CFL vs LED

Prices vary slightly, but you can expect to pay about $4 for a spiral CFL (which will fit most traditional fixtures).

Until recently most LED bulbs that would fit traditional Edison fixtures would have cost you around $100, but now most run in the $30-$40 range.

A more than $20 savings on initial purchase is no small thing, especially with budgets tight all over America. Also, the light from CFLs now comes in a range of shades that mimic the glow from incandescent bulbs (including bug-repelling yellow!). Three to four times the energy savings of a traditional bulb, a CFL will run 75% cooler in addition--meaning less risk of fire. The recent popularity of CFLs (1 in 4 light bulbs now sold is of this variety) has translated into more availability and you can now purchase one almost anywhere.

Quite simply, this is the most energy-efficient light bulb you can buy. It'll last you 10 times as long as a CFL counterpart, while creating less heat during use (after five minutes of use, an LED light bulb will be cool to the touch, unlike both CFLs and incandescent bulbs), which could equal lower cooling costs for your home. Because there are no hazardous materials in LEDs (no mercury here!), they're easily recyclable and less of a health risk if they break--and they turn on instantly.

Despite a high initial cost, LEDs (depending on your specific bulb and use) can actually be cheaper than CFLs over their lifetime--a very long lifetime--thanks to the minimal energy use.

Easily the biggest issue people have with CFLs is the mercury contained inside the bulbs (about five milligrams); it's a very small amount but as governments ban incandescent bulbs and Americans look for ways to save on energy costs, a boom in CFL purchases could result in an influx of mercury into the waste stream. Loose regulation on the amount of mercury allowed in a bulb has also been an issue, with some approved bulbs in the U.S. not being able to be sold in Europe because of their high mercury contents.

Another complaint, although a much milder one, has been the short warm-up period that CFLs require to reach their full brightness (not actually a bad thing when you wander into your bathroom, bleary-eyed, to get ready for work).

Even though prices are dropping rapidly, it would still be an expensive endeavor to outfit your home in LEDs (with an average of 45 light bulbs per U.S. household, you're looking at a cost around $1,800). While the energy savings and long lifetime might start to equal out these costs, it's still tough to come up with a load of lighting money like that. There have also been complaints about the quality of light from current LED bulbs, mostly due to the fact that the light tends to shine in one stream instead of being spread throughout a room; so an LED bulb is very bright directly underneath but dims considerably when you step to one side. As relatively new technology, you'll be hard pressed to find these in every local hardware store should you need a quick replacement.

CFLs, as you've seen here, aren't perfect. They're not the wonder solution that some have made them out to be, but they're still an improvement over incandescents when used properly. What do we mean by used properly? Try not to break it and make sure to recycle it. As CFLs gain in popularity, more CFL recycling programs are being launched (some at stores, others government-run, some even independent), so there's no excuse for not bringing in your bulbs. Once you do, they'll be able to use just about every part--including the mercury--again.

Don't forget that the incandescent bulbs you're probably currently using are known to release mercury into our environment, too; if your power comes from coal plants (where the coal emits mercury as it burns), you could be creating more mercury now than if you switch to CFLs.

We won't be suprised if in a couple years LEDs are the more popular choice, but don't let that stop you from using CFLs for now. They won't break the bank, will save you money on your electrical bill, and can help reduce carbon emissions.

If you can afford LEDs, go for it, but know that in the very near future they'll probably be selling for much less (possibly with improved technology). A recent LED bulb developed at Cambridge University even had an estimated selling point of a little under $3! Keep yourself up to date on LED advancements and price changes and consider sticking with CFLs until LEDs reach the price range that's right for you (as long as you remember to recycle those CFLs after use). Of course, if you're really eager, you can get started with LEDs today and look forward to basically never changing a light bulb again--but it'll cost you.