What are the differences between LED lights, incandescent lights and fluorescent lamps?

For decades, we have used incandescent lights to light up hallways, bedrooms and the other places. But incandescent lights have some problems. They are inefficient, wasting lots of energy. Recently, as more fluorescent lamps are used in working and public environments, they have been consistently proven to be economical. Unfortunately, fluorescent lamps contain toxic mercury that makes them difficult to be disposed of and harmful to the environments. In order to solve these problems, technicians designed a new type of lights, light-emitting diodes (LED). They have too many advantages so that many home owners and parents will consider LED lighting over fluorescent lamps and incandescent lights.

So what are the differences between LED lights, incandescent lights and fluorescent lamps? Let’s take a look to see the advantages and disadvantages about three of them.

Energy consumption

A 60-watt incandescent light bulb draws more than $300 worth of electricity per year and provides about 800 lumens of light; an equivalent fluorescent lamp uses less than 15 watts and costs only about $75 of electricity per year. LED lights are even better, drawing less than 8 watts of power, costing about $30 per year, and lasting 50,000 hours or longer.

Longer lifespan

While incandescent lights have an average lifespan of 800 to 1500 running hours, and fluorescent lamps have an average lifespan of 10000 running hours, LED lights can have an average of lifespan of 60000 running hours. This can provide substantial saving as a result of fewer replacements needing to be bought.

Product price

It is true that LED lights are more expensive initially than fluorescent lamps and incandescent lights. Incandescent lights sell in packages for only a few bucks, and fluorescent lamps will be a little more expensive than it, but LED lights sold for more than $70. This high cost barrier has become the difficulty of LED lights to replace all the other lights.

Color temperature

Incandescent lights put off typical yellowish lighting and there are lots of limitations in selecting other different lighting color. While some fluorescent tubes now use a different type of phosphorous powder to produce a warmer color, most fluorescents produce only cold blue lighting or white lighting. In order to be applied in different environment or lighting situation, LED lights can be built to light up in a variety of colors and they don’t need filters like other bulbs.

Incandescent bulb

Incandescent lights

  

Fluorescent lamps

LED lighting

Environmental impact

LED lights are environmentally friendly over fluorescent lamps and incandescent lights. According to a research, an average household using 30 incandescent bulbs for a year will create 4500 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. In comparison, if the same household used LED lights, it would contribute just 450 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. Fluorescent lamps must contain a small amount of mercury which is extremely hazardous to both humans and the environment. LED lights are completely safe and do not contain such poisonous materials, putting home owners and parents at ease.

Durable features

Incandescent lights and fluorescent lamps are made of delicate glass cases and thin filaments that may break due to contact or power surges. LED lights housing is made of aluminum alloy or the other metal and plastic material, they are far less fragile than both fluorescent and incandescent lights. This makes them less likely to being inoperable due to being dropped or bashed accidentally.

     

Heat dissipation

While fluorescent lamps emit less heat than incandescent lights, they still produce much more than LEDs. LED lights are vulnerable to high temperatures. If LED circuitry gets too hot, more current will pass through the LED chip, which will cause the LED light burn-out.

Startup performance

Standard incandescent lights operate when an electric current pass through the filament, which need some time to produces heat, and the heat produces light. Fluorescent lamps also need some time to flicker before staying on, and they don’t provide enough illumination until they have been running for a few minutes. LED lights light up as soon as an electrical current is passed through them and provide instant light and instant full illumination.