skip to main content

Money Saving Tips

halogen lightbulbs

20 years ago

I've replaced all the lightbulbs in my house with compact fluorescent bulbs, except for the lights which have dimmers. However, I discovered something interesting while out shopping today. Halogen lightbulbs that look like a regular bulb and fits in to a normal lamp holder. The advantage of halogens is that they're dimmable *and* use less energy per unit of light output than a normal filament bulb - in fact I replaced my 60 watt bulbs with 40 watt halogens and have discovered that they're still generating more light. The bulbs also have a longer life span and the quality of the light is excellent.

Fluorescents are still the best energy savers by a large margin, but anything cost effective that cuts down on the energy consumed by the few remaining filament bulbs in the house is welcome.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

dadoes
20 years ago
Compact fluorescents also don't work in remote-control ceiling fans or with most kinds of digital timers.
sharlee
20 years ago
Yes, the halogen bulbs are great, aren't they. Since I was replacing bulbs so much due to power surges in my area I went to a lighting company & learned about these bulbs. Their life is much longer & I noticed the light of the 40watt was brighter than expected as you mentioned

Really, I prefer these to fluorescent anyday.

Thank you for the reminder to pass on to others.

Sharlee
Related Discussions
Zephyr hood - replace lightbulb
Q
Comments (50)
Thank you for all the comments—they helped me so much! I’ve had my Zephyr Gust hood for 6-7 years, and one bulb recently went out. I decided I wanted to go with LED replacements because they will last longer, use less energy, and the light color temperature (3000K) will match my LED under cabinet lighting better. I purchased the bulbs and a suction cup from the Zephyr website, even though the bulbs seemed to be overpriced. I wanted the suction cup and I wanted to make sure to have the appropriate LED bulb. There are so many choices with beam angle, lumens, CRI, and color temperature. Here are the specs for the bulb they sell on the website: Intertek KLLUG-6B Model Z0B0040 Bulb Base GU10 Color Temp 3000K CRI >=80 Wattage 6 Lumens 480 Beam Angle flood 38 degrees The first bulb came right out, but the second was a bit of a bother. It finally (in reality just a couple minutes) came out, and I didn’t have much problem getting them back in. Pay attention to the position of the 2 prongs when you pull it out so you know what angle you are shooting for when you put them back in. I did remove the filters first so I could see what I was doing, but I’m not sure it helped.
...See More
Query: how many people to change lightbulb
Q
Comments (6)
When the lamp failed to work, you assumed that the "bulb" (which actually is a lamp) had failed. And you have assumed that the "new" "bulbs" are good. Without testing by a knowledgeable person, it is not possible to know exactly what has failed in your situation. I have no reason to believe that you are installing the lamp incorrectly.
...See More
Need Help with LED lightbulb choice for high ceiling
Q
Comments (1)
What type of fixture are these bulbs in? A 4" recessed housing is going to have a problem with bulb choices. They just don't make a brighter par 20 bulb in an LED that will not have electronics failure in a small recessed housing, especially if there is insulation on top of the housing. Anything that says "spot" instead of "flood" may help a little bit, but you really need more lumens, or more light bulbs.
...See More
Another ID pleaseeee
Q
Comments (17)
You can use any light fixture, the light bulb needs to be good enough to make any difference. Using CFL or LED lightbulb will give them very good light. I use bulb like these: Note all the details: it is 100W incandescent equivalent - but uses only 23W (LED uses even less). High Lumens and Kelvins are best. Pictured bulbs are 6500k (marked on bottom right); this is very bright light & good for plants. What kind of bulb are you using now?
...See More
bonelady
20 years ago
DO these bulbs work in fixtures that are covered by glass globes?
sharlee
20 years ago
bonelady,
I would try one & see what you think. You might notice a slighty dimmer light....guess it depends what you are used to having. They are shaped like the regular bulbs, so it's the brightness & life of the bulb that is different. Let us know,
Sharlee
bry84
Original Author
20 years ago
As far as I'm aware they're suitable to replace any normal light bulb. The packet doesn't say anything about not being able to cover them with shades, and it's the same shape/size as a normal bulb so it would fit anywhere designed for a regular bulb.

But if you're not sure do ask someone in the store who can give more accurate advice based on the actual item you're looking at. I'm a little reluctant to make any definate statements as there are always exceptions...
ultraviolet
20 years ago
Wow, I've never seen one that'll fit into a normal light fixture.

Do they throw off as much heat as the normal traditional halogens do? (which I think, although could be wrong, is what bonelady was referencing) I cannot deal with the CFL's in the den - the buzzing is driving me up the wall. Our older halogen floor lamp, however, throws off so much heat that makes it unusable in any season other than winter.
ultraviolet
20 years ago
Ugh, I hate it when I have a dumb blonde moment - especially since I'm not even blonde. =)

These are the type you guys are talking about, right?
zeebo
20 years ago
I thought halogens could not be used with lamp shades, for instance, because they get so hot. What's the appeal?
bry84
Original Author
20 years ago
The halogen bulbs do have a hotter filament, which is why they're more efficient. This extra heat is not however generated by increasing the energy going in to the bulb - it's because they use a gas fill which insulates better, and also have a coating which reflects infared energy back in to the filament. Since some of the heat normally lost is captured and converted in to light energy the halogen bulb will release *less* heat than a normal bulb.

A 100 watt halogen turns about 80 watts in to heat, but a 100 watt normal bulb turns about 90 watts in to heat. So it's quite safe to swap out your regular bulbs for halogens of the same wattage.

The heat we associate with halogen lighting is more of an issue with other types of halogen fixtures, such as those floor lamps (aka curtain torchers). Their bulbs can be as high as 500 watt, which is so hot you can put a frying pan on them and cook! Our local fire department do this to show just how dangerous they are. Very bad for the electric bills and not very safe either. You can get modern floor uplighters now that take CLFs.

Related Stories

LIGHTING What to Know About Switching to LED Lightbulbs

By Karen Egly-Thompson

If you’ve been thinking about changing over to LEDs but aren't sure how to do it and which to buy, this story is for you

HOUSEKEEPING Tackle Home Junk With Proper Disposal

By Vanessa Brunner

No matter how well you scrub, your home will never be spotless until the junk disappears. Here's how to lose it with a clean conscience

LIGHTING New Classics: Ingo Maurer's Amazing Light Fixtures

By Becky Harris

Fluttery, whimsical or pure minimalist, these lighting designs earn attention all over the home

LIGHTING Personal Spaces: Homeowners Work Their Pendant Lights

By Laura Gaskill

See how all kinds of rooms are getting a lift from hanging lights, both budget-friendly and glam

LIGHTING Get Your Home's Recessed Lighting Right

By Elements of Style

Learn the formula for how much light a room needs plus how to space downlights, use dimmers and more

LIGHTING The Lowdown on High-Efficiency LED Lighting

By Karen LeBlanc Design TV Host & Writer/Blogger

Learn about LED tapes, ropes, pucks and more to create a flexible and energy-efficient lighting design that looks great

COLOR Want Gorgeous Interior Colors? Look to the Light

By Buckminster Green LLC

See how to manipulate natural and artificial light — and learn about those baffling new bulbs — to get the exact room colors you want

LIGHTING 5 Questions to Ask for the Best Room Lighting

By Karen LeBlanc Design TV Host & Writer/Blogger

Get your overhead, task and accent lighting right for decorative beauty, less eyestrain and a focus exactly where you want

KITCHEN DESIGN 12 Ways to Light Your Kitchen With LEDs

By Jamie Gold, CKD, CAPS, MCCWC

See how to use new energy-saving lights to illuminate your kitchen, light a countertop and add style, too

BATHROOM WORKBOOK How to Get Your Bathroom Vanity Lighting Right

By Janell Beals - House of Fifty

Create a successful lighting plan with tips on where to mount fixtures and other design considerations

Sponsored