This is the question you face when you need to purchase new lighting. I will show you a comparison for a 60 Watt A19 – a standard light bulb for residential usage.
The incandescent bulb costs roughly $1.50 will last at 8 hours a day for 3-4 months. Electricity cost per year is about $16.00. This bulb is very hot to touch as most of the energy that is required to operate this bulb (60 watts an hour) is converted to heat.
A CFL equivalent costs from $2.50 - $4.00, and at 8 hours a day will last 2-4 years. Electricity cost per year is about $3.25. Drawbacks for the CFL is that it contains mercury, has a slow warm up- is not an instant on, most are not dimmable and it is not intended to be turned on and off frequently as this will shorten it’s life.
The LED replacement costs about $7.00, are rated for 10-20 years of use at 8 hours a day. Electricity cost is about $2.75 a year. The LED bulb cost more upfront and not all are dimmable and excessive heat will shorten the life of the LED. LEDs like cooler temperatures so consider this when you are choosing to go with the LED.
There is no perfect light bulb, you need to consider how you will be using the bulb (do you want it to dim, is it in a high heat area, how long it will be on at a given time) and what your budget is for purchasing and for annual utility costs.
This was part of a presentation I gave to #springChicks, #ChicksConnect, #Mastermind, #LED, #CFL, #EnergySavings in May 2015.