I started to replace some of the old recessed lighting with new fixtures, complete with more energy efficient halogen bulbs. In the photos above, I replaced a 100w incandescent bulb with a new housing and 50w halogen, which gives off a similar amount of light.
All of the new fixtures that we have put into the rest of the house use compact florescent bulbs, which are the most efficient option - they convert about 11% of the energy used into light, versus 7-8% for a halogen bulb and only 1.5% for a conventional incandescent bulb! (Much of the remaining energy is lost as heat.) However, the spectrum of light given off by a florescent is not always the best for every task, and they take a fraction of a second to turn on, and do not reach their full brightness for almost a minute.
Halogens give off a spectrum that is nearer to natural light, and thus are good for lighting artwork, task lighting and reading. We are using them in the kitchen, will probably put some in the bathrooms eventually, and in the main entry foyer. Florescent bulbs are good for basic use in the bedrooms, etc... but seem more yellow & blue in spectrum.
All of the new fixtures that we have put into the rest of the house use compact florescent bulbs, which are the most efficient option - they convert about 11% of the energy used into light, versus 7-8% for a halogen bulb and only 1.5% for a conventional incandescent bulb! (Much of the remaining energy is lost as heat.) However, the spectrum of light given off by a florescent is not always the best for every task, and they take a fraction of a second to turn on, and do not reach their full brightness for almost a minute.
Halogens give off a spectrum that is nearer to natural light, and thus are good for lighting artwork, task lighting and reading. We are using them in the kitchen, will probably put some in the bathrooms eventually, and in the main entry foyer. Florescent bulbs are good for basic use in the bedrooms, etc... but seem more yellow & blue in spectrum.
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