Energy saving bulbs: time to see the light

The extensive range of energy saving lightbulbs now available means it's easy to find ones to suit the style of your home - plus they use a fraction of the electricity of traditional bulbs. Maybe it's time you gave them a try?

Take a look at the range of energy saving bulbs available.

Using energy saving lightbulbs has always been a great way to help fight climate change - and save money too.

Because they use less electricity than traditional bulbs, energy saving bulbs produce less carbon dioxide, one of the main causes of climate change.

But in the past energy saving bulbs have been dogged with a poor image. Many people think of them as being bulky and oddly shaped, giving off a cold light. What's more, they've got a reputation for being slow to light up, as well as expensive to buy.

Luckily, thanks to advances in technology, some of the old myths about energy saving lightbulbs can now be laid to rest.

All shapes and sizes
The days of energy saving lightbulbs only being available in stick shapes are over. You can now get them in just about any shape and size you want. From candle shapes and round shapes, to screw in and bayonet fittings, energy saving bulbs now offer the sort of variety you could previously only get from traditional bulbs. You can even get energy saving halogen and dimmable bulbs.

And, thanks to soft tone bulbs, it's now hard to tell the difference between the light produced by a low energy bulb and a traditional soft tone one.

Spotlight on savings
Far from being expensive, energy saving bulbs cost only £2 each on average, and you'll recoup the extra outlay within a year: in fact, because they use less electricity to do the same job as a traditional bulb, using an energy saving bulb could save you up to £6 a year - depending on how often you use the bulb. On average you can save around £3 per energy saving bulb. Energy saving bulbs also last around 10 times longer than traditional bulbs, meaning you could save around £40 before you need to replace your bulb - or up to £60 if you're replacing a very bright incandescent bulb or one used for more than a few hours a day. And, if you kit out all your lights with energy saving lightbulbs, you could save up to £600 over the lifetime of the bulbs.

Speed of light
Energy saving lightbulbs are thought of as slow to light but in fact modern energy saving bulbs light up to full brightness in a few seconds.They're also just as bright as traditional lightbulbs, although they use far less electricity.

As green as they look
It's true that it takes more energy to manufacture energy saving bulbs than traditional bulbs - but the amount of energy they save in their lifetime far outweighs this. It's also true that they contain tiny amounts of mercury: imagine a tiny pellet smaller than the tip of a biro. But the biggest source of mercury in the air comes from burning fossil fuels like coal - and, as energy saving bulbs use less electricity, they actually ensure that less mercury is released into the atmosphere.

How can you make a difference?

• Try energy saving lightbulbs in your home ? find out more about how energy saving bulbs can save you money and help fight climate change.
• Choose lightbulbs with the Energy Saving Recommended label. It means they've met the strict criteria set by the Energy Saving Trust and they are the most efficient lightbulbs available.
• Always remember to recycle your lightbulbs. Find out how you can safely recycle low energy lightbulbs visit the directgov website for more information.

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