CFL & LED Bulbs: A Comparison

The future of lighting: Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) and Light
Emitting Diodes (LEDs)

Household lighting typically accounts for 10% of your electric bill.  While this might
not seem like a big number, consider this: if your electric bill is $80 a month, you're
paying about $96 a year for just the lighting in your home! Changing your light bulbs
can significantly reduce your long-term energy costs. 

Traditional incandescent bulbs convert most of their energy into heat instead of light,
wasting electricy on unnecessary warmth.  Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) and
light emitting diodes (LEDs) on the other hand, convert most of their energy into
what you want most:  light.  Both CFLs and LEDs are also designed to last years
longer than the average incandescent bulb, reducing both energy and replacement
costs. 

Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLS) and Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) have risen in
popularity in recent years due to their longevity and energy-efficient design. These
bright, compact lights are designed to reduce your energy consumption without
sacrificing light or productivity.  In fact, manufacturers have created CFLs that are
designed to fit into your exiting light fixtures, easing the transition from traditional
incandescent bulbs to more energy-efficient alternatives.  But what are CFLs and
LEDs?  And how do they work? 

Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs)

Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) are created by taking a traditional fluorescent

tube and bending it into a compact design that fits easily into ordinary incandescent
fixtures. In general, CFLs  use up to 75% less electricity than conventional light bulbs
while still producing a comparable amount of light. For example, a compact
fluorescent bulb that uses 27 watts of electricity has the same light output as a 100
watt incandescent bulb.

Unlike typical fluorescent lights, however, compact fluorescent lights do not

flicker. Furthermore, CFLs produce the same, if not better, quality light as
conventional incandescent bulbs. This means you get brighter, sharper light for
much less energy. 

CFLs also last much longer than incandescent lights, meaning you won't need to
replace them as often as ordinary bulbs. In general, for every ten incandescent light
bulbs you replace, you would only need to replace one CFL. Not only does this save
money, it also reduces your waste.   

 
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)

While Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) have been around for decades in household
appliances, computers and clocks, they've only recently gained popularity as energy-
efficient alternatives to incandescent bulbs.

LEDs are tiny lights

produced by moving electrons in a semiconductor. There is no burning gas or
filaments so LEDs are more durable and produce little to no heat. Their small size
also makes LEDs extraordinarily resistant to weather and can even be waterproofed
for more extreme
conditions. 

 A single LED is rather small, but imporvements in technology have allowed for the
combination of bunches of LEDs together to create consumer products ranging from
powerful flashlights to Christmas lights and lamps. Large groups of LEDs have been
used to replace traffic lights and brake lights in cars. Since they are designed to last
for many years, these unique lights almost never need to be replaced and can
withstand more extreme conditions than ordinary bulbs. 

Just like compact fluorescent lights, LEDs are also incredibly energy efficient and use only a fraction of the
energy needed to power a single incandescent bulb.  In fact, LEDs use 1/50 of the energy of a standard bulb and
last 10 times longer than their CFL alternatives.  A typical LED bulb can last up to 15 years without needing to be
changed! They are not as versatile in traditional light fixtures, however, and are generally more expensive than
compact fluorescents.