We count kilowatts: which energy-saving light bulbs are best for the home?

Expert: Andrey Nikolaevich Kuznetsov

*Review of the best according to the editors of expertology.ru. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.

More and more people are choosing modern energy-saving lamps, which are considered environmentally friendly, as light sources. This is a worthy replacement for traditional incandescent means. Let's find out how to choose an economical product, and which manufacturer is better. The rating, which takes into account customer reviews, will help with this.

Types of energy saving lamps

Energy-saving lamps are devices whose energy consumption is several times reduced compared to an incandescent lamp. Thus, “housekeepers” consume 5–10 times less electricity than incandescent lamps, but at the same time emit a luminous flux of the same power. There are the following types of energy-saving lamps for the home:

• Luminescent.
• LED.

Unlike conventional Ilyich lamps, energy-saving lamps do not heat up as much and have a longer service life. There are dozens of varieties according to the light spectrum, type of base, bulb size and other indicators.

Osram

Osram. This company, founded more than 100 years ago, is one of the leading manufacturers of lighting equipment worldwide. The company specializes in automatic and special lighting, as well as products for civil use. The production of economical light bulbs for the home is also one of the company’s areas of focus. On the Russian market, Osram products are sold by the company's official representative offices, but also by almost all network sellers of lighting equipment. You can buy lamps for your home at a price of 30 rubles or more, depending on the type of product you are looking for and what power you are interested in.

Fluorescent lamps: pros and cons

Fluorescent light bulbs are tubular-type lighting fixtures. In shape they can be elongated oblong or spiral. The latter are more compact and most often used in everyday life. The structure consists of the following elements:

• Base.
• Ballast control device.
• A glass flask (tube) containing a phosphor, as well as mercury and argon vapor.

Advantages of fluorescent lamps:

• Energy consumption is reduced by 60-70% compared to incandescent lamps. At the same time, the light output is much higher.
• Long service life . The average service life of fluorescent lamps is 10,000 - 12,000 hours, while an incandescent lamp of similar light transmission is only 2,000 hours.
• Good light dispersion . In this design, light comes out not from one point (filament), but from the entire surface of the bulb, coated with a phosphor.
• Wide light spectrum . You can choose warm, cool or neutral lighting.

Disadvantages of fluorescent devices:

• Sensitivity to the environment . Luminescent “housekeepers” do not tolerate low temperatures well, so they are not recommended for street lighting. They also do not like moisture, so it is better not to install them in the bathroom or dressing room.
• Sensitivity to voltage changes . A sharp increase in voltage in the network, for example, a short circuit, can damage the device. Also, if the voltage drops by more than 10 - 15% (up to 180 - 190 V), the light bulb may simply not light up. If you have a three-phase power supply, then it is better to place such lamps on a less loaded phase.
• Mercury vapor is hazardous to health . The lamp contains a small amount of mercury vapor inside. If you stay in a room with damaged light bulbs for a long time, you can get poisoned. Therefore, it is better not to store broken lamps at home, but to dispose of them immediately.

When are energy saving lamps effective?

Energy lamps are more expensive than simple ones, and in order to recoup such an investment, they should be installed where they will be used frequently. For example, in halls, salons, offices, restaurants, shops.

So, if the light in the room is on for 5-6 hours a day, then such a replacement will be beneficial. If you install an energy light bulb in a bathroom or toilet, where you turn on the light rarely and not for a long time, then there will be no economic benefit. You can also screw in a regular light bulb here.

LED lamps: pros and cons

In LED lamps, light is emitted by diodes, so the shape of the plastic “cap” can be any: spherical, candle-shaped... Some time ago, corn lamps were popular - they were so named because of their specific appearance, reminiscent of a real cob.

LED lamps are fundamentally different from fluorescent lamps and have their own advantages for which consumers value them. Which is better, an LED lamp or an energy-saving (fluorescent) lamp? We can understand this by considering the pros and cons of LEDs.

Advantages of LED lamps:

• Reduced energy consumption . LEDs are 9 times more economical than incandescent lamps. So, on average, a 10-watt “LED” corresponds to 80 - 90 W incandescent lamps. By replacing all incandescent lamps in an apartment with LED ones, you can significantly reduce energy costs.
• Durability . LED models can serve their owner from 30,000 to 50,000 hours, which is significantly more than any other type of lighting fixture. However, it is worth noting that such a service life is possible if the light bulb operates in ideal conditions at a temperature of 25 degrees. At lower or higher temperatures, the service life may be reduced by 10 - 15%.
• Maintainability . Unlike other types, LED models can be repaired if they fail (by the way, we have a detailed guide). Often a resistor fails or a cold solder contact appears. In this case, you can unscrew the light bulb and replace the damaged part.
• They don't get warm . During operation, LEDs do not get very hot, so they can be used in structures with stretch ceilings and other “delicate” materials.
• Wide light and color spectrum . The consumer can choose a device with warm, cold, or neutral spectra. In addition, you can choose a light bulb according to the color of the bulb (especially important for decorative lamps).
• "Smart" light bulbs . In the 21st century, so-called “smart” light bulbs appeared, controlled by a mobile device via Wi-Fi. Using your smartphone you can adjust the brightness and color palette. A striking representative of the smart generation of light bulbs is the Xiaomi Mi LED Smart Bulb with the ability to control devices running Andorid OS 4.1 and higher and iOS 8.0 and higher.

Disadvantages of LED lamps:

• High price . On average, LED models cost 8 times more than incandescent lamps.
• LED burnout. The LED tends to burn out (degrade) and gradually lose its brightness. Over 3 - 5 years, the LED loses up to 10% of its brightness.
• Sensitivity to elevated temperature. LEDs do not like high temperatures, which makes them problematic to use in hot rooms, for example, in baths or saunas.

Efficiency

The efficiency of the light bulb is also indicated by the ratio of the luminous flux to the operating power of the lighting element. This value isolates a certain set of indicators and is called efficiency (efficiency factor) or “luminous efficiency”. Measured in lm/W. The higher the indicator, the more economical the lamp operates.

For an incandescent lamp this value is very low - less than 10 lm/W, therefore, it has a very low luminous efficiency. This is its most significant drawback. For comparison: the average efficiency of an ice lamp is 90%; for most energy-saving ones it is below 90%.

To make it easier to make a choice, it is worth considering how else these types of lamps differ.

The best fluorescent light bulbs for the home based on price/quality criteria

VOLPE E14 T2 15W 6400K

This is a budget 15 W fluorescent model, which corresponds to a 75 W incandescent lamp. A luminous flux of 860 lm is enough to illuminate a hallway in the hallway, a barn or a garage. It can last up to 10,000 hours, which is about a year and a half.

This lamp is suitable for lamps with an E14 socket - this is a reduced diameter of the base, which is suitable for many chandeliers and lamps. Therefore, if there are 2 - 3 light bulbs in a chandelier, it can provide high-quality lighting for a living room or bedroom.

TDM ELECTRIC E27 T2 20 W 6500K

The domestically produced lamp is equipped with a standard E27 base (base diameter 27 mm), so it is suitable for most sockets. Its power is 20 W, which corresponds to 100 W of an incandescent lamp - this, so to speak, is the standard for a room with an area of ​​up to 15 m2. The average service life of the device under normal conditions is 10,000 hours.

Camelion 10407, E27, 45 W

The 45 W bulb has a luminous flux of 2745 lm - this is enough to illuminate a large room, office or classroom at school. It corresponds to a 225 W incandescent lamp.

The Camelion lamp operates normally in the network voltage range from 207 to 244 V. Therefore, if you do not have frequent power surges, then this model is for you. Its service life is 10,000 hours - however, like most luminescent models.

Tomich's light bulb

"Tomich's lamp." The Tomsk Lighting Engineering Plant came up with such an allegorical brand for its products.
In addition to LED light bulbs, the plant produces glass tubes for fluorescent light bulbs, LED lamps, conventional incandescent lamps and, of course, special-purpose lamps. The price for the “Tomich Bulb” starts from 230 rubles and varies among dealers. This energy-saving light bulb is perfect for those who adore everything retro and are ready to sacrifice their hard-earned money for the sake of aesthetic pleasure. Since the light bulb is made exactly in the same design as the “Ilyich light bulb”, but instead of a spiral there are LEDs. With such a light bulb you will save money and remain true to traditions. 3 3

The best price/quality LED light bulbs for the home

OSRAM Led Star Classic 827 FR, E27, A60, 9.5 W

Many are still convinced that the products of world leaders (OSRAM, Philips) are very expensive. Today this is not entirely true: look, for example, at the Star Classic lamp series from OSRAM. You can buy one for less than 100 rubles, with a power of 9.5 W and a service life of up to 15,000 hours. Warm white light is suitable for both the bedroom and rooms such as a corridor or office.

ERA B0020629, E27, P45, 6 W

An inexpensive LED light bulb from ERA can last 25,000 hours. Its power is only 6 W, which corresponds to 40 W of an incandescent lamp. For the most part, it is convenient for installation in the toilet, since, for example, when visiting this room at night, it does not hurt the eyes too much. It can also be screwed in to illuminate closets, closets and other rooms where people are relatively rare.

Its average price in stores is 50 - 60 rubles. Over a long service life, it will pay for its price in full. It fits a regular cartridge, which “accepts” bases with a diameter of 27 mm.

Lightstar E27 G95 13W 4200K

The 13-watt balloon-shaped LED bulb is suitable for illuminating a room in a house up to 20 m2. The lamp is made in Italy, which the manufacturer claims, speaking about its high quality. The frosted bulb has a pleasant warm light (as close as possible to daylight). One of its main advantages is the ability to connect a dimmer. A dimmer is a regulator of the power of a light bulb in a home lighting system, which allows you to change the brightness to suit your needs.

Lightstar products appear from time to time in television programs such as “Housing Question” and “Repair School”. The lamp life is 20,000 hours - not the longest for LED models, but it pays for its cost.

REV 32421 8, E27, 50W

A powerful German-made LED lamp of 50 W (equivalent to an incandescent lamp of 400 W) is intended for lighting repair boxes or a small home workshop. Fits standard cartridge. The bulb produces a cool, rich white light.

The light bulb can serve its owner up to 30,000 hours - three and a half years of continuous operation (and if you take into account that it does not work all the time, the service life doubles). The cost of the lamp is, of course, considerable, but you have to pay for German quality.

X-Flash

X-Flash. Another Chinese manufacturer of lighting equipment appeared on the Russian market relatively recently. LED products from this manufacturer are presented in all their diversity, you can choose the right energy-saving light bulb for your home. Product prices vary depending on the design, functionality and power of the product. So you can buy light bulbs from 50 rubles to 1500 rubles. More powerful, expensive models are available, but they are mainly intended for industrial applications. However, if you live in a private house, they can be used to illuminate the courtyard area.

Appearance: base type

The perception of interior design largely depends on the quality of lighting in the room. A correctly selected lighting option will highlight the advantages of the interior and hide the shortcomings. An important aspect, without which it will not be possible to implement such a design move, is the choice of a suitable shape and pleasant appearance of lamps for modern lighting fixtures.

Having decided on the type of light bulb, a person pays attention to the type of base. They are:

1. Standard or screw. The most common in everyday life are E14 (minion) and E27. The number indicates the diameter of the base. There are no installation features provided. Light bulbs with sockets of type E40, E27 or E14 are allowed to be mounted in standard incandescent lamp sockets. The E27 base has a thread of 27 millimeters, and the E14 has a reduced thread of 14 millimeters.
2. Pin. In everyday life they are not used as often as screw ones. Pin contacts are more often used in luminaires of modern lighting options. The marking of the cartridge is very important.

The number that follows the letter marking of this type of base is the distance between the pins, indicated in millimeters (GU4 or GU5.3, etc.).

After selecting the base, the type and size of the lighting electrical elements is selected. LED and halogen lamps have a more original shape (candle, ball) and beautiful design. Luminescent ones can only have the shape of a spiral or tube.