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Powerful Living


Light Bulb Showdown CFL vs LED Bulbs


By James Pratt N


ot long ago, when a light bulb in your home went out, you vis- ited the store, browsed the aisle with bulbs, found one with the wattage you needed for the amount of light desired, and headed to checkout. You probably didn’t put much thought about the


energy savings involved or the technology behind the bulb. Times and technology have changed the simple light bulb. Today’s bulbs are not only more energy effi cient, they also last for years—if not decades— longer than the bulb designed by Thomas Edison in 1879. And the good news in recent years is these new technology bulbs have dropped in price. You can pick up CFL bulbs for close to $3.88 and basic LED bulbs for $2.50 at a store like Home Depot, for example.


Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL)


According to EnergyStar.gov, incandescent bulbs work by running a cur- rent along an electric fi lament. As the fi lament heats up, infrared and visible lights are emitted. The infrared light heats the bulb and surrounding material.


With a CFL bulb, an electric current is transmitted through a tube fi lled with argon gas and a minute amount of mercury vapor. This generates in- visible ultraviolet light that excites a small fl uorescent coating on the inside of the tube, which then emits visible light. CFLs need a little more energy when they are fi rst turned on, but once the electricity is fl owing a CFL bulb uses about 70 percent less energy than an incandescent bulb. A CFL ballast is used to “kick start” this process and to regulate the current. This process can take a bit of time, hence the reason most CFLs are not “instant on” like an incandescent or LED bulb (although some newer and more expensive CFLs are now instant on). Older CFL lights cannot be “dimmed” like conventional incandescent bulbs. Some of the newer and more expensive CFL bulbs, however, can be dimmed.


Light Emitting Diode (LED)


LED lights have been around for years in home appliances such as clock radio, microwave timer and VCR/DVD player. According to EnergyStar. gov, LEDs generate light by passing a current through a tiny semiconductor from which directional light and energy is emitted. The energy is absorbed by a heat sink while the visible light is transmitted.


LED Light Bulbs Pros:


✓ Light up immediately like an incandescent bulb ✓ Do not heat up much; stay cool to the touch even after use ✓ Last up to fi ve times longer than CFLs; can literally last a lifetime ✓ No sensitivity to cold temperatures ✓ Do not contain mercury ✓ Some models can be used with a dimmer switch ✓ Available in soft, warm, and bright white hues


Cons: ✓ Directional light may not spread as evenly as other sources ✓ Currently may cost more than CFLs although prices are dropping


CFL Light Bulbs


Pros: ✓ Use less energy than incandescent bulbs ✓ Usually cost less than LED light bulbs ✓ Produce extremely bright light that spreads evenly ✓ Available in soft, warm, and bright white hues


Cons: ✓ Older bulbs cannot be used with a dimmer switch, newer bulbs can ✓ Take a few moments to heat up and reach full brightness ✓ Contain mercury, a toxic heavy metal ✓ Can be sensitive to cold temperatures


Photo by James Pratt 12


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