LED Vs. CFL for Home Lighting

There are many ways to supposedly save money on your electric bill, but exploring all of the Lancaster lighting options available and choosing more energy efficient light bulbs may be the easiest way. Incandescent light bulbs, like those we have used almost exclusively in homes up until the last dozen years or so, waste a lot of energy. Of all the electricity that flows into an incandescent bulb, very few watts are actually emitted as light. Much of the energy is lost to heat. Fortunately, there are 2 new, energy efficient bulbs that might cost more upfront, but will save you money in the long run. These bulbs are CFL's and LED's, and choosing between them may seem inconsequential, but there are important differences.

CFL stands for compact flourescent lamp. These are the weird looking light bulbs, with tubes that are curved or folded over each other. While these bulbs may look a bit strange, they are 3 to 5 times more energy efficient and last 8 to 15 times longer than incandescent bulbs. There are, however, some downsides to these bulbs. For starters, they use mercury, which needs to be recycled rather than simply thrown in the trash. The way CFL's emit light isn't ideal for recessed lighting, which is common in homes, and some have claimed that these bulbs don't live up to their billing. However, these bulbs are still much more efficient than incandescents and will still save you money.

LED stands for light-emitting diode, and while red LED's were around back in 1962, it wasn't until fairly recently that technology found a way to make an LED that can emit white light, the type of light used to light rooms in a home. LED light bulbs are about twice as efficient as CFL's, and can last up to 8 times longer. These lights are great in all applications, including recessed lighting. So why are LED light bulbs not flying off the shelves? The biggest downfall of the LED bulb is its price. While it's likely to more than pay for itself with its extraordinary efficiency and lifespan, few people are willing to spend over 30 dollars for a single light bulb.

It may be tempting to pick up a cheap pack of incandescent bulbs for only a few dollars, but what might seem like a financially sound decision at that moment might come back to bit you later. There are many Lancaster lighting options, but perhaps the best option is to invest in a few CFL or LED bulbs for the more frequently used rooms in your home.