http://www.tes.com With incandescent light bulbs slowly leaving the market, consumers must differentiate between the many other varieties of bulbs available today. This presentation explains the differences between LEDs, CFLs, incandescent, and halogen bulbs to use in your home and business.

1. Shopping for Light
Bulbs for the Home
and Business

2. Incandescent Light Bulbs
• Most commonly used light bulb
• Inexpensive
• Not as energy efficient as other bulbs
Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs):
• Last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and
consume a quarter of the energy
• CFLs contain trace amounts of mercury and care
should be taken when handling
• When CFL bulbs burn out, they should be recycled
Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs):
• Long lasting
• Extremely energy efficient
• Provide directional, not diffused light, making them
ideal for task lighting but not entire room illumination
• Prices range five to six times higher than CFLs
Halogen:
• Closest light source to natural daylight, also known as
“white light”
• Halogen bulbs are often used in pendant lights or
lights with a recessed can

3. A bulb’s brightness is measured in lumens. Bulbs require
electricity, measured in wattage, in order to produce a certain
amount of lumens:
Incandescent: low light and low efficiency
(For example, to produce 450 lumens, an incandescent bulb
requires 40 watts)
Compact Fluorescents (CFLs): bright and very efficient
(For example, CFLs can produce 800 lumens using less than
15 watts)
Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs): bright and very efficient
(For example, to produce a low end of 450 lumens, a LED
bulb requires 5 watts)
Halogen: somewhat bright and efficient
(For example, to produce 450 lumens, a halogen bulb
requires 29 watts)

4. These days, many consumers seek bulbs with lower carbon dioxide emissions.
Incandescent bulbs are being phased out of the market due to low efficiency.
The most environmentally-friendly bulbs are LEDs and CFLs.
Historically, halogen is not as environmentally-friendly as other bulbs; however, a special new infrared coating
has been developed that reduces waste heat and improves efficiency by up to 30 percent (over typical
incandescent bulbs).

5. Every bulb has drawbacks, depending on how the light
source will be used:
Incandescent: extreme cold and high humidity can impact
the performance of the bulb, reducing brightness or
lifespan, so use incandescent bulbs indoors.
Compact Fluorescents (CFLs): meant for ambient light, CFLs
are sensitive to temperature and are not equipped to handle
dimmer switches.
Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs): the light emitted from a LED is
directional, meaning it will only illuminate an area directly
below or in front of the bulb. Don’t try to light a large space
using LEDs only.
Halogen: can cause safety concerns in the home due to hot
temperatures.

6. Bathroom lighting benefits from lower color
temperatures, like the light of incandescent bulbs.
"Warm" light, from bulbs like CFLs, is also optimal in
bathrooms because it gives skin a healthy
appearance when looking in the mirror.
Supplemental lighting, such as low-watt LEDs above
a mirror, is ideal for illuminating face and hair.

7. Fluorescent or LED bulbs are best.
Use long, fluorescent-lit ceiling fixtures to light
a large space.
Provide local ambient light, such as desk
lamps, that best duplicate natural sunlight to
reduce eye strain.

8. It’s a matter of personal preference!
In commercial or business applications, the bulb
color you use will depend on the mood you’d like
to create.
For example, fresh bakery goods may look better
under a warm white light, whereas a clinical
space may look clean and neat under cool-colored
bulbs.
Have fun experimenting to see what looks best!

9. Incandescent: lasts 1,000 hours
Compact Fluorescents (CFLs): lasts a 100x longer
than an incandescent bulb
Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs): lasts up to 10x
longer than an incandescent bulb
Halogen: lasts up to 10x longer than an
incandescent bulb

10. Telecom Electric Supply Company (TES) offers great deals on electrical
supplies like GE lamps, wholesale batteries, and more. Since 1985, TES has
catered to businesses of all sizes as well as government and municipal
agencies, utility providers, and other institutions.
To order, or for more information, visit www.tes.com or call 800-821-9066.