LED Bulbs vs CFL Bulbs

19 Mar 2020 Uncategorised

Although there are many types of light bulbs available, not all bulbs are created equal. The two main types of energy saving light bulbs are LED bulbs and CFL bulbs and knowing the differences between these different types of light bulbs can help to ensure that you get the right source of light for your needs. At Expert Electric, we know many ways to help our clients save money on electricity and that going with the right type of energy saving light bulb is a good way to start.

What are CFL Bulbs and LED Bulbs?

There are many different types of light bulbs and the most common one that people are familiar with is the incandescent light bulb. Incandescent lights put a current through a filament to generate heat and the light that is seen is a by-product of that heat. This heat generation makes incandescent lights incredibly inefficient and gives them a short lifespan, so it is often better to buy light bulbs that last longer and consume less electricity. The bulbs that offer the best solutions to the problems posed by incandescent light bulbs are CFL and LED bulbs. CFL (compact fluorescent lamp) bulbs are made of a series of looped tubes filled with mercury, just like other fluorescent lights. LED (light emitting diode) bulbs use a semiconductor to apply electricity to a negatively charged diode, which results in the release of photons. These photons combine to emit light. CFLs and LEDs have been around for a while, and both have gained more popularity in the past few years as alternative light sources to incandescent bulbs.

What Light Bulbs Should I Buy?

Some of the factors to examine when deciding whether to buy CFL or LED lights include:

Power Consumption

One of the biggest reasons to move away from incandescent bulbs is because of their poor electrical consumption. Both CFL and LED bulbs offer better alternatives when it comes to efficiency. CFL bulbs typically use 20%-33% of the electricity of an incandescent bulb and LED bulbs can use anywhere from 10%-20% of the electricity of an incandescent bulb.

Lifespan

While incandescent bulbs only last for 600-1,000 hours, CFL bulbs can last for up to 10,000 hours and LED bulbs can last for over 25,000 hours. The savings that can be seen on light bulb purchases alone make LED bulbs incredibly worthwhile.

Brightness and Light Quality

Because CFL and LED lights use less power, they can generate more light with the amount of electricity used. One of the downsides of CFL bulbs is that they are fluorescent, which means that they usually take a while to warm up and generate their full amount of light. LED bulbs begin emitting the maximum amount of light instantly. CFL bulbs also emit an artificial type of light that many people find harsh or grating, while LEDs are available in many colours and the spectrum of light that they give off is similar to that of the sun, so they feel more natural when used indoors.

If you would like to find out more about LED bulbs vs CFL bulbs, or if you would like to learn more about the electrical services we provide, please contact Expert Electric at 604-681-8338.