How to choose energy efficient lighting for your home (video)

Upgrading to energy efficient ENERGY STAR^® LED bulbs is a great way to save energy.

In this video, Matt Sargent from Efficiency Vermont has tips for how to find the best ENERGY STAR LED lighting for your home.

Some key things to look for are found on the Lighting Facts label; it lists brightness, in lumens; estimated lifespan, and light appearance.

What to look at on a bulb package:

• A good all-purpose bulb has about 800 lumens—it's comparable to a 60 W incandescent bulb. Lumens is the amount of light produced by the bulb; the higher the number, the brighter the bulb. Watts are no longer a measurement of brightness as you may have thought when buying incandescent bulbs
• Check the Kelvin range. A warm or soft white bulb has a rating of about 2700° K. A cool white light has a rating of about 5000° K
• Look for ENERGY STAR if you don't want your bulb to flicker, change color, or stop working prematurely. ENERGY STAR bulbs have a lifespan of at least 15,000 hours or about 13 years. Not all LEDs are created equal

• High-quality ENERGY STAR LEDs are available at throughout Vermont
• For the best price on ENERGY STAR LEDs, look for the Efficiency Vermont Smart Choice signs
• LED bulbs are more affordable than ever, making this a great time to upgrade