|
CFL |
|
Life span: |
3000 to
15000 hours. |
|
Pros: |
efficient |
|
Cons: |
cost of
bulb; sometimes they can't physically fit; to replace
incandescent bulbs
|
|
Efficiency: |
44 - 80
lumens per watt after warm up |
|
Uses: |
General
lighting |
|
Notes: |
frequent
switching on and off reduces efficiency. |
|
Compact Fluorescent |
|
Life span: |
Up to 10,000 hours |
|
Pros: |
efficient |
|
Cons: |
cost of bulb; sometimes
they can't physically fit; to replace incandescent bulbs
|
|
Efficiency: |
44 - 80 lumens per watt |
|
Uses: |
General lighting |
|
Notes: |
frequent switching on and
off reduces efficiency. |
|
|
(TOP) |
|
Metal Halide |
|
Life span: |
6,000 - 10,000 hours |
|
Pros: |
extremely efficient; give
a brilliant light; bulbs come in different color
temperatures; good color rendering. |
|
Cons: |
cost of both fixture and
bulb; burns hot |
|
Efficiency: |
60 - 125 lumens per watt |
|
Uses: |
places where a lot of
light is needed such as outdoor areas and retail shops.
Used frequently in sports arenas, stadiums, auditoriums,
and convention halls |
|
Notes: |
not to be used near
flammable materials. Bulbs usually must burn in a
certain position. |
|
|
(TOP) |
|
LED |
|
Life span: |
30,000 - 80,000 hours
(100,000 hours) |
|
Pros: |
High durability - no
filament or tube to break; long life span; low power
consumption; low heat generation, no radiation or glare,
high impact resistant. |
|
Cons: |
Pays for itself
immediately |
|
Efficiency: |
80 - 200 lumens per watt |
|
Uses: |
wide variety of uses
including general lighting, accent lighting, decorative
lighting, home, parks, shopping centers, streets and
highways. (Uses are unlimited) |
|
Notes: |
LED technology is
relatively new, and is changing every day. The quality
and efficiency of the bulbs / chips are improving all
the time.
The ratings in parentheses (above) are the predicted
improvements which are expected to come about within the
next few years. |
|
|
(TOP) |
|
Mercury Vapor |
|
Life span: |
1600 - 6000 hours |
|
Pros: |
more efficient than
incandescent and halogen; gives a nice color to
landscapes. |
|
Cons: |
lowest efficiency of the
HID type bulbs; dims rapidly; bad color rendering |
|
Efficiency: |
20 - 63 lumens per watt |
|
Uses: |
landscape illumination,
outdoor lighting |
|
Notes: |
produce a blue-green light |
|
|
(TOP) |
|
High Pressure Sodium |
|
Life span: |
18,000 - 24,000 hours |
|
Pros: |
extremely efficient, long
lasting, |
|
Cons: |
bad color rendering,
produces yellowish light; slowly lose their brightness
with short period of time, operates very hot and
uses a lot of energy. |
|
Efficiency: |
60 - 125 lumens per watt |
|
Uses: |
very popular for indoor
horticulture, outdoor and industrial applications |
|
|
(TOP) |
|
Low Pressure Sodium |
|
Life span: |
approximately 16,000 hours |
|
Pros: |
one of the most efficient
bulbs there is, long life span. |
|
Cons: |
worst color rendering
(monochromatic) of all the bulbs, initial setup can be
costly |
|
Efficiency: |
90 - 180 lumens per watt |
|
Uses: |
security lighting or
indoor applications like stairwells |
|
Notes: |
monochromatic -
all colors under this light appear black, white, or
shades of gray. |
