (leads to increased fatigue and can cause a bad mood). In this type of lighting fixtures, it is almost impossible to get rid of pulsation. What can be done is to minimize it and, by adding one incandescent lamp, reduce the negative effect to a minimum.

Many are also concerned that the flask contains mercury vapor inside, which carries a potential danger. This is briefly about the main disadvantages, then we will consider in more detail the pros and cons of fluorescent lamps.

LED

This is the third type of lamp that uses semiconductor devices - LEDs. They do not require any special atmosphere, so their flask is not airtight, and this is more a tribute to tradition than a necessity. All the LEDs need to operate is a constant voltage of 12 V or 24 V. So operation is not difficult - to connect to a 220 V network you need a voltage converter (power supply, adapter). In LED lamps for standard luminaires, this converter is built into the housing, so they can easily replace conventional incandescent lamps.

Briefly about the properties. They have high efficiency - they require 7-8 times less electricity than similar incandescent lamps, and have a much longer service life (according to manufacturers' requests, they can work for 25-35 years). Disadvantages - they are expensive, it is difficult to determine the quality, low-grade ones have strong pulsation, which negatively affects the eyes and well-being, and often fail. Therefore, choosing an LED lamp is not an easy task and requires certain knowledge. But the bills actually become significantly smaller.

Which lamps are best for home

All these lighting devices are used to illuminate residential premises. It is definitely impossible to answer which lamps are best for the home - they all have advantages and disadvantages. If your main concern is eye comfort, the answer to the question “which lamps are best for the home” is incandescent. But at the same time you will not be able to save on lighting. The situation is a little better with halogen ones. But the lighting from 12 V halogens is more pleasing to the eye, which requires transformers. Those that operate on 220 V have too bright light.

When it comes to saving on electricity bills, LED bulbs are the best. This is undeniable. But you need to buy them wisely - so that they are of good quality and work for a long time, but these are expensive. But, even under such conditions, they are beneficial, since they really help to significantly reduce energy consumption. A

Why LED and not housekeepers? Let's compare their properties.

Comparing fluorescent and LED light bulbs

When people have a desire to reduce their electricity costs, they begin to think about replacing incandescent lamps with more energy-efficient ones. These are considered energy-saving (compact fluorescent) and LED. To understand which lamps are best for your home, you need to take a closer look at their advantages and disadvantages.

Having decided to replace incandescent lamps with more economical ones, you need to decide the question: which lamps are better for the home - LED or compact fluorescent

Housekeepers

This is what compact fluorescent lamps are called. They were the first to appear on the market (compared to LED ones), which is why this name was assigned to them. Let's start with advantages:

At the time this was a very good offer. The ability to obtain “warm” and “cold” light and save on electricity - all this has led to the popularity of energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs.

But flaws they have serious:

There are many shortcomings, and almost all of them are serious. They are the ones who stop many, even despite the savings.

LED

These light bulbs are made on the basis of semiconductor elements - LEDs. A certain number of them are installed in a single housing and connected to a power source. Power supply is from a constant voltage of 12 V. In order to use lamps in standard lamps, a rectifier and a circuit that lowers the voltage to 12 V are built into the housing (both of these devices are often called a driver).

LEDs generate heat when operating. To remove it, a radiator is built into the body. And the bases of these lamps are different. They can be installed instead of incandescent lamps of different sizes, halogen, tubular fluorescent.

If we compare all four types in terms of power consumption with equal luminous flux

Advantages LED lamps:

They consume 7-8 times less electricity than incandescent ones, and 2-3 times less than fluorescent ones (housekeepers too).
They have a long service life.
Not afraid of vibration and shock.
Lights up immediately after switching on.
They have a wide range of operating temperatures -40°C to +40°C.
Can be of any shade (any color).
There are dimmable ones (changing the brightness of the light).

The advantages are impressive. The efficiency and service life are particularly impressive. But the figures stated by the manufacturers (about 25-35 years) should be treated with skepticism. They are for ideal conditions, which are practically unattainable in our realities. The warranty period declared by the manufacturers actually indicates the service life. This is the time they will most likely work. But even despite this, the period is considerable - 2-5 years.

Without shortcomings it didn't work either:

High price. 4-5 times more expensive than energy-saving ones and 20-40 times more expensive than incandescent ones.
Low quality LED lamps have significant pulsation.
Without a diffuser, the light will blind the eyes, which is why most LED lamps are made with milky glass. Those in a transparent flask can only be used in conjunction with matte shades.
LEDs are afraid of overheating. When the critical temperature (about 90°C) is exceeded for a long time, they lose their brightness. Therefore, it is unreasonable to use LED lamps in closed-type lamps.

When compared with the properties of fluorescent lamps, LEDs clearly have the advantage. But everything is not so rosy in reality.

Which lamps are better for the home: LED or fluorescent?

In fact, LED lamps are better in all respects. But eating it hurts “BUT”. These must be high-quality LED lamps. The thing is that the manufacturing technology is simple and does not require highly complex or very expensive equipment. It is difficult to make LEDs, but it is not difficult to assemble an LED light bulb from them. That’s why there are a lot of fakes and low-quality goods on the market. They use cheap, low-quality crystals; the driver is made to be the simplest, which does not suppress flicker and quickly fails.

The difficulty is that it is impossible to determine “by eye” the quality of LEDs or the same driver. Some experts are able to distinguish good LEDs by appearance. But in lamps they are hidden under a frosted bulb. Having set a goal, their quality can be checked by indirect signs - by measuring illumination, pulsation, and assessing color rendition. But the quality of the parts used in the power supply cannot be assessed. You will only find out when something burns out.

All this leads to the fact that many consider LED lamps unreliable - they burn out quickly and are expensive. So it turns out that there is no saving. And there are also problems with flickering... It seems so, but this is only true if you buy cheap LED lamps. Branded lamps really serve for years without problems and produce an even light that is pleasing to the eyes. So the main task is to find good quality LED lamps. And then you will know exactly which lamps are best for your home.

Instead of the bottom line: replacing incandescent lamps with LED ones will save on lighting bills only if they are used for a long time, and this is possible only if they are of high quality. High-quality light bulbs are not cheap. So, perhaps, this is the case when saving during the purchase is not worth it.

For comfortable lighting in the evening, a one-room apartment requires from ten to twenty lamps, depending on the area and layout. If they are all 60 W incandescent lamps, then the total maximum power will be 1200 kW - like an electric kettle. In this case, almost all the energy in the light bulb is wasted not on useful work (lighting), but on heating the environment. The luminous efficiency of an incandescent lamp is only 5% of the energy consumed. That is, in the evening in the house for several hours every day, 1140 kW are emitted in the form of infrared waves... to nowhere. The service life of such lighting devices is only 1 thousand hours. It is irrational, expensive and wasteful.

Therefore, it is not surprising that since 2012 it has been impossible to buy household incandescent lamps in the European Union. And in Russia, the circulation of incandescent lamps with a power of 100 W and above has already been banned, and a phased ban of all other categories is being prepared.

Energy-saving lamps (ESL) are offered to replace conventional lighting devices. In general, this means that they are more efficient and have a longer service life than traditional light sources.

Options to select

To figure it out how to choose a bright lamp for the home, comfortable for the eyes and at the same time energy saving, you need to have a good understanding of what technical parameters it is characterized by.

Flask size. ESLs are often larger in size than incandescent lamps. Therefore, you need to measure the lamp shades to understand which model will fit inside.
Base type. In domestic conditions, the e27 base is most often used (27 is its diameter in mm). Less commonly, lamps are made with a seat for an E14 base; these are low-power devices for decorative lighting. The E40 base also comes across, but, as a rule, in large lamps and public places.
Power. Since energy-saving lamps are more efficient, their power ranges from 7 to 20 W. For the convenience of consumers, it is indicated on the packaging which energy-efficient lamp is analogous to an incandescent lamp.
Life time. There can be no dual interpretations here: the more, the better. Numerical values start at 7 thousand hours.
Luminous flux value. Measured in lumens (lm), it shows how much visible light the device emits. The lower the ratio between luminous flux and power, the more efficiently electricity is used.
Colorful temperature. Simply put, it is the color of light. It is measured in kelvins (K). The most natural and comfortable for the eyes is warm white light with a temperature of 2700 to 3200 K, and it should be used in the home.

General advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of energy-saving lamps are obvious: low energy consumption and long service life, for the sake of these advantages they are switching to more efficient lighting devices. There are not many disadvantages:

higher price compared to traditional ones;
difficulty achieving optimal color temperature;
As a rule, light is emitted in a narrow spectrum, which is not beneficial for vision.

Types of energy saving lamps

There are three types of ESL on sale: halogen (gas-filled), LED and luminescent lamps. Each of them has pros, cons and rational uses for home lighting.

Luminescent

fluorescent lamps

The operating principle of this light device is that a gas discharge is ignited in a glass flask filled with an inert gas with mercury vapor. Since it emits ultraviolet radiation, it is converted into visible light using a phosphor layer that coats the glass shell from the inside. The color temperature of the lamp depends specifically on the composition of the phosphor. Powerful energy saving luminescent lamps daylight are widely used for lighting public and industrial premises.

Advantages

The average lifespan of a fluorescent lamp is 8,000 hours, while only 11 watts are required to provide the same luminous flux as a traditional 60-watt lamp.

The cost is relatively low - from 100 to 200 rubles for high-quality products from well-known manufacturers (for example, Osram).

The payback period under these conditions is one year, despite the fact that self-respecting companies provide a 3-year guarantee on them.

Flaws

Design features determine the disadvantages of fluorescent lamps:

the shape of the flask is limited by the need to use a thin tube;
the maximum luminous flux value is not reached immediately after switching on;
stability of operation strongly depends on the quality of electricity;
possible light pulsations may cause damage to vision;
rapid wear as a result of frequent switching on and off.

LED

LED lamp

This type of lamp uses an LED, a semiconductor device. In order to be suitable for replacing a traditional incandescent lamp, they must include a special device called a driver - a current source, as well as a module with several dozen LEDs.

Advantages

LED fixtures have a lifespan of 30,000–50,000 hours. Energy consumption is the lowest in the ESL class: 8 W corresponds to 60 W of a traditional light bulb.

Expert opinion

Alexey Bartosh

Ask a question to an expert

The use of glass is not required; the lampshade is usually made of plastic - a more reliable design, more difficult to damage due to negligence. It heats up less, does not contain mercury, and is easy to dispose of.

Flaws

The main disadvantage is the high price. The cost of 9-watt lamps of good quality starts from 150 rubles. You can also list some disadvantages associated with the design of the device:

narrow light cone;
big sizes;
brightness decreases over time;
difficulties in providing the required spectrum of light.

Halogen

Halogen lamp

This type is a modification of an incandescent lamp. A special gas consisting of bromine or iodine vapor is added to its cylinder. This increases the service life to 2000 - 4000 hours, and also allows you to increase the temperature of the coil for greater brightness. In the case of using special circuits for smooth switching, the operating time increases to 8000 hours.

Colorful temperature

Let’s take a closer look at the quality indicator of light – color temperature. The human eye perceives sources in the range from 2500 K to 10000 K, while:

2500 – 2800 K is felt as a very warm light (candles, open flame);
2800 – 3500 K – analogue of the setting sun;
3500 – 5000 K – neutral lighting (morning light);
5000 K and above – cold daylight.

Experts who study the influence of light on the human body recommend choosing bright, warm light for home lighting, as it is most beneficial for vision, relaxes and does not suppress the production of melanin, the sleep hormone.

In stores and other public spaces, powerful neutral light is used that does not distort color rendering. According to consumer reviews, daylight is best used for work areas, it invigorates and increases productivity.

Color rendering index

Light from different sources has different effects on the perception of brightness and color saturation in a room. Color rendering coefficient characterizes the degree to which the apparent brightness of a color corresponds to its true value when illuminated by a specific source. The higher the index value, the more natural the light is. Solar illumination is taken as a standard with a coefficient of 100. Among ESLs, halogen lamps have the best coefficient; high-quality fluorescent and LED lamps have an index of about 80.

Lamp power and luminous flux

The main characteristic of energy saving is the ratio of luminous flux to power. The best examples in the class of LED sources have a light output of 90 lm/W, fluorescent - 70 lm/W, halogen - only 16 lm/W.

Life time

This characteristic directly affects the return on investment in high-quality light sources and the feasibility of their use. It would be correct to use several less powerful lamps instead of one more powerful one; their service life will certainly be longer. The best light source among ESLs in terms of duration of use is a device based on LEDs. But you must definitely choose well-known manufacturers who care about their reputation and use high-quality components.

Base type

base type

Threaded sockets E27 and E14 are most common in everyday life.

Expert opinion

Alexey Bartosh

Specialist in repair and maintenance of electrical equipment and industrial electronics.

Ask a question to an expert

It should be noted that buying LED lamps with a 14 mm base may not be a very good solution. For normal operation, LEDs require an appropriate current source and proper cooling.

These conditions are quite difficult to implement in small-sized conditions. A high-quality bright lamp should be large. Therefore, for small sconces it is advisable to use fluorescent or halogen lighting devices.

Bulb shape and brightness adjustment

For some types of EBW, especially fluorescent lamps, the shape of the bulb is limited by design features. Their common types are U-shaped and spiral. For aesthetic reasons, it is better to use them in semi-closed and closed shades. Straight, tubular ESLs are used to illuminate kitchen surfaces and other work areas. LED devices with a standard base, as a rule, have a traditional pear-shaped shape. A common type of halogen lamp is a cone with a deflector.

Power, equivalent power and luminous flux

The power of energy-saving lamps is very small - from 4 W, and at first it is difficult to navigate: how much light will it give? We know very well how a regular incandescent lamp with a power of 40, 60, 75 or 95 W shines, and the lamps are designed for incandescent lamps of a certain power. Therefore, when choosing an energy-saving lamp, you need to pay attention to the power equivalent written on the packaging. For example, a power of 4.5–6 W is the equivalent of 40 W for an incandescent lamp, 6–10 W is the equivalent of 60 W. The boxes usually have inscriptions in Russian: for example, “5.5 W corresponds to 50 W,” but in English it is also easy to understand: “5.5 W similar to 50 W.”

Pay attention to the equivalent power

True, for some types of lamps, experts advise looking not so much at the power and equivalent, but at the luminous flux: power may not directly affect the brightness of the lamp, and there is no single standard for the relationship between power and brightness.

How do you know how much light a lamp will produce? This parameter best reflects the luminous flux measured in lumens. If you want an LED lamp to produce the same light as a 60 W incandescent lamp, then you need a lamp with a luminous flux of about 600 lm. If you want to replace a 40 W lamp, then the luminous flux should be 400 Lm, etc.

Colorful temperature

The lower the color temperature, the “yellower” and warmer the light; the more, the whiter (or bluer) and “colder”. It is measured in kelvins, just like ordinary temperature (kelvins are like degrees Celsius, only their zero is not at the freezing point of water, but at absolute zero), but you don’t have to think about it, just correlate the numbers.

Conventional incandescent light bulbs have a color temperature of less than 3000 K: about 2700–2800 K, so when switching from incandescent lamps to energy-saving ones, many feel that the light has become less pleasant, harsh, and irritating.

For energy-saving lamps, the warmest light will be 3000–3500 K; such lamps glow yellowish. If this parameter is from 4000 to 4500 K, then the light will be white and cold. In principle, this is a good option for “public places”; you can have such light at home if necessary, but you won’t relax with it. There is an even higher color temperature - 5000-6500, such lamps are not suitable for household lighting, only for hangars, warehouses, shops, salons, etc.

Warm or cold?

Color rendering index (CRI)

The light source affects the perception of color by the human eye. Sunlight is considered the reference; its color rendering index is 100. The closer the CRI is to this value, the more correct and natural colors we will see when illuminated by a lamp. For an energy-saving lamp, it is good if the CRI is greater than 80.

Life time

The “lifetime” of a lamp can be measured in hours (2000, 6000, 15000 hours), but this is more understandable to technical specialists, and it is convenient for consumers to calculate it in years, based on certain average conditions of use. Thus, LED lamps can last up to 15 years; luminescent - on average 5 years, but can be longer with proper use; halogen - much less.

Pay attention to service life

Flask shape

Do you want not just a light bulb, but a beautiful and original one - a ball, a candle? LED and halogen lamps provide the greatest scope for imagination. Gas-discharge and their household subtype - luminescent - come in the form of either tubes or spirals.

Standard screw bases

Energy-saving lamps with socket E40, E27 and E14 can be installed in sockets designed for a regular incandescent lamp. E27 is a standard household cartridge, has a 27 mm thread, E14 is a reduced cartridge, it has a 14 mm thread.

The screw bases of energy-saving lamps correspond to the bases of conventional incandescent lamps

Pin sockets

For home use, lamps with pin contacts are sometimes used; in their markings, the number following the letters indicates the distance between the pins in millimeters: GU4, GU5.3, GU10. Therefore, it is necessary to know exactly the cartridge markings.

Adjusting brightness using a dimmer

This is also a way to save energy: instead of a regular key switch, a dimmer is installed (or the lamp is initially equipped with one) - and you can increase and decrease the brightness of the light bulb, forcing it to work at full power only when necessary. What is easy for incandescent lamps (they can all be controlled by a dimmer) has become a problem for energy-saving lamps: among them, only halogen lamps can be dimmed without any special restrictions. Fluorescent and LED lamps with adjustable brightness are available, but they are less common and are more expensive; you should definitely look at the inscription “with a dimmer” or “without a dimmer” on the packaging).

Lamp with dimmer

Main or accent lighting lamps

Light can be scattered throughout the room or concentrated and narrowly directed: this type of lighting is called “spot” (“spot” - English) and is suitable for creating light accents in the interior or for reading.

Disposal

Many people are afraid to buy energy-saving lamps because they have heard that they cannot be disposed of with household waste, that is, simply thrown into the “trash” - because they contain mercury. In fact, its vapors are only found in fluorescent lamps, while LED and halogen lamps can be disposed of like regular incandescent lamps.

Fluorescent lamps

This type of gas discharge lamps is used in everyday life for residential premises. Gas-discharge is a bit of a scary name, but it is these lamps, in the flasks of which there is an inert gas under pressure with an admixture of mercury vapor and other substances, that have come to be called energy-saving because of their minimal electricity consumption, long service life (5-20 times longer than incandescent lamps, 15–20 thousand hours) and a greater luminous flux than them (5–10 times). At the same time, such lamps require careful handling and proper disposal, therefore, when buying them, you must immediately be prepared for the fact that you cannot simply throw them in a bin.

Compact fluorescent lamp

Fluorescent lamps, which replace the usual “home” incandescent lamps, are called compact (CFL), because non-compact ones are those that are used in large rooms, they have infinitely long bulbs, and in CFLs the bulb shape is a twisted spiral.

In a CFL, electric discharges pass through an inert gas and mercury vapor, causing ultraviolet radiation, and from it a special powder begins to glow - a phosphor applied to the bulb from the inside, and it is this that simultaneously prevents the penetration of UV rays to the outside and glows with the light that we see and which is safe for our eyes. CFLs are sensitive to voltage fluctuations and frequent starts: they should not be constantly turned on and off if you leave the room for a short time.

Compact fluorescent lamps

Power and dimensions

CFLs have very little wattage compared to incandescent bulbs, but interestingly, the higher the wattage of a CFL, the larger it is. Incandescent lamps also have this dependence, but it is not so pronounced: the size will not interfere with using even a large incandescent lamp in a compact lampshade, but a large and powerful CFL may not fit. CFL power ranges from 5 to 55 W, but lamps up to 23 W are more common.

In the context of the ever-increasing price of electricity, we strive to save money and at the same time use normal lighting that does not hurt the eyes, is bright enough and does not cause irritation. That is why energy-efficient devices are the best solution for those who want to use high-quality light economically. From this material you will learn which lamps are the most energy-saving, what types currently exist, the better a particular type is, and whether their cost is really fully worth it.

Energy saving lamps: which ones are better

To understand which lamps are the most energy-saving, let’s compare them with the usual incandescent light bulbs that are already familiar to us all, or, as they were also called, “Ilyich light bulbs.” By purchasing one such device, in just a month you will understand how profitable it is, how pleasing to the eye and how economical it is. Compared to a conventional incandescent lamp they:

They consume less energy but give the same light output. That is, the efficiency of this device is much higher. Unlike an incandescent light bulb, which produces an efficiency of no more than 18–20%, such a product achieves maximum performance of no less than 70–80%. In simpler terms, out of every hundred watts an ordinary lamp, working at full power and heating the spiral, produces only eighteen to twenty percent of light.
They last longer and have a longer warranty period. Any store that sells energy-saving light bulbs will provide you with a guarantee for a certain service life. In some varieties it can be about twenty years. Considering how often ordinary lamps burn out, this is very beneficial, because you can always replace a burnt-out energy-saving device under warranty.
Quite safe. All energy-saving lamps (except the halogen type) do not have direct contact connections, while the Ilyich light bulb has all contacts connected by a spiral. Therefore, in this case, a short circuit is practically impossible.
They do not carry such a load on the general apartment network as ordinary ones. This is also one of the safety indicators; thanks to the non-overloaded network, other household appliances will not be affected.

To understand which products are better, it is worth considering the standard comparison table for energy-saving lamps. It compares light bulbs in terms of heating, power, anti-vandalism, luminous flux, service life and economic benefits. A comparison of energy-saving lamps with conventional lamps clearly speaks in favor of the former. And if you overpay when purchasing, you definitely save when using it.

If we consider all these devices regarding their effect on human vision, energy-saving lamps, incandescent lamps, daylight, then they all flicker with a certain periodicity during their operation. This is due to the way the electron pulse passes through them. This is not noticeable to the naked eye, but upon detailed study, scientists discovered that:

The cold spectrum affects vision more than normal and because of this, the retina is destroyed.
Brightness and increased flicker in fluorescent lamps affect the brain and the stability of the nerve ganglia. People who work in an office with such lighting are 30 times more likely to seek help from psychoanalysts.
According to the latest data from ophthalmologists, the optimal brightness is considered to be 2700–3100 K. This is good for both the living room and the children's room. Therefore, when choosing a light bulb, take this into account.
If the lamp is located opposite the mirror, it affects vision an order of magnitude higher. It is best to install energy-saving light bulbs near mirror surfaces and glass doors. By paying attention to your appearance, putting yourself in order before going out to the store or for a walk, your eyes and brain will not be so tired.

When comparing economical light bulbs with each other, it is worth paying special attention to heating. Your LED device will hardly heat up, the luminescent one will become warm, and you can even burn your fingers on the halogen one. In terms of warranty service life, they are also very different from each other, and if the halogen one will work for 2000 hours, then the LED one is ready to provide its factory warranty for at least 50 thousand hours.

If we talk in more detail about what they are and what they are, then let's move on to the next point of our material.

What types of energy-saving lamps are there?

By definition, an energy-efficient lamp is a special device for uniform light distribution, powered by electricity. Compared to its analogues, this product has an increased level of light output and significantly saves electricity.

Such economical devices are linear (LL) and compact (CFL). They all contain mercury and LED substances. A common feature of linear and compact fluorescent lamps can be considered tangible savings in electrical energy consumption. And at the same time, they fill the space with much more light than conventional incandescent lamps. The latter are gradually going out of use, as many countries around the world have recently set a course for the operation of energy-efficient devices due to their overall safety and cost-effectiveness.

Which lamps are energy-saving?

Energy-saving fluorescent lamps include compact and linear lamps, which differ from each other in technical indicators and functions. Let's take a closer look at them to understand which energy-saving lamps are better for the home:

CFL (compact fluorescent lamps) It is characterized by an arched shape, which allows it to be placed in small lamps. They are almost always used at home, being an optimal replacement for conventional incandescent lamps. They are often included in the package of non-standard lighting fixtures. Such a light bulb contains inert gases (argon and neon, known to many), as well as mercury vapor. The outer casing is finished with phosphor. Due to the collision of electrons with mercury components, externally imperceptible UV radiation is released, which turns into scattered light (this is facilitated by the phosphor coating). Compact lamps consist of three parts: a base for connecting to the electrical network, an electronic control device for igniting and maintaining the light bulb. It makes the transition from a 220 W power supply to that required for stable operation of the lamp without flickering. The third component of the device is the bulb, which is the outer shell of the lamp. Due to the differences in these elements, the type of CFL is also determined: for example, by the color of the radiation, the features of the base (there are 2D categories, often installed in shower stalls, E27 - for a regular cartridge, E14 - for a smaller cartridge, E40 - for a large cartridge).
Linear fluorescent lamps (LFL) They can be circular, straight, or a specific U-variation. Straight-line devices have the shape of long glass tubes, at the ends of which there are glass legs, where, in turn, electrodes are fixed. There is a phosphor coating on the inner surface of the lamp, and the tube cavity itself is filled with inert gases and mercury. The safety of people from the harmful evaporation of mercury is guaranteed by hermetically sealing the lamp. Linear lamps differ in terms of the diameter and length of the tube, and the width of the base element. As a rule, the larger the dimensions of the LL, the greater the electricity consumption. Often, such luminaires are used in manufacturing plants and enterprises, in offices and places of public importance. Compact fluorescent lamps have become most popular among consumers, and their linear alternative is slowly going out of production.

Proven benefits of energy efficient lamps

Summarizing all of the above, I would like to emphasize that the use of energy-saving lighting devices in everyday life or at work has many advantages, among which the following are especially noticeable:

According to manufacturers of lighting devices, the use of energy-saving lamps can reduce electricity costs by up to 80%. The luminous flux of these devices is much higher than that of conventional incandescent lamps.
Energy efficient lamps have a long service life. This is more than 10 times longer than ordinary light bulbs last. Such a long operating time is also a big plus for placing energy-saving lamps in places where frequent changes of light bulbs are very difficult (on high ceilings, between flights of stairs, etc.).
Produce less heat compared to conventional lamps. Due to this, it is advisable to install small CFLs with a high power rating, especially in complex designs: sconces, chandeliers and twisted forms of lamps. Economical lamps will not melt the wires and plastic elements of the socket, which sometimes happens when using ordinary lamps.
The light from energy-saving lamps is much healthier for vision because it is distributed evenly. A uniform glow is obtained due to the design of the lamp: the area of their body is larger than that of the spiral of conventional light bulbs.
A choice of different color temperatures is possible. Lamps 2700K give white color, 6400K - cool white, 4200K - daylight. The specified data is measured on the Kelvin scale.

When choosing an energy-saving light bulb, you need to not only look at all the indicators and price, but also pay attention to the manufacturer, how reliably the base is made and the quality of the glass in the product. Only if you are satisfied with the whole set of factors, the product is worth buying. Otherwise, you may well be uncomfortable with such lighting; the lamp may quickly fail, cause a short circuit throughout the apartment, or turn out to be not as economical as you would like.

For more information about choosing energy-saving lamps, watch the video:

Construction of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)

Advantages of housekeepers over incandescent lamps

Disadvantages of energy-saving lamps

High-quality energy-saving lamps - how to choose and what to pay attention to?

Which company should I choose an energy-saving lamp?

TOP 3 questions about energy-saving lamps

Incandescent lamps

Halogen

Luminescent: tubular and compact (housekeepers)

LED

Which lamps are best for home

Comparing fluorescent and LED light bulbs

Housekeepers

LED

Which lamps are better for the home: LED or fluorescent?

Options to select

General advantages and disadvantages

Types of energy saving lamps

Luminescent

Advantages

Flaws

LED

Advantages

Flaws

Halogen

Colorful temperature

Color rendering index

Lamp power and luminous flux

Life time

Base type

Bulb shape and brightness adjustment

Power, equivalent power and luminous flux

Colorful temperature

Color rendering index (CRI)

Life time

Flask shape

Standard screw bases

Pin sockets

Adjusting brightness using a dimmer

Main or accent lighting lamps

Disposal

Fluorescent lamps

Power and dimensions

Energy saving lamps: which ones are better

What types of energy-saving lamps are there?

Which lamps are energy-saving?

Proven benefits of energy efficient lamps