Recently, I hired some people to install recessed lights in my home. Unfortunately, with so many types of light bulbs available, it was quite confusing trying to find which lights I should get. The small GU10 lights bulbs were great as spot lights for the bathroom and kitchen / dining areas. Following is a comparison of the 3 main types of light bulbs available and their characteristics:
| Energy Efficiency & Energy Costs | |||
| Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) | Incandescent Light Bulbs | Compact Fluorescents (CFLs) | |
| Life Span (average) | 50,000 hours | 1,200 hours | 8,000 hours |
| Watts of electricity used (equivalent to 60 watt bulb).LEDs use less power (watts) per unit of light generated (lumens). LEDs help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and lower electric bills | 6 – 8 watts | 60 watts | 13-15 watts |
| Kilo-watts of Electricity used (30 Incandescent Bulbs per year equivalent) | 329 KWh/yr. | 3285 KWh/yr. | 767 KWh/yr. |
| Annual Operating Cost (30 Incandescent Bulbs per year equivalent) | $32.85/year | $328.59/year | $76.65/year |
| Environmental Impact | |||
| Contains the TOXIC Mercury | No | No | Yes – Mercury is very toxic to your health and the environment |
| RoHS Compliant | Yes | Yes | No – contains 1mg-5mg of Mercury and is a major risk to the environment |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions (30 bulbs per year)Lower energy consumption decreases: CO2 emissions, sulfur oxide, and high-level nuclear waste. | 451 pounds/year | 4500 pounds/year | 1051 pounds/year |
| Important Facts | |||
| Sensitivity to low temperatures | None | Some | Yes – may not work under negative 10 degrees Fahrenheit or over 120 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Sensitive to humidity | No | Some | Yes |
| On/off CyclingSwitching a CFL on/off quickly, in a closet for instance, may decrease the lifespan of the bulb. | No Effect | Some | Yes – can reduce lifespan drastically |
| Turns on instantly | Yes | Yes | No – takes time to warm up |
| Durability | Very Durable – LEDs can handle jarring and bumping | Not Very Durable – glass or filament can break easily | Not Very Durable – glass can break easily |
| Heat Emitted | 3.4 btu’s/hour | 85 btu’s/hour | 30 btu’s/hour |
| Failure Modes | Not typical | Some | Yes – may catch on fire, smoke, or omit an odor |
| Light Output | |||
| Lumens | Watts | Watts | Watts |
| 450 | 4-5 | 40 | 9-13 |
| 800 | 6-8 | 60 | 13-15 |
| 1,100 | 9-13 | 75 | 18-25 |
| 1,600 | 16-20 | 100 | 23-30 |
| 2,600 | 25-28 | 150 | 30-55 |