Choosing the Right Light Bulb

Apr 18, 2014

If you’ve gone shopping for light bulbs recently, you may have noticed that many of the brands you used to buy are no longer available. Starting in 2014, 40- and 60-watt incandescent bulbs are no longer being manufactured in the United States because they don’t meet minimum energy efficiency requirements.

Consumers have three primary choices for replacing these bulbs:

Halogen incandescent bulbs, which provide a similar quality of light to standard incandescent bulbs, are an option for consumers who love the look of incandescent light. They are somewhat more expensive than standard incandescent bulbs but not as expensive as CFLs or LEDs.
Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), which are long-lasting and energy-efficient but often produce a harsh, brighter light than consumers may be used to.
Light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs, which are the longest-lasting and most energy-efficient bulb on the market. They are also considerably more expensive than other varieties.

Wattage versus Brightness

The “wattage” of a bulb tells you how much electricity is required to operate it. The “lumens” measure the amount of light it provides. The goal of new LED and compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs is to provide the same amount of light (lumens) by using less electricity (wattage).

The good news is, if you have lamps or light sockets that require a 60-watt bulb or smaller, you may be able to get more light by using one of the more energy-efficient bulbs. So long as the bulb you choose does not require more than 60 watts of electricity, it can deliver as many lumens as you desire.

Replicating the Appearance of a 60-Watt Incandescent Bulb

	Standard Incandescent	Halogen Incandescent	Compact Fluorescent Bulb (CFLs)	LED
Cost	About .40/bulb	$1.49/bulb	$2.99/bulb	$4.97/bulb
Light Quality	Yellow/warm	Yellow/warm	Cool/blue/ “daylight”	Yellow/ “soft” or “warm” white
Lifespan	10 months	10 months	9.1 years	22.8 years
Energy used	60 watts	43 watts	14 watts	9.5 watts
Drawbacks	Not energy-efficient; manufacturers are discontinuing.	Less energy-efficient than CFLs or LED	Will burn out more quickly if switched on and off frequently; will not attain full brightness in colder temperatures	Most expensive choice

Source: National Public Radio

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