CFL vs. LED vs. Incandescent Light Bulbs

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.

Light emitting diode bulbs (LEDs) seem to be even more attractive, as they use the same amount of energy as CFLs, but last at least 15 times longer than incandescent bulbs. They may eventually replace CFLs as their price goes down.

Replacing incandescent light bulbs with CFLs or LEDs
A CFL or LED bulb will produce the same brightness, or light output, as an incandescent bulb, while requiring less power. Use the Energy Savings Calculator provided below to determine the power and energy savings obtained for each light. The energy savings depend on how long the light is turned on during the day.

Energy Savings Calculator
Old Bulb Power:
Watts
New Bulb Power:
Watts
Daily Bulb Usage:
hours/day
Electricity Rate:
$/kWh
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Power Savings:
Watts
Yearly Energy Savings:
kWh/year
$/year
(Numbers are shown as an example. Enter your own data.)

Example

You replace a 60-watt incandescent light bulb with a 13-watt CFL. You are saving 47 watts of power.

Your lamp is turned on 4 hours per day. Your energy savings are 68.4 kWh per year.

At a rate of $0.12233 per kWh (check your electricity bill to find out your own rate), changing a light bulb is saving you $8.37 per year.

Multiply that by the number of lamps you use in the house, and by the number of houses in your city, etc., and these small savings will quickly add up.

Other tips for saving energy
Remember to turn off the light when leaving the kitchen, and make good use of daylight.

Buying guide
CFL and LED packages indicate the wattage of incandescent bulbs with an equivalent light output. For example a 13-watt CFL package will indicate that it is as bright as a 60-watt incandescent bulb. CFLs and LEDs come in various sizes, shapes and color temperatures.