DES MOINES – MidAmerican Energy Company and Alliant Energy announced last week the return of the Be Bright campaign as part of their energy efficiency programs.
The utilities are offering special pricing on light emitting diode (LED) and compact fluorescent lighting (CFL) to help more Iowa households experience the benefits of energy efficient lighting. LEDs are the nation’s fastest growing lighting category. In addition, the 2012 Residential Lighting Market Profile reported that one out of every three U.S. residents now uses CFLs in their homes. Special pricing will be honored at more than 350 retailers.
LEDs use 75 to 80 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs, have excellent light quality, and do not contain mercury. The average lifespan for an incandescent bulb is 1,200 hours. The typical LED lasts up to 25,000 hours or more, all while maintaining high-quality white light.
The lower price point for CFLs is one aspect why they remain slightly more popular than LEDs. In addition, CFLs are available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and light temperatures. Customers can choose from the traditional spiral bulbs, covered A-shapes, candle bulbs, three-way bulbs, and dimmables.
The ENERGY STAR® interactive guide to CFL lighting helps customers find the right bulb for the right socket. MidAmerican Energy and Alliant Energy’s Be Bright campaign also provides in-store informational materials to further educate customers about energy efficient lighting.
Shopping tips
1. Look for the ENERGY STAR label when buying light bulbs. These bulbs are certified to meet the U.S. Department of Energy’s and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s standards for energy efficiency and performance.
2. Use the Lighting Facts label on the package to compare energy use and brightness.
3. Choose 2,700-3,000 kelvins for soft light, 3,500-4,100K for neutral light, or 5,000-6,500K for daylight. See ENERGY STAR’s Color and Mood chart.
4. Go by lumens instead of watts. Lumens refer to brightness, and watts means energy use. A 60-watt incandescent bulb averages 800 lumens.