Post by caveman on Nov 27, 2011 6:56:31 GMT -5
I was digging about for info on this matter and thought I would share the results with you all. I consider the incandesent bulb to be history but before I say goodbye to it let me just remind you how inefficient they are. More than 98% of the input energy is lost in heat. This is stone-age efficiency and every last one of them should be hunted out of your home.
The way lighting efficiency is calculated is by measuring how many Lumens of light come out for each Watt of electricity consumed. The incandesent bulb manages 15 Lumens/Watt, a fluoresent does much better at 50 - 100 Lumens/Watt. The efficiency of LED lights is as good or better than fluoresent however it is important to consider the intended application when choosing between them. A fluoresent light produces light in all directions whereas an LED light tends to be much more directional. So, for a kitchen or a workshop where general lighting is needed, a CFL or tube fluoresent would be the best choice. For downlighters and angle-poise lamps an LED would be better.
A few last points.
LED lights cost more than CFLs but will last about 6 times longer.
CFLs will not last long if they are switched on and off a lot so they are not a good choice for closets and the like. They also have toxic levels of mecury in them so dispose of them properly.
The way lighting efficiency is calculated is by measuring how many Lumens of light come out for each Watt of electricity consumed. The incandesent bulb manages 15 Lumens/Watt, a fluoresent does much better at 50 - 100 Lumens/Watt. The efficiency of LED lights is as good or better than fluoresent however it is important to consider the intended application when choosing between them. A fluoresent light produces light in all directions whereas an LED light tends to be much more directional. So, for a kitchen or a workshop where general lighting is needed, a CFL or tube fluoresent would be the best choice. For downlighters and angle-poise lamps an LED would be better.
A few last points.
LED lights cost more than CFLs but will last about 6 times longer.
CFLs will not last long if they are switched on and off a lot so they are not a good choice for closets and the like. They also have toxic levels of mecury in them so dispose of them properly.
