One of the most frequent questions we hear is, “What’s the most energy-efficient light bulb I can use?” At Kolb Electric, we’re here to help you choose the best type of lighting for your Maryland, DC or Virginia home, and we want you to be well-informed about the energy efficient options that are out there. If you’re wanting to save even more, here’s everything you need to know about energy efficient lighting.

The two main choices for energy-efficient lighting in your home are light emitting diode (LED) and compact fluorescent lights (CFL). Both are a good choice, and both have unique benefits and drawbacks. Making the decision between the two requires a proper understanding of these benefits and drawbacks.

These two lighting options are so much more efficient and beneficial to the environment that incandescent bulbs have been gradually phased out in the United States. By 2020, all general-purpose bulbs must be able to produce at least 45 lumens per watt, which is a similar efficiency as that of CFL bulbs. It is becoming increasingly difficult to purchase traditional general-purpose incandescent bulbs in light of this phase out, though specialty bulbs are still available.

LED bulbs create light using a semiconductor to generate light energy. LED bulbs use about 1/30th of the energy used in incandescent bulbs and 1/3rd the energy in CFLs. They also last a long time—as much as 35 times the lifespan of an incandescent bulb—so you don’t have to worry about replacement regularly. With the energy savings and longer lifespan, estimates indicate you can lower your carbon footprint by as much as 85 percent simply by switching from incandescent technology to LED technology.

With an LED bulb, you can light your room with bright light and minimal energy use. Also, these bulbs generate very little heat energy, which means they are safe to touch. They are also quite durable and do not break easily, which means they are the preferred option for hard-to-reach places where a delicate glass bulb is in danger of shattering.

If that makes LED lights sound perfect, you need to know the one main drawback. LED lights are one of the most expensive options for lighting your home. While they lower your energy bills and have the longest lifespan of the available options, if your upfront budget is low, then this option may not work for you.

CFL bulbs bend a traditional fluorescent tube into a light bulb-shaped configuration. These are more affordable than LED bulbs and significantly more efficient than incandescent bulbs, but they don’t quite last as long or save as much energy as LED bulbs.

With CFLs, you are able to lower your energy use by 60 percent as compared to incandescent bulbs that provide the same amount of light. They last about 10 times as long as incandescent bulbs, so you have less frequent need of replacement. While not as cheap as incandescent bulbs, CFLs are priced around $4 to $15 a piece. This is a more moderate price point than LEDs.

So why would you overlook the CLF in favor of LEDs? CFLs are more efficient than incandescent lighting, but they are not as efficient as LEDs. If you’re looking to have the most efficient option on the market, CLFs are not that option.

The answer to which lighting option you should choose depends largely on your goals. Is your goal to have the most efficient lighting available? Then you want LED bulbs. Are you adding a light bulb to a place that is hard to reach or not accessed regularly? The longevity and durability of LEDs makes them the best choice for this. Is your goal to go efficient while on a tight budget? Then CFLS will work best.

Regardless of the choice you make, both CLFs and LED lighting help you save money, lower your carbon footprint and do your part to make the world a better place with less environmentally damaging waste. If you’re curious about which lighting option will best meet your family’s needs or have further questions about the differences between LEDs and CFLS, Kolb Electric is here to help. Contact us today to have all of your questions answered!

We’ve added linkable linear LED light fixtures to our home, commercial, and industrial product lines. The 5-foot fixtures can be used for anything from parking garage, warehouse, and tunnel lighting to supermarket, workbench, or home garage lighting. These LED fixtures can be easily connected with compatible Super Bright LEDs accessories to create a powerful, energy-efficient light series.

Using no more than 50 watts of power, the 4- and 5-foot linear LED lights emit 5,500 or 6,500 lumens, respectively, of bright natural white illumination. They’re designed to replace 250- or 320-watt fluorescent tube light fixtures but will last five times longer. These LED fixtures illuminate instantly and don’t emit the yellow-green hue that is typical of fluorescent lights.

The weatherproof linkable lights have sturdy aluminum housings and shatterproof polycarbonate lenses. They’re dust tight as well as water and impact resistant. Twenty 5-foot fixtures can be connected in a series, and up to 25 4-foot fixtures can be linked. Mounting brackets are included for wall or ceiling installation, and a suspension kit is also available.

Office Assistant.

What’s that? You don’t have any experience in the electrical industry? That’s okay! We’ll teach you everything you’ll need to know. In fact chances are you already know everything you need to know! We will just need to show you are processes and systems.

You simply need to be highly motivated; love to be part of a team, but can work well individually; welcomes learning new things; enjoys interacting with people; and ready for a new challenge every single day. If you meet these requirements, we want to talk to YOU! And we ask that you apply!

Description of tasks: Answer the phone. Enter the customers information into the computer. Dispatch our technician. Call some customers for appointment reminders. Send out some mailers. Enter some job information into the computer. And perform some normal day to day office stuff. Pretty easy right?

In fact, the much more is what really matters! You want to work for a business that believes and supports YOU!!! In fact, we operate this company using the Triple-Win Model.

Three Reasons to Start an Amazing Career in Electrical Contracting with Custom Electrical Services:

1. Our customers must win! We do everything imaginable to help ensure that our customers are 100% satisfied and absolutely love our services. If they don’t, we do whatever is necessary to make them wildly happy that they did business with us–so much so that they insist on telling their friends and family!

2. Our employees must win! We realize that the only way to have happy customers is to have a happy team of people serving them! We do everything imaginable to support our people, lift them up to make them better, and help ensure that they’re successful. And for doing a great job, they receive tremendous financial rewards–as well as incredible career satisfaction. Just imagine working in a field where you get to HELP people every day!

3. Our company must win! We believe if we’ve absolutely done everything possible to make sure our customers win and our employees win, the company will naturally win. And we must win to be financially successful in order to help more customers and provide more opportunity for our employees and their families.

Now, if that’s the type of company that you’d like to work for–and we hope it is–please apply. We would love a chance to talk with you–and get to know you better. Let’s make sure we’re an ideal fit for each other. Thanks for taking time to read our post!

Apply online at: https://customelectrical.wufoo.com/forms/p1118srq0k5j2sf/ If not clickable copy and past the url into your web browser. You must fill out the online form to be considered for employment. Thank you!

Custom Electrical Services is an equal opportunity employer. www.CustomElectricalia.com

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