Things you can do: Switch to Low Energy Light Bulbs

LightBulbs/1

This resource contains

• Simple estimates of the energy, CO2 and cost savings in switching to low energy light bulbs.

Changing from incandescent to fluorescent light bulbs saves energy, Equivalent energy consumption of
CO2 and money: but how much? incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs,
for same light output:
Energy, CO2 and cost savings
Incandescent Fluorescent
Typical incandescent light bulb: 60W Light Bulb Light Bulb
Equivalent fluorescent light bulb: 15W
25W 4-6W
Each bulb substitution would save: 60W - 45W = 45W
If you use this bulb for 4 hours/day you would save: 40W 8-11W
45W x 4 hours = 180 Wh = 0.18 kWh /day
60W 13-18W
UK electricity generation produces around 0.5kg CO2 per kWh, so the
CO2 emissions saved is: 0.18 x 0.5 = 0.09kg CO2 /day 100W 20-25W
Assuming UK electricity costs 10p per kWh, you would save:
0.18 x 10p x 365 days = £6.57 per year

Try it yourself: use these figures to investigate the savings you could
make at home, and compare them with the typical total UK daily
footprints: energy 200 kWh/person, CO2 30kg/person
• See Energy Demands: Lighting
for more details
Sources
• MacKay DJC, Sustainable Energy – without the hot air, UIT Cambridge, 2009.