The traditional light bulb, known as the incandescent, is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. And we spend much of our time extolling the virtues of the LED as its rightful successor. But what about other options? Are there any competitors to the LED and how do they compare? We might consider halogen or CFL as alternatives but how do you decide?
LED = Light emitting diode
CFL = compact fluorescent light
Halogen = filament in halogen glass
The LED is known for its robust, energy efficient and versatile offering. In terms of its functionality we've had to get out head around the fact that we don't work in watts any more but lumen instead. Lumen is a measure of the amount of light emitted from a bulb and it takes a whole lot more energy for a traditional bulb to create the same amount of light as an LED. That was one of the reasons that the shift away from incandescent light was so easy to make.
Comparing other types of bulb to the LED, they mostly cost less to buy but consume more energy (so are more expensive to run). They also have a shorter life-span.
Halogens
Halogens fare slightly better but still don't compare to the efficiency and lifespan of an LED. Their construct means they are able to burn hotter than an incandescent but still use less energy than an incandescent - around 20-30% less compared to 90% of the LED. Even the CFL uses 60-80% less energy than the incandescent so halogen isn't really a viable alternative in terms of energy saving.
Why would you consider a halogen bulb?
• They offer the closest style of bulb and light coverage as a traditional incandescent
• They're ideal for situations where the light is used infrequently and needs to be on instantly (no warm up time required)
• They can be dimmed if necessary
• Halogens offer the highest level of true colour (CRI) if that is important to you or your project - an art gallery or food situation as examples.
If you miss your incandescent bulbs, halogen is a good alternative. Overall though they don't offer great value for money, life-span or energy savings. The LED beats it hands down unless you are more interested in light quality but then again, the LED performs well here too.
CFLs
In short, a CFL is a bulb size version of the old-fashioned, harsh fluorescent lighting so reminiscent of terribly lit kitchens and offices over the years. However they have come of age and, whilst still not as energy efficient as the LED, they have their place and offer quite a few benefits.
Why would you consider a CFL bulb?
• CFLs are much kinder on the eye than old school fluorescent and offer a better colour palette
• They come in lots of shapes and sizes so offer huge flexibility
• They use way less energy than traditional bulbs - up to 80% in fact
• They work best in an environment where they are left on for longer periods of time, they don't like being turned on and off regularly
• They are OK for outdoor use but must be protected from the elements
The main disadvantage is the toxic mercury content that is part of its manufacture - bad news if you have a broken light bulb or it hasn't been disposed of correctly. Other negatives include the facts that they aren't suitable for focused lighting and they aren't always successful if they need to be dimmed - you need to choose the right fitting and bulb carefully to avoid a quick bulb burnout.
A bulb for every use
In summary we'd say that every fitting has a bulb that is perfect for its use, situation and requirements. You can introduce different bulb types for different functions if you are prepared to do the work to prepare and maintain a variety of fittings and bulb supplies. It all depends on how important some of the finer detail is to your business.
If you want to make an overall good and reliable choice, we'd still opt for the LED every time.
Incandescent Phase-out
As many of you already know, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) will result in some incandescent bulbs no longer being manufactured. The end result of this Act is that many standard A-style incandescent bulbs will no longer be available in certain wattages. While some people may be stockpiling incandescent bulbs, know that there are several comparable options for your home or business.
When it’s time to replace your incandescent bulbs, you have a few different options:
There are a number of different factors to take into consideration when choosing a replacement for your incandescents. Many of our customers are moving to compact fluorescent and LED bulbs, and there are a number of great reasons to do so. However, if you are more concerned with matching the look and feel of your incandescent bulbs, the halogen incandescent is another option that you might not be aware of.
Halogen incandescents, such as the Philips EcoVantage line, are designed to closely mimic the light quality and output of a traditional incandescent bulb while meeting the new efficiency standards put into place by EISA.
These bulbs are 28% more efficient than your traditional incandescents, come in a range of wattages, finishes and are fully dimmable. To read more, check out our recent blog post on the benefits of the Philips Ecovantage line of Halogen Incandescents.
Here’s a video we produced showing a brief overview of the Ecovantage products that shows a comparison with a traditional incandescent that you may find informative.
Compact Fluorescent (CFL) bulbs have been around for many years, but if it has been a while since your last purchase, you may be pleasantly surprised with their quality. These bulbs use roughly ¼ as much energy as incandescent bulbs, resulting in huge cost savings for you. The table below outlined potential savings when replacing your incandescents with a comparable CFL.
Incandescent CFL Lumens Cost Savings ($0.10/kWh) Cost Savings ($0.20/kWh) Product Options 40W 9-12W > 490 $39-$44 $78-$88 Shop Now 60W 13-18W > 900 $62-$68 $124-$136 Shop Now 75W 19-22W >1,200 $76-$83 $152-$166 Shop Now 100W 23-26W >1,750 $107-$112 $214-$224 Shop NowCFls have a number of benefits, but they are not for every application. It is important to make sure you are picking the right CFL for the right application. For more information on choosing the right CFL bulb, take a look at How to Pick a CFL in our Learning section.
LEDs are best known for their extremely long life and energy efficiency. LEDs don’t “burn out” like incandescent bulbs do. Instead, they get progressively dimmer over time. Its useful life is based on the number of operating hours until the LED is emitting 70% of its initial light output. This can be helpful in critical lighting areas. Keep in mind that quality LED products will last 10-15 years. They also tend to use less than one-sixth as much energy as their incandescent or halogen counterparts, and 2-3 times less than most CFLs.
Similar to CFLs, the LED lamp is hugely efficient, but is not right for every application. Usually, the main concern is the upfront cost of an LED. However, the prices are dropping often and LEDs are becoming a much more affordable option for both business and private residence. Other concerns include proper fit in your fixture, compatibility with dimmers, brightness and appearance. Also, it’s very important to use most LED bulbs in open, well-ventilated fixtures. The bulbs do not generate much heat, but if the electronic components inside of the bulb get too warm, it can cause early failure of the bulb.
For more information on choosing the right LED, take a look at LED: Is It Right For You? in our Learning section.
If you still have questions about our finding the right replacement for your incandescent bulbs, don’t hesitate to get in contact with one of our Bulbs.com Lighting Specialists by calling (888) 455-2800 or emailing customer service.