Comparison: LEDs and CFLs
CFL history Compact Fluorescent (CFL) First real challenger to the incandescent bulb (~1995) Popular lighting choice as a result of energy efficiency/cost savings, superior lifetime, and environmental friendliness Are they the best choice? While CFLs do outperform a 100-year old technology, how do they compare against newer lighting technologies, such as the Light Emitting Diode (LED)? This presentation examines both CFLs and LEDs to see how they stack up against one another. CFL bulb Note: For all performance-related categories, the output of a standard 75-watt incandescent bulb is used as a basis of comparison.
Efficacy LAMP WATTS LUMENS EFFICACY Comparing lumens per Watt (lm/w) LED 12.5 1000 80 lm/watt CFL 20 1150 57.5 lm/w Lower electricity bills Less greenhouse gases Leapfrog Lighting PAR30
Lifetime LAMP LIFETIME (HOURS) REPLACEMENT FREQUENCY (40,000 HOURS) LED 40,000 1 CFL 10,000 4 Fewer bulb replacements Less landfill Lifetime not shortened by power usage patterns (see On/off cycling effects ) Lifetime not shortened as a result of installation method (for example, when a CFL is inserted upside down in a hanging, enclosed fixture, the power supply heats up. As a result of inadequate heat sinking capabilities, CFLs tend to bake and die much faster than their published lifetime).
Environment and human health IMPACT LED CFL Contains Mercury (toxic to both environment and health)? RoHS-compliant (Restriction of Hazardous Substances directive in controlling the use of six hazardous materials)? Carbon Dioxide Emissions (CO2 is the main greenhouse gas)?* No Yes 4.4 kg/yr (1300lm @ 2 hrs/day) Infrared or ultraviolet radiation emissions? Extremely low IR Yes *source: http://www.green2light.com Less environmental contamination Less personal exposure to hazardous material No degradation of artwork, furniture, carpets, etc. Yes (~5mg) No 7.3 kg/yr (1300lm @ 2 hrs/day)
Robustness IMPACT LED CFL Turns on instantly? Yes Delay Light flicker? No Yes Heat emitted? Very low (3btu s/hr) Medium (30btu s/hr) Temperature sensitivity? Slight Sensitive where unable to vent excess heat, but much less sensitive than CFLs Durable? Yes Fragile On/Off cycling effects? No Yes Yes -Low/no in freezing temps -Lifespan significantly shortened depending on how bulb is installed (ie. Upside down or within enclosure traps heat) Immediate light (no wait period) No risk of triggering migraines or epilepsy attacks (no light flicker). NOTE: The relationship has been contended, even though cases have been reported (see http://bit.ly/ptua23 for more information). Minimal risk of fire Superior lamp performance in all weather conditions Less risk of breakage More dependable lifetime unaffected by frequent use
Electricity LAMP WATTS KWh/yr (@24 hours/day) COST/yr (@0.119/KWh) Comparing lumens per Watt (lm/w) LED 12.5 109.58 $13.04 CFL 20 175.32 $20.86 The math is pretty simple: Less energy used greater electricity savings Return on investment is recovered quickly (from a few months to a couple of years, depending on usage). Note: While dimmable LEDs do cost slightly more than non-dimmable LEDs of similar wattage, you can scale back the light to ~10% of its full output, thereby reducing the amount of energy required. There s also a hidden savings: that which is achieved through cost avoidance. A longer lamp lifespan means you don t need to spend valuable time performing maintenance tasks (for example, buying new bulbs or replacing dead bulbs). Reduced electricity bill
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About Leapfrog Lighting Leapfrog Lighting provides specification-grade LED products for industrial, retail, and commercial applications. We ve created an innovative LED lighting solution that uses Intelligent Optics to provide architectural quality illumination unrivalled in the industry. Additionally, all our lamps are top performers in virtually all major efficiency-performance categories. You can contact Leapfrog Lighting through the following channels: Leapfrog Lighting 400 March Road Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2K 3H4 T: 613-270-7879 Internet: www.leapfroglighting.com Subscribe to our newsletter! http://www.leapfroglighting.com/subscribe/ Email: info@leapfroglighting.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/leapfrogl Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/leapfrogl LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/leapfrog-lighting Google+: http://gplus.to/leapfroglighting