After phasing out the incandescent bulbs, you will decide which energy saving bulb to buy the next time one of your lights goes out. While all energy saving bulbs use less electricity than older incandescents, there are significant differences between the various options.

CFL

Compact fluorescent lights are a smaller version of the fluorescent light strips that are often associated with commercial or public buildings. These small fluorescent tubes provide high-quality light similar to that produced by incandescent bulbs. A CFL bulb typically uses about a quarter of the energy that an equivalent incandescent bulb demands, and it also has a much longer life span, so it could help you save money for a relatively small upfront cost.

However, CFL bulbs also have their downsides. They contain mercury, a toxic metal. While metal does not pose any health risk as long as it is safely enclosed within the bulb, its presence means that you cannot dispose of a CFL bulb with your other household garbage; instead, you should take it to a local recycling center, where it can be handled safely. You also need to be very careful when cleaning a broken CFL light bulb.

HE DIRECTED

Bulbs that contain light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, have many advantages over their CFL counterparts. LEDs use small amounts of power – the LED equivalent to a 60W incandescent light uses only 6-8W. As a result, you could save a lot on your electricity bill. LEDs also have a long lifespan – around 50,000 hours, compared to 1,200 for an incandescent bulb or 8,000 hours for a CFL bulb. They also do not contain toxic mercury.

The main disadvantage of LED bulbs is cost. Although LED bulbs can save you money in the long run, you can expect to pay a lot more to buy the bulbs. LEDs are also directional, which means they emit all of their light in one direction, making them less than ideal for use in lamps. However, some specialized LED bulbs contain diffusers to address this problem.

Conclution

While LED bulbs have a high upfront cost, they can help you save money over the years. The decision to install CFL or LED bulbs in your home depends on your current budget and long-term plans. If you plan to move house in the next two years, then it may not be worth investing in LED bulbs. However, if you take a long-term approach to saving energy and want to avoid bulbs that use harmful mercury, LED bulbs are the best option.