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

1. 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.

1. 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.
2. 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).
3. 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”.
4. Energy-saving lamps allow for softer and more uniform lighting.

Disadvantages of energy-saving lamps

1. 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.
2. Too frequent on/off switches significantly shorten the life of the housekeeper.
3. 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.
4. CFLs contain mercury and other toxic substances - they must be disposed of accordingly; You cannot throw them in a regular trash can.
5. It takes some time for the housekeeper to warm up to full power. In a normal room environment - up to 45 seconds.
6. 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 declared 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 product range under the name Navigator includes about a hundred items, among them: 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.

TOP 3 questions about energy-saving lamps

Is it worth it to “completely” change all the light bulbs in and around the house with housekeepers?

Definitely not. In every house and in every apartment there are lamps that turn on for a total of five minutes per day (appliances in the pantry, basement, attic, in the toilet, finally). Over the course of a year, you will save pennies on them, but the CFL will pay for itself in 10-12 years, if it still “survives.” As they say, the game is not worth the candle.

In what cases are energy-saving light bulbs a truly cost-effective solution?

Economy is a smart choice for chandeliers and lamps that operate at least three to four hours a day. In this situation, by reducing energy costs, the product pays for itself in 3 years. And then, accordingly, it “works” for you.

What other energy-saving light sources, besides CFLs, can be used in everyday life?

Halogen lamps are an excellent choice. True, they cannot be called so energy-saving, since they are only twice as economical as incandescent lamps. But halogen lamps already have enough advantages:

• narrowly directed light distribution;
• Possibility of use with regulators;
• compact dimensions;
• highest quality of light transmission.

LED light sources are becoming a very promising option for home use today. They are durable, energy efficient, and produce high-quality light.

At first glance, choosing devices for home lighting looks like a simple matter. But it's not that simple. When buying lamps, you must first of all take into account the size of the room they will illuminate. Dim light or too bright light does not have the best effect on vision.

Particular attention should be paid to the correspondence between the power of the light bulb itself and the power or power into which the light bulbs will be screwed. The point is this. Each electric socket indicates the maximum wattage of the lamp used. If this value is exceeded, the cartridge will begin to overheat. It's good if it just collapses over time. If there are flammable objects nearby, then a fire is not far away.

Let's look at the main types of lamps offered to us by the manufacturer.

Despite the large selection of new lighting fixtures, they are quite popular today. Of course, this can be explained by their cheapness. But behind this lies their extremely low efficiency.

Everyone has noticed that incandescent lamps get very hot. Of all the electrical energy that such a lamp consumes, no more than 5% is spent on lighting. All remaining energy turns into heat. That is, the efficiency or efficiency in this case is 5%.

Interesting fact. Relatively recently, the production of incandescent lamps with a power of 100 W and above was banned. But they are on sale. The manufacturer used a trick. In one case, he writes that this light bulb has a power of 95 W, and when producing lamps with a power of 150, 250 W, and so on, he indicates that this is not an electric lamp, but a heating device. Indeed, 95% of all energy consumed is spent on heating.

Incandescent lamps are recommended for use in places where they are frequently switched on and off. The fact is that with repeated switching on, any light sources quickly burn out, but a simple light bulb has a low price and can be replaced without much damage to the family budget.

Halogen lamps

Such a lighting device is fundamentally similar to a conventional incandescent lamp: a glass bulb with a spiral placed inside. But to increase the efficiency of the light bulb, you need to heat the coil to a higher temperature. This approach in a conventional lamp would lead to rapid burnout of the filament.

To avoid this, vapors of chemically inert gases - iodine or bromine - are added to the flask. These substances belong to the group of halogens in the periodic table. Hence the name of these lamps.

Halogens prevent the deposition of evaporated tungsten on the glass, the bulb does not turn black, allowing the tungsten spiral to be heated more intensively. The efficiency increases to 15% or three times. That is, with a power of 30 watts, the light will be the same as a regular one with 95 watts. At the same time, the improved lamp has a significantly smaller size.

You need to remember that when screwing in a halogen lamp, you cannot grasp it by the bulb with your bare hands. Fat deposits from the hands will lead to rapid burnout in the future.

Just like a simple incandescent light bulb, a halogen light bulb has good color rendering, and the warm light does not irritate the eyes. The small size of the bulb allows them to be widely used in car headlights.

Fluorescent lamps

Fluorescent lamps are one of the types that are much more efficient than spiral light sources. But it must be said right away that these lamps contain mercury vapor that is harmful to human health. When a lamp fails, it must be disposed of at special facilities.

You also need to remember that the operation of fluorescent lamps is accompanied by ultraviolet radiation for overly sensitive people. It is better not to place such lamps in lamps located near a person. Their main use is general overhead lighting of a living room.

Today in the house we use compact fluorescent lamps with a starting device built into the base - an electronic choke.

A wonderful characteristic of fluorescent lamps is that they can have different color temperatures. When buying such a lamp in a store, you can read on the packaging: daylight, soft white light, cool white light. There are lamps with radiation similar to the yellowish radiation of conventional incandescent lamps, which is more natural, familiar to our eyes, and less irritating to the eyes. By purchasing such lamps, you can choose the most favorable glow for yourself.

The efficiency of fluorescent lamps is 5 times higher than that of conventional incandescent lamps. That is, by installing a 20-watt compact energy-saving fluorescent lamp, we will get room illumination as from a regular 100-watt light bulb. Naturally, saving on the family budget.

Compact fluorescent lamps for home are available in the form of a curved tube with different base sizes. The usual base size E27 is used in overhead lighting chandeliers. Lamps with a small E14 base can be placed in wall lamps, floor lamps, and sconces.

03/29/2017 at 23:20 · Pavlofox · 1 590

The most economical light bulbs for the home

Every person sooner or later faces a situation when it is necessary to replace a light bulb in the house. It’s not difficult to go to a hardware store, but what kind of product to buy, given the current abundance of types, is quite difficult to decide. A correctly chosen product is not only a light bulb that works well and works for a long time, but also saves your budget. Incandescent lamps are already considered obsolete or use a lot of electricity. Competition for such lamps comes from fluorescent, LED and other types of energy-saving lamps. The latter are considered the most energy-saving (up to 80%). Below we will look most economical light bulbs for home.

10. Philips

LED lamps from Philips. One of the most reliable manufacturers of energy-saving lamps for the home on the Russian market is Philips. The manufacturer offers its products in various versions. Such as standard, candle-shaped, teardrop-shaped. A standard 5-watt LED product will cost you about 100 rubles. There are also models made in the form of an incandescent lamp. They are transparent, so even when turned off they attract attention as a design solution. Such lamps are suitable for adherents of classics in home design.

9. Feron

Feron. This company has been on the lighting equipment market for more than 17 years; it offers about 4,000 types of lighting equipment, among which you will definitely find energy-saving light bulbs for your home. The company also owns the “Saffit” brand, which is focused on consumer goods. The manufacturer cooperates with many companies from the CIS countries, so it can be found throughout the former union. The products offered by the company for the home vary in power, style, design and, of course, price.

8. Camelion

Camelion. The company produces not only economical light bulbs for the home, but also lighting equipment, power supplies, and lanterns. Like energy-saving lighting products, the rest of the company’s products are presented in a variety of forms depending on their purpose. LED, fluorescent and halogen lamps are offered for the home. Product prices vary depending on your preferences. The company also constantly holds various promotions and discounts on its products. In our rapidly developing world, interior designers come up with something new every day, however, manufacturers of energy-saving lighting do not lag behind them and are constantly updating the design of their products.

7. Osram

Osram. This company, founded more than 100 years ago, is one of the leading manufacturers of lighting equipment worldwide. The company specializes in automatic and special lighting, as well as products for civil use. The production of economical light bulbs for the home is also one of the company’s areas of focus. On the Russian market, Osram products are sold by the company's official representative offices, but also by almost all network sellers of lighting equipment. You can buy lamps for your home at a price of 30 rubles or more, depending on the type of product you are looking for and what power you are interested in.

6. Optogan

Optogan. The company's products first appeared on the Russian market in 2011. In addition, Optogan is the only enterprise that carries out a full production cycle directly on the territory of the Russian Federation. The company's products can be found throughout the Russian Federation, as well as Eastern Europe and the CIS countries. Energy-saving light bulbs for your home can be purchased in specialized chain stores, as well as via the Internet. The price of products starts from 100 rubles. The choice is yours, rest assured you will find something that suits your taste.

5. Navigator

Navigator. Until 2006, the company producing the Navigator brand was promoting the products of other companies, such as Panasonic, Duracell, Energizer, etc. But in 2006, a brand appeared and the promotion of its own products began. The company produces energy-saving lamps for home, industrial use and the housing and communal services sector. Energy-saving lighting equipment can be purchased in three main types: LED, fluorescent and halogen. Fluorescent light bulbs cost from 100 to 1000 rubles, LED light bulbs from 65 to 2400 rubles, from 25 to 140 rubles. Many people are afraid to purchase halogen lighting equipment because of the gas they contain. But when used correctly, they are not only safe, but also the cheapest among energy-saving ones.

4. X-Flash

X-Flash. Another Chinese manufacturer of lighting equipment appeared on the Russian market relatively recently. LED products from this manufacturer are presented in all their diversity, you can choose the right energy-saving light bulb for your home. Product prices vary depending on the design, functionality and power of the product. So you can buy light bulbs from 50 rubles to 1500 rubles. More powerful, expensive models are available, but they are mainly intended for industrial applications. However, if you live in a private house, they can be used to illuminate the courtyard area.

3. Lisma

Lisma. This company is a state unitary enterprise located in Mordovia. The company produces more than 300 types of goods, and is the largest enterprise of its kind throughout the Russian Federation and the CIS. Energy-saving lamps for the home presented by this company are divided into LED, sodium, metal halogen, mercury, fluorescent and halogen. An analysis of Internet offers showed that the price of the company’s products is approximately the same as that of other market participants.

2. Dumas

"Dumas". On the Russian lighting equipment market you can find another domestic manufacturer, JSC NPO Dumas from Novosibirsk. The company produces LED products, including energy-saving light bulbs for the home. The company offers a variety of shapes and capacities for its products, so that it is in no way inferior to well-known foreign brands. Prices for the company's products are in the same category as the products of other market participants.

1. Tomich's light bulb

"Tomich's lamp." The Tomsk Lighting Engineering Plant came up with such an allegorical brand for its products. In addition to LED light bulbs, the plant produces glass tubes for fluorescent light bulbs, LED lamps, conventional incandescent lamps and, of course, special-purpose lamps. The price for the “Tomich Bulb” starts from 230 rubles and varies among dealers. This energy-saving light bulb is perfect for those who adore everything retro and are ready to sacrifice their hard-earned money for the sake of aesthetic pleasure. Since the light bulb is made exactly in the same design as the “Ilyich light bulb”, but instead of a spiral there are LEDs. With such a light bulb you will save money and remain true to traditions.

Readers' Choice:

Energy-saving lamps are now in trend and this is not without reason. With ever-increasing energy prices, many people want to reduce their electricity consumption to reduce costs.

And one way to save money is to use energy-saving appliances in your home.

And most often, savings begin with lighting fixtures. After all, changing light bulbs in a house is easier and cheaper than, for example, a refrigerator.

At the same time, the use of lamps that are economical in terms of energy consumption can significantly reduce the cost of electricity in the house.

So we’ll try to figure out what kind of energy-saving lamps there are, and whether they can really save us electricity.

General advantages and disadvantages of housekeepers

Let's start with the concept itself - an energy-saving lamp. To determine whether a lighting device is economical, it is compared with a conventional incandescent lamp. And any lamp that consumes less electricity than the “Ilyich light bulb” is considered energy-saving.

But there are few types of such lighting devices, and in domestic conditions three types of lamps are used:

• halogen;
• luminescent (gas discharge);
• LED

These lighting devices have many advantages over incandescent lamps:

The first and most important of them is significantly lower energy consumption with the same light output, due to higher efficiency. An incandescent lamp has a very low efficiency - about 18%, that is, out of every 100 watts of energy consumed, such a lamp converts only 18 watts into light radiation, the rest of the energy is spent on heating the coil. For energy-saving lamps, the efficiency can reach 80%, but this depends on the design features of each device. Below we take a closer look at the efficiency of all types of lamps;

Increased service life, which also affects financial costs, but here again a lot depends on the design of the lamp and operating conditions;

Safety of use (does not apply to halogen lamps). The absence of a direct connection of contacts (in an incandescent lamp they are connected by a spiral) eliminates the occurrence of a short circuit.

Reducing the load on the network, which also increases security.

And these are just the main advantages inherent in all energy-saving lamps.

The main common disadvantage for economical elements is their cost.

There are also a number of advantages and disadvantages that each type of housekeeper lamp has.

Basic parameters of lighting elements

In order to further understand the operating parameters of the above types of lamps, we will consider each of them using the example of a conventional incandescent lamp, since all calculations are based on it.

The main parameters for any lamp are its luminous output, also known as efficiency, and light temperature - the intensity of light emission. This can also include a resource.

The efficiency of a lamp is the luminous flux (measured in Lumens) that it emits when consuming a certain amount of energy (measured in Watts).

Simply put, this parameter means how much light the lamp will emit after consuming 1 Watt of electricity.

So, a 75-watt incandescent lamp provides a luminous flux of 935 lm and has a luminous efficiency of 12 lm/W.

Light temperature is the intensity of radiation from a light source, taken as a wavelength in the optical range (measured in Kelvin).

To make it clearer, this parameter indicates what brightness and color shade the emitted light will have.

A 100-watt incandescent lamp has a light temperature of 2800 K, which in the optical range corresponds to warm white light with an orange tint. This is the temperature of sunlight at dawn and dusk.

The average lifespan of an incandescent lamp is 2000 hours. We will proceed from these parameters in the future. The service life of lamps can be extended by special devices that not only regulate the degree of illumination of rooms, but also save electricity.

Halogen devices

Now let’s talk about the energy-saving lamps themselves and start with halogen lamps. Essentially, this is the same incandescent lamp, but with some modifications. In her flask, in place of vacuum, there is a buffer gas (bromine, iodine vapor).

The use of these vapors made it possible to increase the light temperature to 3000 K, and the lamp efficiency is 15-17 lm/W to provide the same 900 lm of luminous flux.

Due to its better light output, the halogen element is able to provide the same amount of light as a 75-watt conventional incandescent lamp, but it only requires 55 watts of energy, meaning there are already electricity savings.

In addition, the use of buffer gas increased the lamp life to 4000 hours of operation.

The advantages of halogen elements, in addition to efficiency and increased resource, also include their availability, since they cost not much more than conventional lamps.

They are available with E14 and E27 sockets.

At the same time, they often have smaller overall dimensions than incandescent lamps, which allows them to be used even in miniature lamps.

The disadvantages of halogen elements are the same as those of conventional incandescent lamps.

Luminescent

These lighting devices are very reliable, safe, and immune to voltage surges.

Produced with the most common types of bases. There are elements in the design of which batteries are additionally included, which allows you to use the lamp from a regular network or from a battery in case of power outages.

There are also devices with a remote control.

The only drawback of such lighting devices is their very high price, approximately twice as high as the cost of fluorescent analogues.

Options to select

Now let’s talk about what parameters you need to consider when choosing an energy-saving light bulb. First of all, you need to decide on the type. In this case, you should immediately pay attention to the cost and resource.

Power.

The first selection criterion is the power of the lamps. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the correspondence of the selected elements to those already used at home.

For example, 100-watt incandescent lamps are used everywhere in housing, and the light from them is quite sufficient.

Based on luminous efficiency, we can determine that the same amount of light can be provided by a 70-watt halogen lamp, a 20-watt fluorescent lamp, and a 12-watt LED lamp.

If there is not enough light, then you can choose a more powerful energy-saving element.

In this case, you don’t even need to carry out any calculations; comparative tables are usually printed on the packaging of these lamps, which allows you to quickly and easily select a light bulb with the required power parameter.

Base type.

The second thing you need to pay attention to is the type of base. Lamp sockets with the designation E27 are suitable for conventional sockets.

In lamps and sconces, a cartridge for an E14 base is often used.

Before going to the store, you should definitely ask what types of bases are needed. But you can do it even simpler - unscrew and take with you the light bulb that will be changed and compare the bases.

Dimensions, shape.

The third selection criterion is shape and size. If there is a lot of space for installation, then you can buy almost any shaped lighting element. In limited installation spaces, you will have to select lamps according to size.

The only thing you need to pay attention to is the LED lamp - they can provide both diffused and directional lighting.

Elements with diffused lighting can be used almost everywhere, but those with directional lighting are better suited for installation in lamps.

Colorful temperature.

And the last parameter, and an important one, is color temperature. Here the selection is made according to the place of use.

So, in bedrooms and living rooms, the most optimal color is warm white in different shades. Therefore, in such rooms it is better to use lighting elements with a temperature of 2700-4200 K.

For kitchens, bathrooms, and garages, the best color is cool white, which is provided by light bulbs with a temperature of 5000-6500 K.

For work offices, daylight is more suitable, the light temperature of which is 4000-5000 K. Also, such lamps can be used in bathrooms and kitchens.

See below for other criteria for choosing energy-saving lamps.

Bottom line

Note that the savings from using “housekeepers” will not be immediate, because the lighting element must first pay for itself using the savings, and this may take quite a lot of time, and this also depends on the intensity of use. And it doesn’t matter whether you use such lighting devices in a private house or in an apartment.

A halogen lamp will pay for itself the fastest, but in the long run the savings from it will be negligible.

The luminescent element can pay for itself after just a year of use, and in the future it will begin to save money. As for LED bulbs, they have the longest payback period, about three years.

In general, only those lighting elements that have a significant resource and can operate without problems for more than two years can bring truly tangible savings.

Finally, let’s say that it is not necessary to immediately replace all the lighting elements in the house with energy-saving ones, because this can result in significant costs.

If you change them gradually, then the expenses will not be so noticeable, and ultimately it will be possible to completely switch to energy-saving lamps.

5 / 5 ( 1 voice )

For the home, it is best to use ordinary incandescent lamps, halogens in all their forms, or. They are safe for humans and are available in most Svet stores. Compact halogen lamps or small globe-shaped incandescent lamps can be selected for almost any home fixture. They can be used even in very small devices for home lighting, where space for light sources is minimal. A wide selection of halogen and incandescent lamps with original bulbs allows their use in lamps where light sources are open to public viewing, for example in crystal chandeliers or chandeliers with candles. Prices for incandescent lamps are low. Prices for halogen lamps are slightly higher, but comparable to incandescent lamps when taking into account their service life. LED lamps are more expensive than their older counterparts, but their service life is longer. LED spotlights are very effective. Let us now substantiate these statements.

Next, the features of lamps for the home will be considered and studied. We will look at various types of decorative incandescent lamps and energy-saving light sources, directional mirror lamps and small compact light bulbs for lamps. Let's try to understand which light sources are best used for the interior of the house, and which ones are better not to use. Let's figure it out what lamps are best for home in terms of safety and which ones not. But first, let's look at what bases household light bulbs are produced with today. Below is a picture with examples of standard sockets for household lighting sources.

The name of the socles is deciphered as follows. In the E27 threaded base, “E” denotes the type of base, “27” is the thread diameter in millimeters. In the pin base B22, “B” is the type of base (bayonet), “22” is the outer diameter along the pins of the base. The method of connecting a lamp and a lamp using a threaded metal bulb was developed by Thomas Edison in 1909. Not much has changed since then. In Russia, light sources with threaded sockets E14 and E27 are widely used, and pin sockets B15 and B22 are very rarely used. In the USA, for example, lamps with sockets E26, E12 and E10 are considered standard. In most countries of the world, where the voltage in the electrical network is 220 Volts, E14 and E27 sockets are used.

Today there is a huge number of different household light sources, which differ in operating principle, type of base, size and purpose. In this diversity I would like to highlight separately decorative light bulbs, since they combine two purposes at once. Decorative light bulb - decorates the lamp in which it is installed, and also illuminates the room where it operates. Let's consider what types of decorative lamps there are and for what lamps they can be used. We will talk about classic light sources for the home with an E27 or E14 base, designed for 220 Volts.

Candle in the wind

Several types of lamps for lighting fixtures fall under this concept: flicker lamps, energy-saving light sources or incandescent lamps in the shape of a flame. Most of all, the phrase “candle in the wind” corresponds to the so-called flicker lamps (flicker - from English to flicker, sparkle, blink). These lamps emit the flame of a candle, the flame of a burning wick. Such “candles” usually give off very little light, but look very impressive. From a distance of three meters or more, a switched-on lamp is practically indistinguishable from the fluttering of a real flame that sways in the wind. These “candles” can be used without lampshades or shades; the light from them is minimal, but the visual effect is impressive. Flickers can decorate a crystal chandelier with candles or a table lamp in the form of a candelabra. The use of these light bulbs is relevant if a chandelier or sconce in the room is needed more for beauty than for illuminating the space.

Energy-saving lamps and incandescent lamps in the form of a candle flame are used in lamps where the bulbs are completely open and visible to others. The concept of a “candle in the wind”, in this type of lamp, refers more to the shape of the glass in which the light element is enclosed than to the principle of operation of these lamps. Energy-saving lamps have glass bulbs that are usually frosted. Frosted glass can be white or have some tint. Flame-shaped incandescent lamps can be made with frosted or clear glass. Frosted glass can be of various shades. Transparent glass may have a slight tint of gold or bronze, or be slightly tinted. In addition, these lamps are also available with other decorative effects. Such lamps can be used not only as a decorative element, but also for their intended purpose. In terms of luminous intensity, they are no different from comparable lamps of ordinary shape.

Candle-shaped light sources with a twisted bulb

These lamps can be either energy-saving or conventional incandescent lamps. A distinctive feature of these light sources is the bulb, which has the shape of an elongated truncated spheroid with a twisted glass surface. The flask is somewhat reminiscent of fir cones. As a rule, the bulb is matte if it is an energy-saving light source. The bulb can be matte or transparent if it is a regular incandescent or halogen lamp. The colors and shades of the flasks can be anything. Sometimes they are additionally decorated with various materials. The luminous intensity from light bulbs with a twisted bulb is almost no different from the luminous intensity of similar lamps with a simple bulb. Decorative twisted lamps are used in home lamps, where the lamp is clearly visible to others, where the light source is not covered by a lampshade or lampshade.

Balloons

Small lamps with a bulb-shaped bulb. Such sources can be installed in a luminaire where space is limited. Balls can be matte, colored or transparent. The bulbs of these lamps are spherical in shape and, as a rule, are not decorated with anything. Ball-shaped lamps can be used in small ceiling chandeliers, wall sconces, small table lamps and other lamps where a standard lamp may protrude unattractively from behind the shade or may not fit at all. Such lamps include small lava lamps or pendant chandeliers in the style of “floristry”. The height of the ball lamp with an incandescent filament is in the range of 71-74 mm. These light sources can be found with various sockets, but most often they are produced with E27 and E14 sockets. It should be noted that the smallest energy-saving lamps are slightly larger than miniature spherical incandescent lamps. Sometimes the smallest energy-saving light bulbs do not fit into the lamp, since it was designed for the use of ball lamps.

Mirror lamps - lamps

Incandescent lamps or energy-saving lamps, in which part of the bulb is coated with a reflective composition. This composition creates a mirror surface that reflects light from the filament into the bulb and does not allow it to pass out. Light only comes out through the transparent part of the glass, which is not mirrored. The lamp bulb can be covered from the bottom. This lamp is used as a lamp with a directed beam of light. Such lamps are used to illuminate shop windows, signs and other objects that need to be distinguished from their surroundings and on which attention needs to be focused. The second version of a mirror lamp is a light bulb in which the bulb is covered with a reflective composition on top. Such a lamp does not emit direct rays from the filament towards the objects it illuminates. Light, as a rule, first falls on the diffuser and only then hits the object of illumination. These lamps are often used in luminaires with parabolic reflectors when soft, even diffused light is needed. Mirror lamps can be produced with a spherical bulb or a classic bulb. Lamps are made from transparent, frosted and colored glass.

Halogen

The principle of operation of a halogen lamp is no different from a conventional incandescent lamp, except that the bulb of a halogen lamp contains a gas mixture of halogen substances. Halogens slow down the destruction of the filament during lamp operation. The features of these light sources are stronger light with less electricity consumption, compact size, longer service life compared to conventional incandescent lamps. Halogen lamps are available with various sockets, including E14 and E27 sockets. Halogen lamps for the home can most often be found in spotlights, various directional lighting and in ordinary lamps. The compact sizes of halogen lamps, as well as halogen lamps designed for low voltage, open up great opportunities for the implementation of various design ideas. The advantages of halogen lamps over conventional incandescent lamps are obvious, although the price of halogen lamps is slightly higher than conventional light bulbs. Manufacturers of halogen lamps emphasize all the advantages of their products, right on the packaging, clearly demonstrating their advantages. The types of halogen lamps are as varied as the types of simple light sources.

Energy-saving lamps

There are two more types of light sources that should be described. Compact fluorescent lamps, which are often called energy-saving and LED bulbs, which are energy-saving light sources, but are usually called LED lamps or LED lamps. Both can and are produced with standard E14 and E27 sockets. These light sources can be installed in household lamps and connected to standard mains voltage. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) save energy consumption, but their sizes are not as compact as their name suggests. Energy savings are also highly questionable, since they are expensive, and their service life, in Russian conditions, is not as long as the manufacturers claim. In addition, fluorescent light sources contain mercury, which is toxic to humans. LED lamps, which belong to the class of energy-saving light sources, cost even more than CFLs, but the energy savings when using them are beyond doubt. Diode lamps are poorly represented on the market of household light sources, although their potential is enormous.

Our review is not very in-depth, and is not replete with technical characteristics or calculations of the economic benefits of a particular light source. But we hope that it will help you with the choice of lamps for pendant lamps and chandeliers. We will be glad to receive your comments and remarks.