The Incandescent Bulb -- What All the Replacement bulbs Are Trying to Replicate
Product Name: GE 97496 60W Incandescent Light Bulb
The GE 97496 is a typical, standard, soft white 60W incandescent screw-in light bulb. It is probably the most commonly-available and widely used bulb in those countries that supply 120 volt alternating current, or 120V AC.
In the United States, these bulbs will be phased out of production in 2014 in order to implement the lighting energy efficiency provisions of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
That act requires that new light bulbs must be almost 30% more efficient than the bulbs they're replacing. Any new light bulb that produces between 750 and 1,049 lumens (this one produces 820 lumens) must use no more than 43 watts of power.
As a result, consumers are looking for more efficient replacements for these bulbs that will still meet their need for a comfortable level of light. At the same time, manufacturers are working to produce the alternative bulbs in the quantities that will be needed. CFLs -- Compact Fluorescent Lamps -- and Halogen light bulbs are the most popular alternatives.
Because it is a typical 60W light bulb, reviewing the GE 97496 gives us a benchmark to use as we consider the bulbs that are competing to replace it.
Its profile characteristics show that the GE 97496 light bulb has a very low level of efficiency. It only produces 13.67 lumens for each watt of electricity it consumes. Using a standard value of three hours of use per day, or 1,095 hours per year, and a national average cost of eleven cents ($0.11 US) per kilowatt hour, it costs $7.23 per year in operating costs to power one of these bulbs. That can add up quickly when you consider how many of these bulbs are used in a typical home.
A typical selling price for these bulbs is $1.64 US for a two-pack, or $.84 US) each. Dividing that cost by its expected life in years, (1.4 years), means that a typical GE 97496 bulb will cost its owner $.59 US per year to replace. That's not a lot of money.
Adding the operating costs and the replacement costs together shows that just one of these bulbs is likely to cost you or me nearly $8 to own and use, every year. Ten of these would cost more than $78 every year. At that cost, there is more than just the federal regulation providing an incentive for their replacement. You'll also be able to cut down on household expenses.
The questions most of us are asking as we shop for the bulbs that will replace the familiar incandescent ones are "How much will the new ones cost me every year?" and "Will they actually save me any money?" With the high operating and total annual costs of this standard 60W light bulb, it seems that some more efficient alternatives should be possible.
To find the answers to those questions, take a look at two of the most popular replacement types: The 60 watt equivalent, 43 watt GE 63003 High Efficiency Halogen bulb (GE energy-efficient soft white bulb), and the 60 watt equivalent, 15 watt GE 63508 Reveal® Bright from the Start™ CFL light bulb.
Description
The GE 97496 is a typical, standard, soft white 60W incandescent screw-in light bulb. It is probably the most commonly-available and widely used bulb in those countries that supply 120 volt alternating current, or 120V AC.
In the United States, these bulbs will be phased out of production in 2014 in order to implement the lighting energy efficiency provisions of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
That act requires that new light bulbs must be almost 30% more efficient than the bulbs they're replacing. Any new light bulb that produces between 750 and 1,049 lumens (this one produces 820 lumens) must use no more than 43 watts of power.
As a result, consumers are looking for more efficient replacements for these bulbs that will still meet their need for a comfortable level of light. At the same time, manufacturers are working to produce the alternative bulbs in the quantities that will be needed. CFLs -- Compact Fluorescent Lamps -- and Halogen light bulbs are the most popular alternatives.
Because it is a typical 60W light bulb, reviewing the GE 97496 gives us a benchmark to use as we consider the bulbs that are competing to replace it.
Basic Facts
- Type: Incandescent A-line
- Voltage: 120 volts AC
- Wattage: 60 watts
- Shape: A19
- Base/Connection: Medium Screw (E26)
- Cost: $0.82 US
- Rated Life: 1500 hours
- Life in Years (based on three hours of use per day): 1.4
- Replacement Cost per Year: $0.59 US
- Energy Consumption (kilowatt hours per year): 65.7
- Energy Cost/Year (based on a cost of $0.11 US per kilowatt hour): $7.23 US
- Total cost/Year: $7.82 US
- Initial Light Output in Lumens: 820
- Efficiency (lumens per watt): 13.67
- Color Temperature: 2800 degrees Kelvin
- Color Rendering Index (CRI): Not available
Analysis
Its profile characteristics show that the GE 97496 light bulb has a very low level of efficiency. It only produces 13.67 lumens for each watt of electricity it consumes. Using a standard value of three hours of use per day, or 1,095 hours per year, and a national average cost of eleven cents ($0.11 US) per kilowatt hour, it costs $7.23 per year in operating costs to power one of these bulbs. That can add up quickly when you consider how many of these bulbs are used in a typical home.
A typical selling price for these bulbs is $1.64 US for a two-pack, or $.84 US) each. Dividing that cost by its expected life in years, (1.4 years), means that a typical GE 97496 bulb will cost its owner $.59 US per year to replace. That's not a lot of money.
Adding the operating costs and the replacement costs together shows that just one of these bulbs is likely to cost you or me nearly $8 to own and use, every year. Ten of these would cost more than $78 every year. At that cost, there is more than just the federal regulation providing an incentive for their replacement. You'll also be able to cut down on household expenses.
The questions most of us are asking as we shop for the bulbs that will replace the familiar incandescent ones are "How much will the new ones cost me every year?" and "Will they actually save me any money?" With the high operating and total annual costs of this standard 60W light bulb, it seems that some more efficient alternatives should be possible.
To find the answers to those questions, take a look at two of the most popular replacement types: The 60 watt equivalent, 43 watt GE 63003 High Efficiency Halogen bulb (GE energy-efficient soft white bulb), and the 60 watt equivalent, 15 watt GE 63508 Reveal® Bright from the Start™ CFL light bulb.
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