07/05/2017
It wasn’t that long when the only lighting choice for a household was the typical incandescent bulb. Need lights? Go to the store, pick up a regular bulb with wattage you need, depending on the choice of brightness. But that time is gone. Although not everyone, but many households are leveraging CFL and LED technology. These lights are way more energy efficient, last longer, and in the long term probably cheaper.
What’s the difference between the two most common light bulbs nowadays – CFL vs LED?
CFLs, unlike regular bulbs, do not run an electric current through a wire. There is instead a current creating argon and mercury vapor. This in turn, creates ultraviolet light that translated into visible light. CFLs consume about 70% less energy than regular light bulbs. One of the biggest drawbacks of CFLs is that it takes a while for them to turn on once you flip the switch. Also, CFLs contain mercury which is harmful to the environment and health.
According to the Lighting Research Center, LED light bulbs work by bringing together currents with a positive and negative charge to create energy released in the form of light. The result is a fast source of light that is reliable, instantaneous, and able to be dimmed. What sets LED lights apart from any other is how long they last. On average, LED light bulbs can last between 20,000 – 50,000 hours.
Which choice is more cost effective?
Check out the price comparison in the second chart in the following link:
http://www.viribright.com/lumen-output-comparing-led-vs-cfl-vs-incandescent-wattage/
It shows comparison between Incandescent, CFL and LED lights for a 10-year period. The LED light is a clear winner in terms of price over time with energy consumption.
