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Compact Fluorescents vs. LEDs
As more and more efforts are made to “go green,” consumer trends are changing the marketplace every day. In just the last few years, the types of light bulbs available to illuminate your home have shifted significantly. While incandescent bulbs used to be the top option for home lighting, the most popular options these days are LED lights and CFL bulbs for their excellent energy-efficiency ratings. LED stands for light emitting diode and CFL stands for compact fluorescent lights.
LED Lights
Some of you may not be aware that LED lights have been around for a long time, though their uses have expanded quite a bit recently. LED lights are used as the lighting in digital clocks, instrument panel lights, and even traffic lights, which are typically created by a cluster of LED lights. CFL bulbs have also been around for a while, in the form of the long, skinny light bulbs that light up factories, office buildings, and large stores. Both are decent options for home lighting, but which one is the best overall?
The biggest drawback for LED lighting is that typically LED lights provide only directional lighting, for example, in track lighting. This means that the LED light shines almost like a spotlight, as opposed to the spread of light provided by CFL bulbs. However, there have been recent improvements to LED lighting, creating bulbs that include clusters of LEDs with diffuser lenses available. These next generation LED lights provide a broader shine and expand the types of locations where you can use them.
Another drawback of the LED light is in their price point. LED lights are usually more expensive than CFL bulbs. However, when you look at cost over time, lifespan, and energy efficiency, this is where LED lighting charges ahead in comparison to CFL lights.
Research studies have shown that LED lights more than make up for the higher up-front price over the life of the bulb. The cost savings are recognized in lower energy costs and in having a longer life, thus less replacement costs. As LED lights become more popular, further improvements to the manufacturing process will be made, and you should expect to see the cost go down over time.
Energy Efficiency
In terms of energy efficiency, a standard LED light uses only 2-10 watts of electricity, which is 1/30 of the amount of energy used by a CFL bulb. An LED does not generate nearly as much heat while lit as a CFL would. Especially in the summertime, using CFL bulbs can cause higher temperatures in the home, thus requiring greater uses of cooling systems. Utilizing LED light bulbs, particularly in areas where there is a lot of lighting, can help to save energy and money on cooling costs. Reducing the amount of energy used in your home also reduces carbon dioxide emissions, which can positively effect air and water pollution.
Lifespan
LEDs also last significantly longer than CFL bulbs. Research places the typical lifespan of a CFL bulb at about 10,000 hours, while an LED light typically lasts between 50,000 and 60,000 hours. This makes using LED lights especially attractive for those hard to reach or recessed lighting areas. Additionally, LED lights are crafted to be solid and hold up better to bumps and drops than a CFL bulb would – but newer types of LED lights have clusters of LEDs making up the light so even if one LED goes out, the rest of the LEDs should not be affected.
Finally, the biggest drawback to using CFL lighting is in the presence of the chemical toxin, mercury. CFL bulbs contain small amounts of mercury, which emits ultraviolet light that, in turn, excites the bulb’s phosphor coating, and produces visible light. If a CFL bulb breaks in your home, the mercury inside can pose a health risk. You should be extremely careful when dealing with a broken CFL bulb. When a CFL bulb burns out, it must be disposed of in a special and specific manner to minimize the chances that the mercury in the bulb leaks out and seeps into soil or groundwater supplies. LED lights do not contain any toxic chemicals or materials, and a broken LED light does not pose any health risks – though you should still be careful of the broken glass! Disposing of an LED light is simple, and some models can be recycled.
~ Ben Anton, 2010
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