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Light Bulbs

Last Updated: 02/27/24 Click to see brand name products that meet these requirementsopens in new window
Light Bulbs

A man-made source of optical radiation.

Product Details
  • asterisk Federal agencies are required by statute to purchase products as designated or specified under this program.
    asterisk asterisk Federal agencies are required to purchase sustainable products and services meeting EPA’s Recommendations to the maximum extent practicable.
Product Type

Procurement Info

Where to Buy

Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs)
LED Lighting
Life Cycle Cost Savings

Life Cycle Costing (LCC) aims to quantify the financial impact of a product over its entire life cycle to assist consumers in making decisions that will save them money over the long term.

GSA's Green Proving Groundopens in new window evaluated an LED replacement lamp that uses the same four-pin socket and electronic ballast as an incumbent CFL. Results showed energy savings between 40-50%, matching light levels and quality and payback under 3 years. GPG recommends deploying LED downlight lighting in place of CFLs broadly where advanced lighting controls are not desired or useful. GPG's reportopens in new window provides a table of LED replacement options for CFL downlights.

An efficient product is cost effective when the utility costs saved over the life of the product exceed the additional upfront cost (if any) of the more efficient model. Energy Star considers both upfront costs and lifetime energy cost savings when setting required efficiency levels. Federal purchasers can assume that Energy Star-qualified products are life-cycle cost effective.

To calculate life cycle cost savings, explore these tools:

  • On its Purchasing & Procurement page, Energy Star offers an MS-Excel-based calculator to estimate how much money and energy you can save purchasing ENERGY STAR light bulbs.
  • For life cycling costing on specific brand-name products, visit SFTool Product Searchnon government site opens in new window by clicking the green box at the top of this page. Once you have created an account, add a product to a project and open the project. The tool displays energy cost savings, adjusting for local utility rates, operating conditions, and the purchase price.
  • NREL’s Levelized Cost of Energy Calculatoropens in new window can help estimate the cost of electricity as an input for your lifecycle cost calculations, accounting for both cost escalation and discount rates.
Guiding Principles
Contributes to meeting The Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings