The Home Improvement Guide

With the strive towards “greener living,” it can be difficult to understand what your lighting options are, and the costs and benefits of each. This article will help you distinguish between two energy-efficient lighting alternatives (CFLs and LEDs) and compare them to traditional (incandescent) light bulbs.

1. Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs)

PROS:
- Use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer than traditional light bulbs, resulting in the bulb’s lifetime savings of about $30
- Come in a range of colors and brightness options
- Have both a positive environmental and economical impact
- Even though mercury is used in CFLs, the amount is less than what would be emitted from power plants by using regular light bulbs
- A great alternative for all indoor home and office use!

CONS:
- Typically more expensive than incandescent bulbs.
- Because CFLs contain trace amounts of mercury, a highly toxic substance, they must be recycled/ disposed of properly.
- Some consumers may experience difficulty getting used to the different type of light produced by a CFL

2. Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs)

LEDs are small lights that are illuminated by the transfer of electrons through a semiconductor. LEDs used to light an area use multiple LEDs inside a fixture to produce white light.

PROS:
- Long-term energy savings (decrease energy use by 75% and 25 times longer than incandescents)
- Don’t contain mercury (like CFL’s) or other toxic elements
- Provide a sharper, cleaner light than CFLs
- Offer a wide range of color and brightness options
- An excellent replacement for recessed lighting in the home and office

CONS:
- Typically much more expensive than other lighting options
- Older models may have a bluish-tint and fail to disperse light over a broad area (ie, an outdoor spotlight)
- High temperatures and humidity may reduce lifespan
- Some consumers may experience difficulty getting used to the different type of light produced by an LED

3. Incandescent Light-bulbs

PROS
- Less expensive than their energy-efficient counterparts
- Best for use in rarely-accessed rooms (ie, closets and spare bedrooms)

CONS
- Have a greater negative environmental impact over the other types of bulbs

According to the Energy Star website, if just one energy-efficient light-bulb replaced one incandescent in every US home, the annual national savings would be: $700 million in energy costs, it would enable us to light 3 million homes, and it would prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions. Your move to a greener lighting alternative will help you save money, energy, and help the environment! The path to energy efficiency starts with a single bulb – choose yours today!