Looking for the best light bulb for your home or office? Here’s a quick look at how LED, CFL, and incandescent bulbs stack up.
| Feature | LED | CFL | Incandescent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Lifespan | 30,000 – 50,000 hrs | 7,000 – 15,000 hrs | 750 – 1,000 hrs |
| Watts for 800 lumens | ~9 W | ~14 W | ~60 W |
| Annual Energy Cost* | ~$1.93 | ~$2.70 | ~$11.61 |
| Upfront Cost | $2 – $8 | $1 – $3 | <$1 (rare) |
| Mercury Content | No | Yes (trace) | No |
Swapping even a few bulbs at home for energy-efficient ones can cut your electric bill and help the planet.
Too often, we only think about electricity in terms of what we pay each month. While managing your budget is important, energy efficiency also affects our environment. What seems like a small gesture—replacing incandescent bulbs with efficient ones—can have a powerful cumulative impact. The European Union has long promoted energy-efficient bulbs, and here in the U.S., as we start adopting the same approach, it will help reduce strain on the grid, lower your energy costs, and lower carbon emissions.
Before grabbing the first pack of bulbs off the shelf, keep these points in mind:
Lifespan plays a big role in how much value you actually get from your lighting due to replacement costs and energy use over time. Here’s how the main types of energy-efficient bulbs compare:
Overall, LED bulbs last the longest, waste the least energy, and require the fewest replacements.
LED, halogen, and compact fluorescent light (CFL) are the primary energy-saving light bulb options. LED bulbs lead the way with the lowest wattage of the three. An LED bulb uses only 9 watts to match the light output of a 60-watt incandescent bulb. In comparison, a halogen bulb would use 42 watts, while a CFL bulb would use 15 watts.
You get a more immediate impact from LED and halogen bulbs in terms of brightness. It takes CFL bulbs longer to hit their full brightness. If you have a dimmer switch, ensure that any energy-efficient bulb purchased is compatible with your device.
BC Hydro notes that halogen energy costs can amount to $4.32 per bulb. That drops to $1.34 for a CFL bulb and around $1 for an LED bulb. You should look at your lighting needs and compare how much you can save with each option.
LEDs (light-emitting diodes) create light when electricity moves through a semiconductor. That’s why LEDs stay cool to the touch, use far less electricity, reach full brightness instantly, and last much longer than older bulb types, all while giving off the same bright, steady light. Many LEDs can last between 30,000 and 50,000 hours (which can be more than 20 years), reducing replacements and waste.
A 9 W LED produces the same 800 lumens as a 60 W incandescent. When shopping, look at lumens (lm), not watts, to match brightness correctly.
Best For: Everyday home lighting, recessed fixtures, outdoor, or smart systems.
Halogen bulbs are an early generation of efficient lighting that use pressurized gas and a tungsten filament to produce more light per watt than classic incandescent bulbs. They turn on instantly and provide a bright, warm tone, but run hotter and use more energy than LEDs. This typically results in a much shorter lifespan and more frequent replacements, which can cancel out their cheaper upfront cost.
Best For: Accent lighting or applications requiring crisp brightness.
CFLs are smaller, spiral versions of the fluorescent tubes often seen in offices and garages. They produce a soft, warm light similar to traditional incandescent bulbs and release 80% of their energy as heat (an improvement from incandescent which releases 90% of its energy as heat). CFLs typically last much longer, too, offering solid long-term savings. However, many take a few seconds to reach full brightness, and some may flicker slightly when first turned on. They can also be more difficult to find in stores.
Best For: Garages, basements, or infrequently used rooms.
Making the switch to efficient lighting lowers CO₂ emissions by cutting electricity demand. LED bulbs use up to 75% less energy and last 25 times or more longer than incandescents. Multiplied across millions of homes, this reduces fossil-fuel use and power-plant strain, supporting Texas’s transition to cleaner energy sources.
Even small upgrades can create major savings when viewed over each bulb’s lifetime. Here’s how the main lighting types compare over 25,000 hours of use, based on the average U.S. electricity cost of 17.62¢ per kWh (August 2025).
| Type | Average Lifespan | Watts (800 lm equivalent) | Cost (Energy + Bulbs)
(25K hrs @ 17.62¢/kWh) |
Lumens per Watt | Dimmable | Average Purchase Price | Disposal Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LED | 30,000 hrs | 9 W | ≈ $47.95 | 76 | Yes | $9.97 | Recycle |
| CFL | 10,000 hrs | 14 W | ≈ $207.64 | 65 | Varies | $1.20 | Recycle |
| Halogen | 2,000 hrs | 42 W | ≈ $185.01 | 17 | Yes | $1.81 | No special requirements |
| Incandescent | 1,000 hrs | 60 W | ≈ $285.30 | 14 | Yes | $0.84 | No special requirements |
At 2025 average electricity rates (17.62¢/kWh), switching a 60 W incandescent to a 9 W LED saves about $237 per bulb over its 25,000-hour life (energy + bulb costs). For a home with 40 bulbs, that’s roughly $9,494 in lifetime savings.
| Need | Best Option |
|---|---|
| Saving money | LED |
| Natural color rendering | LED with CRI (Color Rendering Index) > 90 |
| Eco-conscious living | LED (no mercury, low CO₂) |
| Short-term budget | CFL |
| Smart-home integration | Smart LED |
| Outdoor use / enclosed fixtures | LED rated for enclosed spaces |
Beyond choosing bulbs, you can amplify your savings by selecting an electricity plan that fits your lifestyle. Compare Texas electricity rates using Power Wizard’s smart comparison tool to find a plan that matches your usage and budget.
In most cases, yes. LED bulbs can replace almost any traditional bulb, but it’s important to match the bulb to the fixture. For enclosed or airtight fixtures—like ceiling domes or outdoor lanterns—look for “enclosed-rated” LEDs designed to handle heat buildup. If you plan to use a dimmer switch, make sure the bulb specifically says “dimmable.”
Yes, but they’re quickly fading from the shelves. Many retailers and manufacturers are shifting away from CFLs as LED technology has become cheaper, brighter, and more efficient. CFLs are still available in some stores and online, but LEDs now dominate because they offer better light quality, instant brightness, and longer lifespans without the drawbacks of mercury content.
Energy-efficient bulbs like LEDs and CFLs use less electricity to produce the same amount of light, which means power plants burn less fuel and release fewer greenhouse gases. Over time, that adds up. Every home that switches to efficient lighting helps reduce demand on the grid, lower CO₂ emissions, and cut down on waste from short-lived bulbs.
Look for lumens, not watts. Lumens measure how much light a bulb gives off, while watts only tell you how much energy it uses. For example, about 800 lumens equals the brightness of a traditional 60-watt bulb. You’ll get that same light from a 9-watt LED or a 14-watt CFL.
No, you can’t throw CFLs in the trash. CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, which can be harmful if they break in a landfill. The safest way to dispose of them is through a local recycling or hazardous waste program. Many hardware stores and community centers accept CFL drop-offs.
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