LED lights use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to 25 times longer. For a commercial property owner or manager, those savings translate to reduced expenses. You are also doing your part for the planet by reducing waste and lowering your energy usage.

If you are new to lighting options, you might wonder how to tell the difference between energy-efficient and traditional bulbs. After all, you want to invest in the best for your business.

Here’s how to tell if your light bulb is energy efficient.

It Has an ENERGY STAR Logo

You may have heard of ENERGY STAR before, but you may not know that it is a joint program of the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

If you see this logo on the packaging, that means that the product meets U.S. standards for efficiency and safety.

Not all energy-efficient light bulbs have the ENERGY STAR rating, but that does not mean they are not good options. Check the packaging to look for the energy rating.

The energy rating scale ranges from A to G. Bulbs with an ‘A’ rating are the most energy-efficient and help you save money. Types in this category usually include LED and CFL.

It’s a CFL or LED Bulb

Adding to the last point, CFL and LED light bulbs are the most eco-friendly options. If you use one of these types in your commercial building, you can reduce electricity use.

LED lighting lasts longer than incandescent bulbs, stays cooler to the touch, and produces as much light or more than traditional options.

LED stands for light emitting diode. Inside these bulbs, an electric current moves through a microchip and lights up the tiny light sources. As we mentioned, LED bulbs last up to 25 times longer.

CFL bulbs have a unique spiral tube pattern. Unlike incandescent bulbs that use a wire filament, these bulbs have tubes filled with argon and mercury vapor. The current creates UV light that activates the phosphor inside the tube and produces visible light.

CFL bulbs use less energy than incandescent lights and last up to ten times longer.

Check the Wattage and Lumens

When people buy light bulbs, most are accustomed to checking the wattage labeled on the package. Lamps will often state on the label the max wattage.

Wattage refers to how much electricity it consumes and is not a great representation of how powerful or bright it is. Lumens refers to how much visible light a bulb produces.

For instance, an 18-watt LED bulb produces 1600 lumens, which is equivalent to a 100-watt incandescent bulb. Most packaging will tell you the equivalency rating.

Understanding How to Tell if Your Light Bulb Is Energy Efficient

Hopefully, this guide told you more about how to spot the differences between incandescent lights and energy-efficient bulbs. Your business will definitely benefit from making the switch, and you will be helping the environment by reducing your energy waste.

If you want to understand more about how to tell if your light bulb is energy efficient, Lightility can help walk you through the differences.

Lightility will evaluate your asset and find savings through energy-efficient upgrades, whether you manage a small office or a hospital. To learn more about our LED lighting solutions, send us a message.