Afraid of Exploding CFLs? 3 LEDs that Outperform

And, “We heard sizzling like bacon, looked in the direction of the sound and watched the CFL burst into flame with flame licking up onto the ceiling of my house.”

These reports are questionable because, at least according to SNOPES, there should be no danger of CFLs bursting into flame, as they are “fireproof and are meant to fail safely at the end of their lives.” Indeed, when a CFL pops, or emits smoke at its death, the bulbs are actually functioning properly.

A Single CFL Recall

When a CFL expires, according to John Drengensberg, from Underwriters Laboratories (UL), “CFLs might produce a more dramatic pop, emit a distinct odor, and maybe even release some smoke.” However, this is unusual. Indeed, a search of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website shows only one recall, in 2010, of a Chinese CFL bulb manufacturer with a recalled CFL product.

And while no amount of logic will change what people want to believe in their hearts, the good news is that while the CFL is more efficient and lasts longer than incandescent bulbs, new LED (light emitting diode) bulbs ultimately come out as the reigning champ in terms of environmental performance.

CFLs vs. LEDs

CFLs produce light by driving electric current through a tube containing argon and mercury vapor. This generates invisible ultraviolet light that excites a fluorescent coating called phosphor on the inside of the tube, which then emits visible light. LEDs are small light sources that illuminate by the movement of electrons through a semiconductor material.

While CFLs and LEDs consistently outshine incandescent bulbs in the field of energy efficiency, LEDs time and time again prove to be the most efficient lighting source on the market. Both CFLs and LEDs have a longer average life span than incandescent bulbs; typically incandescent bulbs will last up to 1,200 hours, while CFLs last 8,000 hours and LEDs can last up to 50,000 hours. LEDs also use fewer watts per unit of light generated. LEDs only use 6-8 watts, whereas CFLs use 13-15 watts, and incandescent bulbs use 60 watts. Also, in the grand scheme of things, LEDs have lower annual operating costs only totaling up $32.85 per year based on $.01 per KWh as the average cost of electricity, compared to CFLs costing $76.65 per year and incandescent bulbs ringing up a whopping total of $328.59 per year. LEDs are also shown to avert 4,049 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per year from the atmosphere compared to incandescent bulbs and 600 pounds per year compared to CFLs. Additionally, CFLs are made with mercury, which can be toxic if the fragile bulb breaks.

Types of LEDs

It is clear that LEDs are the way to go for environmentally friendly lighting, but it is hard to know where to begin when you are new to purchasing LED bulbs. Some factors to consider when purchasing LED bulbs include desired wattage, warm versus cool light, standard base or pin base, the choice between standard and dimmable bulbs, and of course price point. EarthEasy provides a comprehensive list of LED bulb styles and their best uses.

You can pick from four basic shapes of LED bulb: floods, spotlights, candles, and A-line. Floodlights cast a wider directional light than spotlights and are ideal for recessed lighting, outdoor floodlights, landscape lighting, and motion sensors. Spotlights concentrate light in a small area to produce a bright spot of light, which is ideal for track lighting and overhead recessed lighting. Candle bulbs come in the shape of a candle flame and work best in multiples to provide ambient and accent lighting and work best in wall sconces and decorative fixtures. Lastly, A-Line bulbs disperse light in a wide angle and are ideal for fixtures used to spread light throughout the room; A-Line bulbs can be used for room area lighting, reading lamps, and hallways.

Once you have picked the shape of your bulb, you can choose the brightness and wattage of your bulb. Brightness is measured in lumens and energy-used is measured in wattage. The greater the lumens-to-watts ration, the more energy efficiency the bulb provides. You can reliably get 300-900 lumens for only 6-8 watts from an LED. It is also important to consider color temperature when picking an LED bulb. The rough rule of thumb is to use soft white lights indoors and bright white lights outdoors. The higher the Kelvin (K) rating, the brighter shade of white light produced. Also, base configuration is import for bulb purchasing; picking the wrong base will leave you with no light at all. Base choices include miniature candelabra, candelabra, intermediate, medium, and bi-pin LED.

3 Top Rated LEDs

Based on the Top Ten Reviews, the top three LED bulbs on the market are the Philips L Prize, the Definity A19, and the Sylvania 12-watt. The Philips L Prize uses just 9.7 watts of energy to create 940 lumens, a warmer and brighter light than a 60-watt incandescent bulb and also has the ability to dim. The bulb costs $31.99 and can be found at many distributors including Adventure Lighting and American Bulb Corp.

The Definity A19 comes at a price point of betwee $32.99-$34.99. This bulb boasts one of the longest run times of all LED bulbs. If you use this bulb for 3 hours per day, everyday of the year, the bulb will burn for 45 years. Unfortunately, the Definity uses more watts per lumen them many other LED bulbs. The Definity A19 can be purchased online at EarthLED or Home Depot.

And finally, the Sylvania 12-watt ranks in at third place. At $29.97, the Sylvania shines at 810 lumens and can withstand temperatures between -4 and 104 degree Fahrenheit. The Sylvania LED bulb is larger than standard incandescent lights, so it can cause trouble with fixtures that are particularly restrictive. You can buy a Sylvania 12 Watt at Home Depot or at any of the Osram Sylvania authorized distributors.

Keep in mind when considering LEDs that the prices of these bulbs change frequently, almost always dropping in price. However, when you are ready to make an initial investment in LED bulbs, there are a number of options on the market ready to serve your needs. Over time, LEDs will save you money on your electricity bill and will save the environment from harmful carbon dioxide emissions.