We Tested 9 New Energy Saving Light Bulbs. See Which Is Right for You

We were impressed how much the fruit "popped" when lit by the EcoSmart PAR20 LED -- PAR stands for parabolic aluminized reflector and 20 is the size. These bulbs are typically used as flood lights since they bathe a large area in light. In this case, the light was whiter and bluer than the other (non-LED) floods we tested, and we preferred this one because we thought it most sharply illuminated the subject.

At only $25, it's a relatively affordable and attractive choice to light up a deck, yard or highlight a specific area.

*Type: flood
*Watts (amount of power used): 8 (replaces 40-watt incandescent)
*Lumens (amount of light produced): 350 (44 lumens per watt)
*Color Rendering Index: 85 (CRI is scaled from 1 to 100, and higher is better for distinguishing colors of things)
*Color temperature: 3,000 K (bright white)
*Lifespan: 50,000 hours (50X incandescents)
*Warranty: 5 years
*Dimmable: yes with most dimmers
*Cost: $25
*Estimated lifetime savings: $200

We weren't as impressed with the light from this ArmorLite R30 CFL flood. As the photo shows, it filled the whole plane more evenly with light but it didn't highlight the fruit as well as the LED flood we tested. Everything came out less sharp, with bluish and greenish undertones. The "safety" cap over the CFL helped diffuse the fluorescent light, making it a bit more comfortable than a naked bulb. According to the manufacturer, the silicone shell is designed to capture any mercury if the bulb breaks.

*Type: flood1
*Watts: 14 (replaces 65-watt incandescent)
*Lumens: 700 (50 lumens per watt)
*CRI: NA
*Color temperature: 4,100 K (daylight)
*Lifespan: 10,000 hours (10X incandescents)
*Warranty: 2 years
*Energy Star certified
Cost: $12

"Halogena" bulbs are essentially halogens that are designed to replace standard incandescents. They have longer life and are up to 47% more efficient, so they are a type of stopgap technology before the wider adoption of LEDs. We thought this R20 flood bulb did a good job of illuminating the fruit, although the tones are a bit yellowish or brownish, with green undertones.

*Type: flood
*Watts: 40
*Lumens: 550 (14 lumens per watt)
*CRI: approaches 100
*Color temperature: 2,815 K (bright white)
*Lifespan: 3,000 hours (3X incandescents)
*Warranty: length NA
*Dimmable: yes
*Cost: $7

For comparison's sake we tried a new incandescent bulb, specifically a 40-watt GE Doublelife. The bulb is advertised to last around 2,000 hours, or double that of a regular incandescent. Unfortunately, the extended life comes at the price of even greater inefficiency. Incandescents waste 90 to 98% of the energy they use as heat.

As the photo shows, the light was quite warm, although a bit brownish. The fruit doesn't pop as much as it does with LEDs.

*Type: standard "A-type"
*Watts: 40
*Lumens: 455 (11 lumens per watt)
*CRI: approaches 100
*Color temperature: 2,700 K (soft white)
*Lifespan: 2,000 hours (2X standard incandescents)
*Warranty: length NA
*Dimmable: yes
*Cost: $4.40 for 4

Another big winner was the EcoSmart LED A19, which screws into normal fixtures to replace standard 40-watt "A type" bulbs. This bulb did a great job approximating what we're used to, with surprisingly soft, diffuse light that projected well in all directions. The light was a bit cooler than incandescents, but it wasn't harsh or bluish. It was noticeably "nicer" than fluorescents, and we would certainly be comfortable with this in our homes.

The top globe of the bulb stayed cool to the touch while the lower heat sink warmed up, although it did not get untouchably hot the way incandescents do. Gloria, who has experience with photo lighting, said she preferred the clean, bright light of this LED to everything else we tested.

Energy Star standards don't yet apply to LEDs, but it's coming.

*Type: A-type
*Watts: 8.6 (replaces 40-watt incandescent)
*Lumens: 429 (50 lumens per watt)
*CRI: 85
*Color temperature: 3,032 K (bright white)
*Lifespan: 50,000 hours (50X incandescents)
*Warranty: 5 years
*Dimmable: yes with most dimmers
*Cost: $18

The EcoSmart mini CFL we tested didn't produce as much light as the other bulbs, which isn't surprising given its diminutive size. This would work well in small applications and fixtures where space is tight. The light is surprisingly warm for a fluorescent, with a temperature rating approaching soft incandescents. The bulb comes pretty close to approximating the look of standard bulbs, though it's a bit more reddish in tone.

The ballast stayed cool, like most CFLs, and the glass coils heated up so they were almost untouchable, though not as hot as incandescent globes.

*Type: standard socket
*Watts: 9 watts (replaces 40-watt incandescent)
*Lumens: 550 (61 lumens per watt)
*CRI: NA
*Color temperature: 2,700 K (soft white)
*Lifespan: 10,000 hours (10X incandescents)
*Warranty: 9 years
*Energy Star certified
*Dimmable: no
*Cost: $5.85 for 4 pack
*Estimated lifetime savings: $148

The ClearLite "full spectrum" bulb was designed for task lighting, for working, reading, crafting and so on. It has solid color rendering and even illumination, but it's definitely on the cool side, with a bluish-purplish hue. Gloria thought it was too harsh to use for ambient lighting. "Whoa, sale in aisle four," she said when we fired it up. On the plus side, the bulb lit up to nearly full brightness immediately.

The term "full spectrum" isn't regulated, but according to the manufacturer the bulb produces light that is closer to natural sunshine. That's said to be better for seeing detail and color.

*Type: standard socket
*Watts: 23 (replaces 100-watt incandescent)
*Lumens: 1,600 (70 lumens per watt)
*CRI: 80
*Color temperature: 5,000 K (daylight)
*Lifespan: 10,000 hours (10X incandescents)
*Warranty: 2 years
*Dimmable: no
*Cost: $5.50 for 2

The Sylvania Twist-n-Dim CFL comes with a small knob on its side for dimming the light (as long as you can reach it, depending on which fixture you put it in).

Shown here is the light at full brightness. The tone is a bit yellowish, with some brownish undertones. The bulb took about two minutes to come up to full brightness but lit up partially immediately. The dimming is surprisingly gradual and smooth for a fluorescent. It's not 100% analog like an incandescent dimmer switch, but it's closer than previous models.

*Type: standard socket
*Watts: 23 (replaces 100-watt incandescent)
*Lumens: 1,500 (65 lumens per watt)
*CRI: 82
*Color temperature: 2,700 K (soft white)
*Lifespan: 8,000 hours (8X incandescents)
*Warranty: 7 years
*Dmmable: yes
*Cost: $10
Estimated lifetime savings: $61

Upon dimming, the light from this CFL got cooler. It dimmed down to a bit more than half brightness at its lowest setting. Unfortunately, we found this bulb did have a slight audible hum from its ballast, which got louder with brightness. We don't think this would be noticeable in an overhead fixture, but we wouldn't suggest it for a desk lamp.

*Type: standard socket
*Watts: 23 (replaces 100-watt incandescent)
*Lumens: 1,500 (65 lumens per watt)
*CRI: 82
*Color temperature: 2,700 K (soft white)
*Lifespan: 8,000 hours (8X incandescents)
*Warranty: 7 years
*Dmmable: yes
*Cost: $10
Estimated lifetime savings: $61

The silicone covering over this ArmorLite CFL is designed to contain any mercury in case of breakage, but it also diffuses and softens the light. We thought it did a good job of evenly and clearly lighting the fruit bowl, although the tone is a bit cool and bluish for interior ambient applications. With the daylight designation, the bulb is really designed for task work.

*Type: standard socket
*Watts: 14 watts (replaces 60-watt incandescent)
*Lumens: 800 (57 lumens per watt)
*CRI: NA
*Color temperature: 4,100 K (daylight)
*Lifespan: 10,000 hours (10X incandescents)
*Warranty: 2 years
*Energy Star certified
*Cost: $11.50

The unique Sylvania CFL/LED combo bulb includes a small LED nightlight with a high-quality CFL. The two light sources are easily cycled through.

The main CFL lights up quickly and took about a minute to achieve full brightness. The light is quite warm and yellowish, approaching incandescents.

*Type: standard socket
*Watts: 23 (replaces 100-watt incandescent)
*Lumens: 1,600 (70 lumens per watt)
*CRI: NA
*Color temperature: 2,700 K (soft white)
*Lifespan: 12,000 hours (12X incandescents)
*Warranty: 11 years
*Dimmable: no
*Cost: $10

The LED night light on Sylvania's space-saving combo bulb produces bluish light.

*Type: standard socket
*Watts: 23 (replaces 100-watt incandescent)
*Lumens: 1,600 (70 lumens per watt)
*CRI: NA
*Color temperature: 2,700 K (soft white)
*Lifespan: 12,000 hours (12X incandescents)
*Warranty: 11 years
*Dimmable: no
*Cost: $10

Also check out the new book Green Lighting