How to Compare Brands of Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs or CFLs save energy and money when used to replace traditional incandescent bulbs. Overall, CFLs use 66- to 75-percent less energy than comparable incandescent bulbs. However, there is variance among the different brands in their efficiencies, average life spans and the quality of their light. Knowing the specifications to look for and compare when shopping for compact fluorescent bulbs will help you choose the bulbs that best meet your needs. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Choose an incandescent bulb-wattage to use as a benchmark for comparison. CFLs are categorized by the wattage of incandescent bulbs they are meant to replace, among other criteria. Choose a bulb wattage and color, such as warm or cool white, that you have used regularly in the past. This gives you a general idea of the amount and color of light to expect from the CFLs you are comparing.
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Compare the actual wattage of the CFLs meant to replace the benchmark incandescent. A CFL meant to replace a 40-watt incandescent can range from 9- to 12-watts. The bulb's wattage, sometimes referred to as nominal wattage, is the amount of energy the bulb will use at any given moment while illuminated.
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Compare the lumens produced by each of the CFLs. A lumen is a standard international unit of measurement for light. Each bulb has two lumen ratings: initial lumens, which is the amount of lumens the bulb produces when it is new, and mean lumens, the average amount of lumens produced by the bulb over a designated period of time -- usually about half its life expectancy. Divide lumens by watts to compare the electrical efficiency of CFLs with different wattages. Some bulbs have a rating of lumens per watt listed. A bulb with lower lumens per watt is more efficient.
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Compare the average rated life hours of the bulbs. This rating is rendered in hours. The average rated life assumes certain usage criteria such as the average duration of illumination and the number of times the bulb is illuminated during its life.
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Compare color temperature. Color temperature is measured in kelvins, and ratings for CFLs will range from 2700K to 6500K. The lower the color temperature the warmer the light appears, the higher the temperature, the cooler it looks. A color rating of 5000K is considered to be the color of direct sunlight at noon. This choice is a matter of taste.
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Compare the color rendering index or CRI rating. The Energy Star CFL guide describes the CRI as the "ability of the CFL to show colors compared to an incandescent." Incandescent bulbs are rated at 100; most CFLs are rated at 80 or above. A high CRI rating is most desirable.
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Look for the Energy Star rating symbol, a light blue box with the word "energy" and a five-pointed star in white, on the package or literature. Energy Star is the energy-efficiency rating program of the U.S. Federal Government. A CFL must meet certain minimum criteria regarding the above ratings to earn the energy star rating. A CFL with the energy star rating is preferable to one without.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Cfl fluorescent lightbulb on dark background image by Silverpics from Fotolia.com
