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Pros and cons of LED light bulbs
By E. E. Kane
Posted in: Electronics, Utilities
Another New Light Bulb?
LED (light-emitting diodes) bulbs are not new, but now you can buy LED bulbs that replace the standard incandescent or CFL. Why should you consider a change to LED bulbs?
- Last up to 10 times longer than CFLs – some advertise 60,000 hours.
- Contain no mercury, unlike CFLs.
- Cool temps, unlike heat-generating incandescents and CFLs
- Less wattage consumption: for the equivalent of a 60 watt bulb, LEDS use an average of 5-7 watts compared to CFL's 13-15 watts, and incandescent's 60 watts.
- Instant light: compared to CFL's slow warm-up time.
- Durable: no damage from average bumps
Sounds great! Before you get too excited, consider these cons:
- Expense: the cost ranges $20-$120, depending on the company and product.
- Dim: LEDs produce less lumens per watt
- Directional: light emanates from the top half of the bulb, providing less ambient light from a single bulb
LED bulbs are best in track or canned lighting where directional light is desired. Look for better design and lower prices in coming years, at which time LED bulbs will be one of the most cost-effective ways to save energy and money in the home.
