What lightbulbs light up your world?

Reducing the amount of electricity we all use on a daily basis is becoming more and more important. One easy way of doing this is to invest in low-energy light bulbs. They cost a little more to buy, but use far less electricity and they last a lot longer too - in most cases an average 10,000 hours.

These light bulbs come in a range or wattages and a variety of shapes, so there is something to suit every lighting need. As well as bulbs which look like the old-fashioned pear-shaped incandescent ones, there are golf ball shapes which are perfectly round, spirals that are quirky, candles that look good in chandeliers and some beautifully designed Plumen bulbs which look flower-like and are made to be on show.

The power of these bulbs starts at 8w which is roughly equivalent to an old-style 36w bulb. You can get 11w, 12w, 15w which is the same as a 75w bulb, 18w, 20w which is like a 100w, and a slightly higher 23w. They also have different hues, so you can get a softer glow or a brighter daylight lamp. They all come in bayonet or screw fitting too.

LED light bulbs are also low energy users. They can be as low a 2w per bulb and are usually quite small so are used together in groups, or as a collection of spotlights. LED bulbs are bright instantly, without the few-second delay some energy-saving bulbs have. These bulbs last even longer and so will save quite a lot of money over the lifetime of the light fitting.

All the energy-saving light bulbs run a lot cooler than the old-style ones, which mean the light fixtures tend to perish slower, as does any surrounding paintwork on walls and ceilings. And in spaces where air-conditioning is needed, this will save on cooling expenses too.