Classic Incandescent Style, With an Energy Efficient Twist

If you’ve recently walked into a store to purchase lightbulbs, you’ve likely noticed that the selection of energy efficient bulbs is wider than ever. However, most of these bulbs don’t look like the incandescent bulbs that we have used in our homes for years. For those of us who want energy efficient lighting, but miss that classic lightbulb design—or miss the even-older Edison-style bulb—there is now a solution: filament-style LEDs. 

Filament-style LEDs resemble incandescent bulbs, yet maintain the high efficiency levels and long lifespans that other LEDs provide. Compared to incandescent bulbs, which typically only last around 1,000 hours, filament-style LEDs can last more than 15,000 hours. These new LEDs are also known for their high quality of light, which is considered comparable to that of incandescent bulbs. Plus, filament-style LED bulbs are available in many shapes, so they can meet the varied lighting needs in your home.

Three filament-style LED bulbs.
From left to right, a MaxLite candelabra bulb, a greenlite A19 bulb, and a MaxLite Edison-style globe bulb.

These filament-style LED bulbs have some advantages compared to traditional LEDs, as well. These new bulbs weigh less, since they don’t require large heat sinks, which make up the heavy bases of traditional LEDs. Filament-style LEDs can also more easily achieve omnidirectional lighting, meaning these bulbs provide light in all directions. All general purpose ENERGY STAR® certified LED bulbs offer omnidirectional light, which makes them great for fixtures like lamps, where targeted lighting is not desirable; however, the filament-style construction makes it simpler to accomplish this feature. Together, both the lighter weight and the ease of achieving omnidirectional light are also helping bring down the price of these bulbs.

With decreasing prices, increased efficiency, and a more traditional bulb design, filament-style LEDs are gaining popularity. Select filament-style LED bulbs have already earned ENERGY STAR certification, and are now available at a variety of stores throughout Massachusetts for as little as $2.00 per bulb, thanks to special pricing from the Mass Save sponsors. These bulbs will also soon be available on the Mass Save online store.

Interested in learning more about these innovative LEDs? Be sure to check our blog and Facebook page for future news and offers on filament-style LED bulbs.