| Efficiency Question | Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) | Compact Flourescents (CFLs) | Incandescent Light Bulbs |
| How long will the bulb last? (life span) Source | 50,000 hours | 9,000 hours | 1,000 hours |
| How often would you have to replace each bulb over 50,000 hours of use? Source | 1 | 5 | 50 |
| How much electricity does each use in 1 hour on the US grid? | 8 watts | 14 watts | 60 watts |
| How much electricity does each use in a 24 hour period? Source | 0.19 kilowatts | 0.34 kilowatts | 1.44 kilowatts |
| What is the average yearly electricity cost to operate one light bulb? Assuming 5hrs/day @$0.10/kWh Source | $1.46 | $2.56 | $10.95 |
| Are any of the types of bulbs sensitive to low temperatures? Source | No | Yes. Some CFLs are rated for use down to 10°F, though they will take longer to turn on in low temperatures. | No |
| Are any of the types of bulbs sensitive to humidity? Source | Yes. Excessive humidity can cause LEDs to corrode or short out. | No | No |
| Does turning the light on and off quickly affect the bulb’s lifespan? Source | No | Yes. CFLs should be kept on for at least 15 minutes at a time to protect the bulb’s longevity. | No |
| Does the bulb turn on immediately (or is there a delay)? Source | Yes | It depends. Some CFLs need to warm up to reach full brightness. This can take up to 30 seconds (for bare spiral CFLs) or up to 3 minutes (for globe or reflector shapes). | Yes |
| How durable is the bulb? Can it handle bumps and jostles? Source | LED bulbs contain no breakable filaments or glass. | CFLs will shatter if dropped. Special cleanup is required because they contain mercury. | Glass bulbs will shatter if dropped and the filaments can be damaged by excessive vibration. |
| How many BTUs per hour of heat (heat that is not light) are emitted? Source | 3 BTUs/hr | 30 BTUs/hr | 85 BTUs/hr |
| How many watts of electricity to produce the following number of lumens? | |||
| a. 450 lumens: | 4-5W | 9-13W | 40W |
| b. 800 lumens: | 6-8W | 13-15W | 60W |
| c. 1100 lumens: | 9-13W | 18-25W | 75W |
| d. 1600 lumens: | 16-20W | 23-30W | 100W |
| e. 2600 lumens: Source | 25-28W | 30-52W | 150W |
| Is it safe to throw old bulbs in the trash? Source | Yes | No. CFLs contain mercury and should be recycled. | Yes |
| What color temperatures (in Kelvin) are available? Source | warm/soft white (2200-3000K) cool/bright white (3500-4100K) or daylight (5000-6000K) | warm/soft white (2200-3000K) cool/bright white (3500-4100K) or daylight (5000-6000K) | warm/soft white (2200-3000K) |
