Inefficient light bulbs are disappearing and all being replaced by energy saving light bulbs. Inefficient light bulbs are being phased out over the next few years - helping everyone spend less on electricity. Energy saving light bulbs are compact, bright and available in a wide range of shapes - so the only difference you'll notice is a drop in your electricity bills. Energy efficient light bulbs are ever changing consumer landscapes with new bulbs and fixtures hitting the market every month. There are many energy saving light bulbs options to choose from that save money and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Today, there are three major competitors for your lighting dollars: conventional incandescent light bulbs (which will actually be phased out of many states, provinces, and countries in the coming years), compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). We’ll go into the details below on how each of these compare to the others, but for now, just know that LEDs are by far the most energy efficient, though they do require a higher upfront investment. Before we delve into the details, let’s cover a few helpful tips for buying energy saving light bulbs:

• Become watt conscious: Before heading to the store, check the wattage on your current bulbs so that you know what to look for at the store.
• Confirm size and shape: Next, look at the size of the bulb (you want your new bulbs to fit into your light fixtures and with existing lamp shades) as well as size (the size of the ballast or the screw-in part of the bulb).
• Jot down special features: If you need dimmable lights, tri-stage lights, or those with a particular color, be sure to make note of these special features as well.

With this information at hand, you will come home with a better match for your current lighting needs.

Incandescent Light Bulbs

Remove the shades from your current lamps and you’ll likely find incandescent bulbs underneath. Using old technology (heating a metal filament wire until it glows), incandescent bulbs are the cheapest, but also the least energy efficient. Incandescent bulbs function more like little heaters since 90% of the energy used by these bulbs is converted into heat rather than light. They also have very short lifespans, shining for somewhere between 700 and 1,000 hours each.

Light Emitting Diodes (LED)

If you’ve already converted all of your light fixtures to CFLs and want a bigger challenge, consider opting for LEDs. They use at least 75% less energy than standard bulbs and last 15 times longer than incandescent light bulbs.

They come with many other advantages:

• Instant-on functionality (unlike some CFLs)
• Focused light allowing for precise light placement
• Creates little to no heat, so they won’t add to air conditioning load
• Very durable and can be used outdoors and in cold temperatures

LEDs can be used in a variety of applications, including:

• Under cabinet lighting
• Shelf-mounted display lighting
• Task lighting
• Desk lamps
• Recessed down lights
• Wall-mounted lighting indoors and outdoors
• Step lights outdoors
• Pathway lighting

The flexibility of this type of lighting is due in large part to the many different styles of LED bulbs. Consider these styles, for instance:

• Diffused lights: LEDs are clustered together and covered with a dimpled lens to spread the light over a large area. These can be purchased as high-power versions for use in fixtures where you’d use 100-watt standard bulbs.
• Track and spotlights: In this style, the LED bulbs are again grouped together but focused more precisely, making them ideal for lighting that needs a narrower focal area.
• Flood lights: As with the other options, these again involve many LED bulbs, but this time they are spread more widely to provide a bright, wide angle light.