What to Look For in an LED Light Bulb

What to Look For in an LED Light Bulb

LEDs use significantly less energy than incandescent and halogen bulbs, are longer-lasting, emit less heat, can be dimmed more easily and are more durable due to no filament or glass tubes to break. But there are some important considerations when shopping for an LED bulb.

LED bulbs can serve as an excellent replacement for incandescent and halogen bulbs, and use less power than CFLs - saving even more money by switching over. But since LEDs work differently from regular bulbs, you will need to learn their unique language first before switching.

LEDs (light emitting diodes) differ significantly from incandescent bulbs by emitting visible light via digital luminescence rather than visible light produced from electrical currents running through filaments. To produce visible light from an LED, various color LEDs must be combined together or covered in yellowish material called phosphor to produce white lighting for residential homes and other environments. Most LEDs come with standard color temperatures ranging from cool to warm while there may also be specially-designed colored versions available for sale.

Although there are numerous brands of LED bulbs to choose from, you should pick one with a high color-rendering index (CRI) rating. This indicates how accurately it reproduces colors of objects it shines upon; ideal LED bulbs have CRI ratings of at least 90.

Feit's 60W-Equivalent Bright White Dimmable A19 LED Light Bulb was the subject of our review; its CRI rating of 90 promises long service life and increased comfort levels during sleep. While more yellow than other 2700K "soft white" bulbs, but not as blue as typical 5000K "daylight" ones; its distribution across the spectrum was wide - though red portions seemed slightly lacking for helping improve sleeping quality.

LED bulbs don't burn out or fail like incandescent ones do; rather, their brightness gradually fades over time. While brightness loss varies according to brand and model, it is always worthwhile checking their packaging to determine an estimated end date when shopping.

When purchasing LED bulbs, look for those bearing the ENERGY STAR label to ensure you find energy-efficient options. These bulbs have been independently certified to meet stringent energy efficiency regulations. Light bulbs must meet specific minimum efficiency criteria to qualify for the ENERGY STAR labeling, which can be identified on packaging by a green icon identifying as such. The ENERGY STAR logo serves as your guarantee that a product meets the minimum requirements set by the Environmental Protection Agency to avoid unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions from its manufacture, distribution and disposal.


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