For decades the choice came down to a traditional bulb or a fluorescent. Even with the relatively recent introduction of CFLs ( Compact Fluorescent Lights ), incandescents always won. CFLs are much more dear and still don’t give off the same range of natural-looking light that ‘ordinary’ bulbs come much more close to. Enter LEDs.

The first time we saw light emitting diodes was in the early digital watches. But for nearly that same time period, they gave off too little light and of limited color to be helpful for home illumination. Nobody could read or cook by a dim red light.

But LED bulbs have come a long way in recent years. They produce bright, natural-spectrum white light that will illuminate a medium-sized area with one bulb.

And, not the least consideration, they last practically forever. I’ve got some LED cabinet lighting certain to burn for over 50,000 hours! Some are rated at 60,000 hours.

Add up all of the money spent on incandescents – which last from 750-1,000 hours – and the total savings is significant. If a 75-watt bulb costs $1 and an LED bulb costs $50, most will opt for the incandescent. But if the LED lasts 50 times longer, you break even.

aside from the initial outlay costs, the difference in electricity use is equally dramatic, but in the LED’s favor. Keep in mind the standard label on an incandescent is how much power it consumes, not how much light it puts out. A 60-watt incandescent bulb puts out somewhat less than nine hundred lumens.

Yet, it consumes only two watts of electricity. Multiply that electricity savings by 4 hours per day over 10 years and the cost benefits will easily outweigh the cost of the LED bulb. At 10 cents/kWh, the total savings over 10 years is about $350. So, the bulb will pay for itself in about 18 months.

At the same time, a LED bulb runs cooler so there’s no danger of burning as so regularly happens with incandescents. A 100-watt bulb placed in a socket designed for a 40-watt will burn the covering plastic shade in a few couple of| matter of} hours or less. Also, how many times have you singed your skin when touching an ordinary bulb? That doesn’t occur with LED bulbs.

While incandescents do a half decent job or providing a reasonable emulation of natural sunlight, LEDs are way better. Incandescents are somewhat yellow, LEDs are white and much nearer to the color temperature of natural daylight. And, unlike fluorescent bulbs, LEDs contain no mercury, which is unsafe if the bulb breaks.

Still LEDs have some flaws, apart from the higher cost. They don’t currently put out as much light per bulb as a single incandescent so it may require more than one for particular lighting applications.

Since LEDs are way more directional they don’t do well as exterior lighting. They will do better in reading lamps, recessed ceiling lamps and other such applications than as general ambient light. But where an enduring and/or always-on bulb is required they can be awfully inexpensive.

Get more on LED bulbs by visiting LED Bulbs Are The Modern Option