Difference between incandescent, CFL, and LED lights

Let’s hear Farrey’s Lighting & Bath experts!

Incandescent
This is the traditional lighting that most people are used to. However, it is inefficient and more costly to use than other types of light. It is made up of thin filaments that are heated as an electric current passes through them. The filaments are inside a glass bulb that is filled with inert gas. As they heat, they produce a glow that creates the light. The lifespan is usually only 1,500 hours.

CFL
CFL stands for compact fluorescent light or lamp. This is really a modified form of the fluorescent lamp. It is made up of a glass-filled tube, sometimes referred to as a bulb, and magnetic or electronic ballast. The CFL uses a very small amount of mercury, which can be very hazardous and present disposal problems. They also tend to be more sensitive to extreme temperatures and humidity. The lifespan is 10,000 hours.

LED
LED stands for light emitting diodes. These lights started out as indicator lights for electronic devices. They are actually quite small. It takes a grouping of them to create a bulb. Because they are so energy efficient, they are becoming more popular. The lights tend to be slightly less bright than other types of lights. However, the efficiency and durability is the trade-off.

Costs & Energy
On the surface, the incandescent light bulb wins the competition with the CFL and the LED. The incandescent costs a lot less that a CFL or a LED. However, an electrician will point out that there is more to this than the cost of the bulb. Energy consumption and the life of the bulb must be considered.
The incandescent uses more energy than either the CFL or LED. Also, keep in mind the lifespan. You would be buying incandescent light bulbs more frequently than with CFLs or LEDs.

As a result, CFLs and LEDs are popular recommendations for electricians. Though they have a greater upfront cost, the energy efficiency and lifespan make them more economical.

Visit Farrey's Lighting & Bath for more information. www.farreys.com

Calling All Old Fluorescent Bulbs....

The light bulb counter at Farrey's is now offering a recycling program for your old CFL's. It is completely free, all you have to do is come by with your old CFL's and Farrey's will take care of the rest.

Why? Because if your going to go green.. you got to do it right.

You should not throw old CFL's in the garbage. This can release mercury into the environment. The amount of mercury in a CFL is low, however it is important to properly recycle old bulbs so that the mercury can be recovered rather than let out in the atmosphere.

Why use CFL's?

Compact Fluorescent Lamps effectively reduce energy consumption and prevent greenhouse gas emissions. They help to reduce our global footprint, and help to curb global climate change.

CFL's use about 75% less energy than traditional bulbs and the light quality has significantly improved since the CFL's were introduced. CFL's also emit significantly less amounts of heat than traditional bulbs.

If every home in the U.S. replaced just one traditional light bulb with a CFL, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, save over 600 million in energy costs, and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions to the amount equivalent to more than 700,000 cars.