energy solutionsfor better buildings
Light Bulb Selector: Energy saving light bulbs - Better light with less energy
1430 visits
Posting Date | 22 July 2010
Type of tool | Evaluation System, Feasibility Model
Countries where the tool has been developed | EU Institutions
Country where the tool is in use | Austria , Belgium , Cyprus , Czech Republic , Denmark , Finland , France , Germany , Greece , Hungary , Ireland , Italy , Luxembourg , Malta , Netherlands , Norway , Poland , Portugal , Slovakia , Slovenia , Spain , Sweden , United Kingdom
Geographic Coverage | International
Theme | Energy policies, Lighting
Target Group | Building occupants
Conditions of availability | Free
Price | 0
Expertise required | None.
Input of the tool | 1. Equivalent of an incandscent light bulb (15 - 150 W)
2. Sort of bulb (cool light/frosted -> for work, warm light/frosted -> for relaxing, warm light/transparent)
3. Where and how this light will be used (longer periods -> living room, rarely and short periods -> cellar, on and off often in a day -> bathroom)
4. Special usages (no warming up, outdoor/sauna, dimming)
Output of the tool | Advice on type of bulbs that should be bought including information on lumen (light output), performance data (life time, electricity use and energy label class).
The information can be printed in order to take it to the shop.
Strengths | Simple to use, further information bulbs and EU legislation on the website.
Weaknesses | Does not assess the necessary installed power for a certain room.
Publisher | EU Commission
Publisher URL | http://ec.europa.eu/energy
Source of funding | EC
Tool Languages | Bulgarian , Czech , Danish , Dutch , English , Estonian , Finnish , French , German , Greek , Hungarian , Irish , Italian , Latvian , Lithuanian , Maltese , Polish , Portuguese , Romanian , Slovak , Slovenian , Spanish , Swedish
An interactive tool, provided by the European Commission, that helps to select the appropriate bulb for your needs and a description of important product parameters that will have to be included on the packaging of bulbs from 1 September 2010 to allow consumers to make informed choices.
Illustrations | 
Description |
3. Print button (bottom right) – to take the results with you to the shop.
How to use the bulb selector:
1. Select your parameters – in the green upper half of the selector, drag the light bulbs to the desired criteria. Click the grey light bulbs if you wish to search for the corresponding criteria.
2. View the results – in the lower half.What do the results show?
Three bulb photos on the left show which bulbs meet your needs (red text means no bulb of that type matches your criteria).
Rest your mouse pointer on a bulb photo, and the results screen will display:- top right – the lumen output ( = bulb brightness) to look for. Use this instead of watts
- centre – sample photos of bulbs of that type
- centre, bottom – other details you need to know before buying
- right – the performance you can expect from that bulb type.
3. Print button (bottom right) – to take the results with you to the shop.
WARNING – always follow the safety and compatibility instructions provided with lamps and fittings.
Some bulbs are not yet available:
Certain compact fluorescent bulbs and LEDs displayed under Results may not yet be available in shops. For example, no existing LED bulbs can replace incandescent bulbs > 60W. But as technologies evolve, the range of available bulbs should expand rapidly. For details, ask your retailer.
Tool website URL(s) | http://ec.europa.eu/energy/lumen/, http://ec.europa.eu/energy/lumen/index_en.htm