Few days ago, I read an article that talked about the ill effects of incandescent light bulbs. So, I decided to replace them with CFLs only to discover that they do not work as efficiently as expected. To add to this I also discovered that it contains toxic substances like mercury and if broken should be handled with care. Totally confused!! Someone recommended that I replace CFLs with LEDs. Do you think it’s a better option?
You should deffinetly change to LED if you can afford to make that change, it is a tad expensive. The light bulbs now come in array of more natural colors and will probbaly last you most of your life, much much much more energy efficient that CFLs as wel!
Heres what I know from experience. CFLs are better than incandescent. Yes cfls have some small amount of mercury. The amount is so small you do not need to worry about it unless you like snorting up broken glass in the floor. Theres probably more mercury in your water you are drinking or the dirt in your yard you grow your vegetables. CFLs produce more light and less heat. Incandescents create more heat than light. LEDS can get hot but the technology has improved where they dont. LEDs use less electricity than the most efficient cfl. HERE IS THE PROBLEM> incandescents and cfls throw light out in all direction. LED light bulbs are very directional. The light they produce is nice and bright for the amount of watts used but it seems like its dimmer light because the light does not radiate out like it does with the cfl. A cfl bulb will fill a dark room with light a led will brighten a spot within the dark room. Otherwise they are very good. and much more energy effecient
If the electricity that you use is generated using COAL, the power plant would pump more mercury into the environment while powering an incandescent bulb than that which is contained in a cfl LEDs seem like a better option for many uses.
