Energy efficiency[edit]

Energy usage for different types of light bulbs operating at different light outputs. Points lower on the graph
correspond to lower energy use

For more details on this topic, see Luminous efficacy.

Because the eye's sensitivity changes with the wavelength, the output of lamps is commonly
measured in lumens, a measure of the power of light as perceived by the human eye. Theluminous
efficacy of lamps is the number of lumens produced for each watt of electrical power used.
The luminous efficacy of a typical CFL is 5070 lumens per watt (lm/W) and that of a typical
incandescent lamp is 1017 lm/W.[27] Compared to a theoretical 100%-efficient lamp (680 lm/W), CFL
lamps have lighting efficiency ranges of 710%, [28] versus 1.52.5%[29]for incandescents.[30]
Because of their higher efficacy, CFLs use between one-seventh and one-third of the power of
equivalent incandescent lamps.[27] Fifty to seventy percent of the world's total lighting market sales
were incandescent in 2010.[31] Replacing all inefficient lighting with CFLs would save
409 terawatt hours (TWh) per year, 2.5% of the world's electricity consumption. In the US, it is
estimated that replacing all the incandescents would save 80 TWh yearly.[32] Since CFLs use much
less energy than incandescent lamps (ILs), a phase-out of ILs would result in less carbon
dioxide (CO2) being emitted into the atmosphere. Exchanging ILs for efficient CFLs on a global scale
would achieve annual CO2 reductions of 230 Mt (million tons), more than the combined yearly
CO2 emissions of the Netherlands and Portugal. [33]
Electrical power equivalents for differing lamps[34]

Electrical power consumption (Watts)

Minimum light
output (lumens)
Incandescent Compact fluorescent

450

40

911

LED

68

800

60

1315

912

1,100

75

1820

1316

1,600

100

2328

1522

2,400

150

3052

24-28

3,100

200

4975

30

4,000

300

75100

Not available

If a building's indoor incandescent lamps are replaced by CFLs, the heat produced due to lighting is
significantly reduced. In warm climates or in office or industrial buildings where air conditioning is
often required, CFLs reduce the load on the cooling system when compared to the use of
incandescent lamps, resulting in savings in electricity in addition to the energy efficiency savings of
the lamps themselves. However, in cooler climates in which buildings require heating, the heating
system needs to replace the reduced heat from lighting fixtures. In Winnipeg, Canada, it was
estimated that CFLs would only generate 17% savings in energy compared to incandescent bulbs,
as opposed to the 75% savings that could have been expected without space heating
considerations.[35]