Bright Outlook for Energy-Saving Lightbulbs

The average household spends about 5 percent of its energy budget on lighting, according to the Department of Energy. Replace your most frequently used bulbs with Energy Star certified LEDs or CFLs, and you'll save energy and—over time—money. Bulbs that carry the Energy Star label meet high standards for brightness, color, and energy use, and they can earn you rebates from your utility company. "Our past tests found that LEDs use about 80 to 85 percent less energy than the incandescent bulbs they replaced," says John Banta, Consumer Reports' lightbulb expert. "LEDs use slightly less energy than CFLs, and last much longer."