Replacement Light Bulbs Tips and Advice

In the past, decisions regarding replacement light bulbs were often as simple as a few minutes spent pondering 60 or 90 watts in the supermarket. These days there are dozens of replacement light bulbs on the market including compacts, fluorescents, halogens, LEDs, xenon, each of which is marketed as either a longer lasting, brighter or more energy efficient alternative than standard incandescent replacement lightbulbs.

The large number of new replacement lightbulbs on the market has many people confused. Our website includes dozens of pages covering tips and advice on the specific types of light bulbs used in replacements, as well as tips and advice for replacing light bulbs in various products such as projectors, tanning beds, flashlights, etc. Navigating further will help you to learn more about each type of replacement bulb, eliminate confusion, and result in the ability to make a more educated purchasing decision. In the mean time, we’ll cover some of the reasons things have gotten so confusing regarding replacement lightbulbs.

Why So Many Replacement Light Bulb Options?

The reason more replacement light bulbs are offered now than ever before, largely relates to the U.S. Department of Energy and EPA sponsored “Change a Light, Change the World” campaign. There is a large global push to replace incandescent light bulbs, which have been used for over a hundred years, with more energy efficient alternatives. This is because older style light bulbs generate 90 percent heat and 10 percent light resulting in a lot of energy waste.

Manufactures of replacement lightbulbs have near unanimously stepped in to support the government lobbies. Of course, why wouldn’t they? As a supporter of the lobby, they get bonus points with environmentalists while at the same time increasing their own profits. The typical incandescent light bulb is sold for an average cost of about 50 cents per light bulb, while its leading candidate for replacement (compact fluorescents) sell for an average around $3.00 per replacement light bulb. Replacement light bulbs have about a 30% mark-up by wholesalers and an additional 30% mark up by retailers. This means there is a lot more profit to be made across the board when the higher priced technology becomes the standard.

Large amounts of marketing dollars are being spent to educate the public, so that when the apparently inevitable future without incandescent nears, the transition process will happen smoother. As companies race to introduce the latest solutions, educated consumers embrace the technologies. For these and other reason all sorts of replacements have flooded the market, such as compacts, fluorescents, halogens, LEDs, xenon. Each has its own selling feature as far as life span, energy efficiency, brightness, environmental friendliness etc. For example: compact light bulbs are a lot more energy efficient and environmentally friendly than incandescents, but they also contain a small amount of mercury which takes slightly away from their environmental friendliness. At $3 per bulb the added cost is a little easier to swallow than LEDs which are even more energy efficient and environmentally friendly but in most cases cost $20 or more per bulb. To put it simple: with increased consumer awareness and the demand for more energy efficient light bulbs, manufacturers are giving the consumer multiple options and benefits to choose from.

After reading all that was said here, many people still prefer to go with the lowest cost replacement light bulbs available, meaning they’ll continue to purchase incandescents till such time that they’re no longer available.