We know a few of you readers out there are sick of hearing about the virtues of CFLs. We've just replaced two more of our overhead bulbs with impressively warm coloured light CFLs from Home Depot; they're getting better and better with each update and now our home is 90% CFL lit. But not everyone is convinced yet for a variety of reasons.
The most likely next-technology that could succeed where CFLs have failed is LED lighting. Currently they're too cost prohibitive, but that will change in coming years with the energy crunch and improvement in manufacturing, perhaps making CFLs completely obsolete. Case in point are these LED replacements for fluorescent tubes from EverLED, which are 20% more efficient than already efficient (though soul draining) standard fluorescent tubes. The tubes can fit into almost any legacy fluorescent system, available in 5 standard shades of light warmth, from stark daylight to warm white. They're $150 each right now, but contain no mercury, lead, phosphor powders, aren't fragile like typical fluorescent tubes and are flicker free. Cubicle caged Dilberts like myself are holding our breaths waiting for prices to drop. [via Gizmag]
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Comments (2)
LEDs still do not have the efficiency of fluorescent lighting. Where LEDs win is in surface brightness. This means they work well in a crystal chandelier where CFLs would look dull. Compare a frosted bulb (CFL effect) with a small halogen (LED effect) - the tiny bright points can give a sparkling effect.
And LEDs have their place where a very low wattage bulb is desired.
I don´t agree with you Jute, I have buy some T8 LED lamps at www.mexled.com, and I think they bring inclusive more light than a common fluorescent T8 lamp, but the difference is the angle, I mean, a common fluorescent lamp will light 360º around the tube, the led ones just about 120º, so, when you only need to cover 120º or less angle lighting you can perfectly use a led t8 lamp with great results.
The real problem now is the cost of the lamp itself, but if you make numbers... about the 2nd year of using the led lamp you will start to save money, and don´t forget the environment, because the fluorescent ones have mercury, and has been proved that the mercury produces in some cases, headaches, and in some cases... cancer...
So... you need to open your options and select leds for they can be a good replacement light...