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Selecting the right light bulb- CFL, LED or Halogen

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When it comes to lighting we are use to the warm soft yellow glow of the traditional incandescent light bulb.  But starting this year production of these traditional bulbs will stop and homeowners will need to find alternative bulbs to light their spaces.

3 of these options include CFL's (compact florescent), LED and halogen bulbs.  As with most things, there is not a perfect product that will meet all of your needs.  Here are some things to look for when making selection for your new bulbs.

1. Know the Kelvin temperature of the bulb. Most bulbs give off a blue light, and have a high K temperature.  To get a soft yellow light look for bulbs rated at 2700K.  The higher the K temp number the cooler the light.  This may be labeled under CCT (correlated color temperature)

A good chart to see this can be found here....Light Bulb Direct Color Temp 

2. Look at the Lumens-  Lumens are the measure of the amount of visible light.  This is different from the wattage, which is the amount of energy needed.  A 100 watt bulb produces 1600 lm (lumens). 

Here is an excellent chart to show watt to lumens...Lumen watt conversion chart


There's no perfect replacement bulb, but here are some things to consider about each of these bulbs.

CFL's
  • Use 75% less energy than traditional bulbs
  • Contain mercury and need proper disposal
  • Many still have a "warm up" time.  Hard to know which ones are instant on and which ones warm up.
  • Relatively low cost







 LED
  • Use 8o% less energy than traditional bulbs and last 25x longer.
  • Put out less energy and remain cool to the touch
  • Instant on and do not dim over lifespan
  • Do not emit UV light (will not fade fabric or yellow plastic)
  • LED light does not "scatter" well, best used in directional applications
  • Buy Energy star rated bulbs- others may be inferior



Halogen
  • Use 25% less energy than traditional bulbs
  • Burn hotter and may dim over time
  • Produce a whiter light (may look blue)

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