Alternative energy saving light bulbs - warmer glow?

PrincessJR

Hi,

In a bid to save energy we are considering switching to energy saving bulbs throughout the home. My problem is that I've always hated that harsh, artificial light they give off (my Husband laughs at me as I can usually tell instantly when I walk in a room if its lit by energy bulbs I just think it feels cold and unwelcoming).

Obviously bulbs have came on a bit since energy bulbs were first introduced and Im wondering if there are now any 'warmer glow' bulbs which still give off a good amount of light, without that harsh cold effect. In other words, more like a standard light bulb.

Thanks

matelodave

Try warm-white LED bulbs. We've changed vritually all the lamps in our house for these as even my wife, who hates the colour of the old energy saving bulbs is impressed.

Why not just buy one to see what it's like

The kitchen, bathroom and utility rooms all have 4 watt GU10 wide angle warm white spot light bulbs. Was 17 X 50 watt = 850watts now 17 x 4 watts = 68 watts, at 12p/kwh saves about 9.4p/hour.
The light is brighter, but not harsh and has a better spread so no shadow areas like the halogen spots produced.

Likewise, in my wife's study, 4 x 4 watt LED spots have replaces 4 x 50 watt halogens.

The other advantage is that they've been up there for over four years whereas we were changing a halogen bulb once every couple of months and they always tripped the circuit breakers when they went.

We only have subdued light in the lounge which is taken care of by two 6watt warm white LEDs in table lamps and my wife has a 5 watt LED task light for her knitting & sewing. We don't use the ceiling lights so we haven't bothered to change them yet

Reading lamps in the bedrooms are 3 watt LEDs with 4 watt LED bulbs in the central fittings.

The hall still has 3 x 11 watt CFL lamps which are so infrequently used it's not worth swapping them as we've got a 1 watt LED lamp that gives more than sufficient light for normal purposes.

Even our outside lights are LED including a 10 watt floodlight which replaces the old 200 watt one

Biggles

PrincessJR wrote: »

In a bid to save energy we are considering switching to energy saving bulbs throughout the home.

I assume you're talking about CFLs? These had the name 'energy saving' applied to them when they first came out and, though it's no longer so appropriate, it has unfortunately stuck.

As matelodave says, LEDs are what you need these days, instant warm-up and better light quality. They are normally helpfully labelled with their colour temperature and, as he says, warm white is probably the best for you, which will be something from 2700-3000K.

Scrounger

LAP GLS Virtual Filament LED Lamp Clear BC 7W - £2.99 @ Screwfix

7kWh/1000h. A++ rated. 10,000 hours average rated life. Traditional incandescent look and feel. Virtual filament.

• Warm White
• Wattage: 7W
• Equivalent Wattage: 60W
• 3 Year Manufacturer's Guarantee
• Energy Efficient
• Full Instant Light
• Dimmable
• Virtual Filament
• Dimmable

Screwfix have some good LED lamps at reasonable prices atm. :beer:
Scrounger

Biggles

I'm not a fan of the 'filament' LED bulbs; they are something designed to look like something they're not (ie incandescent bulbs).

I did order one a while ago, and it arrived with a filament broken. I asked for a replacement, which was sent, and it was the same. The third one was OK; however, I wouldn't have another and wonder if they are more fragile than a simple LED. And, if they were inside a lampshade, you wouldn't see the 'quaint' effect anyhow.

iammumtoone

I have these https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000F6Z4EG/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I don't know if the price is competitive anymore, there will be other daylight bulbs available.

I only brought one at first and couldn't believe the difference in the light, it made all the other lights in the house look yellow.

Biggles

iammumtoone wrote: »

I have these https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000F6Z4EG/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I don't know if the price is competitive anymore, there will be other daylight bulbs available.

The OP specifically wants 'warm white', not 'daylight', bulbs (the link is for one that is 6,500K; something like 2,700K is what he is looking for).

PrincessJR

Thank you everyone that's all really helpful information.

I will do some digging around for 2700k LEDs. I think at the last count we would need about 25 bulbs so hopefully I can find them fairly reasonably priced, although I'd rather invest in good bulbs that will pay of themselves over time

Scrounger

LAP Candle LED Filament Lamp Warm White BC 4.5W - £2.99 @ Screwfix (8935J)

4.5kWh/1000h. A++ rated.
10,000 hours average rated life.
Provides the same look and feel as a traditional incandescent lamp.

• Warm White
• Wattage: 4.5W
• Equivalent Wattage: 40W
• 3 Year Manufacturer's Guarantee
• Energy Efficient
• Full Instant Light
• Dimmable
• High Lumen Efficiency
• Virtual Filament

Another reasonably priced led lamp worth a look? :beer:
Scrounger

iammumtoone

Biggles wrote: »

The OP specifically wants 'warm white', not 'daylight', bulbs (the link is for one that is 6,500K; something like 2,700K is what he is looking for).

I misunderstood I read that the OP didn't like the harsh artificial light from energy saving bulbs, daylight bulbs will eliminate this, but as you say they are bright.

matelodave

Have a shufti here to get an idea of the different colour temperatures of light http://www.thelightbulb.co.uk/resources/colour_temperature