Why Should We Use LED bulbs? CFLs & LEDs A Comparison

Why Should We Use LED bulbs?  CFLs & LEDs A Comparison

Currently CFLs and LEDs are the most energy-efficient lights in the market. They’re the two best options when it comes to brightness and efficiency, especially in comparison to traditional incandescent bulbs. Previously LEDs were seen as unaffordable general or home lighting options, but now with today’s current market prices LEDs have a competitive price.  First of all, let’s see how each one works:

CFL Lights

CFLs are actually much more energy-efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs. They use approximately 70% less energy and also last longer too. With their low cost and high light quality they were seen as the new way to illuminate. They work by an electric current being driven through a tube that contains argon and mercury vapor, producing UV light that quickly translates into visible light.  Their negative features are that they take a few moments to warm up and reach full brightness and their startup is slow. Their other disadvantage is that they contain mercury, a toxic metal bad for the environment, and also our health. When CFLs are disposed of they need to be recycled in a specific location as the mercury within them needs to be recycled properly.

LED Bulbs

LED although have been used within small electronics for a long time such as alarm clocks or TV box, the chips at this time were only directional and not durable. LED lights work by bringing currents together with positive and negative charges to create energy released in the form of light. This makes their startup immediate, in comparison to CFL and dimmable as the energy can be reduced or increased. LED price in comparison to CFL is higher but they act more like a long term investment. They will outlast CFL’s and have an average lifespan now of around 25,000 hours. Most LED manufacturers now also offer a 5-year warranty so there is no need to worry for the first 5 years of using them. Showing that manufacturers of LED lights trust their products. So we can too.

LED vs CFL Brightness

As far as brightness is concerned both CFL and LEDs can produce the same amount of lumens like any light, the difference comes when comparing the amount of energy, they consume in doing it. LEDs are more energy-efficient in comparison to CFLs, meaning they consume much less power while producing the same number of lumens. The difference comes in wasted heat energy. CFLs produce a lot of wasted heat energy, whereas LEDs produce little to no heat. As CFLs produce 80% of the energy a heat.  The way LEDs produce less wasted heat energy and have higher efficiency allows them to provide a heap of other benefits.

Longer Lifespan LEDs or CFLs?

The average life of a modern LED bulb or light is around 25,000 hours and the average lifespan of a CFL is around 8,000 hours. 

CFL vs LED over 25,000-hour lifespan (Based on 3 hours a day use)


Although these are all taken from averages, it gives you an idea of the long term comparison between CFL and LED bulbs. The LEDs initial cost is higher but over the long term of 23 years you have much zero maintenance or replacement costs with a reduced cost of electricity. In comparison to CFLs over this time period that will need to be replaced 3 times and use more electricity for the same number of lumens.

 

Conclusion LEDs vs CFLs

Overall, LEDs are more energy-efficient, require much less maintenance, and are more cost-effective. Despite the initial cost they save a lot of money overall and when used in a large scale they will make you a lot of savings. If you’re looking to light your whole home using them or need LED industrial lighting, their lower running temperature and energy costs will make a big difference to your costs.

 

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