Buy Only the Best Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

Good Housekeeping tests show which CFLs, LEDs and halogens give off the best light - and fast.

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Photo: Istock

By Dan Shapley

Compact fluorescent light bulbs have now been around for years, but many homeowners haven't warmed up to them because of their uneven performance. Many bulbs, particularly early on, failed to brighten quickly, and when they did, the light wasn't as warm as the traditional incandescent bulb.

That's too bad, since a good Energy Star-rated bulb will save consumers about $1 a month over its lifetime. (Energy Star bulbs are, in fact, rated or quality as well as efficiency, making them a good choice.)

Halogen light bulbs are more efficient than incandescents, while LEDs are the most efficient and long-lasting of all, but also the most expensive.

So what's a consumer to do? Good Housekeeping has the answer: Its engineers in the Good Housekeeping Research Institute spent months testing light bulbs to find out which efficient bulbs lived up to their packaging claims, gave off a warm light, and brightened quickly. The results are easy to see.

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