Are LEDs or CFLs the Wave of the Future for Lighting?

GeoBulb LED replacement light bulb, typical incandescent and typical CFL.

The New York Times was quick to report that on Tuesday the very last incandescent bulb at Grand Central Terminal in New York City was replaced with one of the compact fluorescent variety. At the same time on a smaller scale, I'm also replacing the very last incandescent in my house, a hallway closet light that finally burned out. But not two days later, the Times is saying that LEDs are the next big thing in lighting. What's up with that?

Eric A. Taub wrote for the Times:

The recent replacement of the incandescent lamps in Grand Central Terminal in New York with compact fluorescent bulbs notwithstanding, the lighting industry continues to believe that LEDs, not C.F.L.s, will eventually be the technology of choice for many lighting applications.

Obviously we know that long-lasting LED lighting solutions will gain popularity as manufacturers figure out how to make the light from those emitting diodes brighter and warmer, but the article admits that the LED products the average person has access to at the local store are still very "strange-looking" and "below par."

Tell us in the comments: Are you sticking to green-and-cheap CFLs or will you upgrade to long-lasting LEDs?

(Image: Flickr member trenttsd licensed for use under Creative Commons)

Comments (7)

I love leds - in my flashlights. They aren't ready for replacing incans or cfls yet - the high power leds get very hot - they have to improve on efficiency and heatsinking/heat reduction so they can get the lumens/output of standard bulbs before they'll be ready for mainstream.

posted by bordjon on April 30th 2009 at 2:51pm
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Yuck. I hate LEDs and Compact Fluorescents. They make such harsh lighting. Maybe I am buying the wrong brand but I gave them to a friend and went back to incandescent.

posted by clampers on April 30th 2009 at 4:32pm
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when i moved into my apartment 2 years ago there was a box of incandescents still 3/4 full in the cupboard - so i doubt i'll have this problem for a while :)

in all fairness though - i see LEDs becoming the standard. i have an LED bike light and it's so bright and effective when i'm riding down the street or temporarily blinding my pursuer for me to make a safe getaway.

posted by FightTheFuture on April 30th 2009 at 6:38pm
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LED's are probably the future, but for now CFL's offer great performance and the price continues to plummet.

posted by sunspot42 on May 1st 2009 at 2:30am
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With all the brilliant minds out there, I am still stunned that no one has created a CFL that gives off the same quality light as an incandescent. I've got a few in my home that were touted in articles as the closest thing to incandescents and I still can't help feeling like the light is as flatteringly as that found in a gas station bathroom.

My hopes for LEDs are even lower considering the flashlights, solar landscape lighting, etc. that I've seen.

posted by LilyC on May 2nd 2009 at 7:32pm
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LEDs are much safer than CFLs without the deadly mercury that requires a hazmat suit to dispose of properly if accidental breakage occurs.

posted by BigD on May 6th 2009 at 11:30am
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Oh good lord, CFL's aren't that dangerous. Open a window and leave the room for half an hour and it's gone. Then carefully sweep up the bits (don't use a vacuum - use a couple of sheets of paper) and seal it in a plastic trash bag.

Of course, I've been using CFLs for two decades and have never broken one.

If it's "deadly mercury" you're worried about, avoid tuna!

posted by sunspot42 on May 20th 2009 at 2:47am
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