Many small businesses are considering retrofitting their lighting to save energy and cut costs. But what light source is better CFL or LED? Take a look.

1. CFL Versus LED
For Your Small Business Retrofit
James Bedell
jp@jamesbedell.com
@jamesbedell

2. CFL vs LED
• Brightness
• Color
• Cost (Upfront and lifetime)
Comparison Metrics

3. CFL and LED
Broad Categories
Broad CategoriesCFL
Plug-In Screw-In
Ballast is part of Light Fixture Ballast built into lamp
Better Dimming with compatible ballast
Dimming is possible, not as reliable.
Only with “dimmable” lamps.
Fixtures require specific lamp type to
function properly.
Usually any screw-in CFL will work.
Overall: Better performance over
time and with dimming however a
tighter specification is required.
Overall: Lesser performance over
time and poorer dimmability, but
easily replaced for different light
source without replacement
fixture.
LED
Integral Screw-In
Lighted LEDs are separated from
transformer gear. Both are required to
create a complete fixture.
LEDs and transformer are integrated into
one light source which is powered by the
fixture’s screw-in socket.
Better Dimming performance with
correctly specified power supplies and
dimmers.
Dimming is possible with standard gear
but not as reliable.
Usually a complete fixture must be
specified to work properly, LEDs
power supply components and dimming
components are all part of LED fixture.
Sources are design to screw into any
fixture with a medium screw base.
Overall: Better performance from
a well-specified system with the
capability to customize to specific
needs. Higher cost, more difficult
to replace components
Overall: Good performance as a
light source. Not customizable but
lower cost of entry assuming you
already have fixtures with screw-in
sockets.

4. CFL vs LED
Brightness
Brightness
All light sources are capable of getting very
bright. What matters for your business is
how much energy do they consume to
make light. The chart to the right
compares how much light (lumens) per a
single watt of electricity used.

5. CFL vs. LED
Color
Color
Figures to the right are based on
averages taken from experience.
LEDs vary WIDELY in color quality.
It should also be noted that many
consider CRI an antiquated scale to
discuss color quality.

6. CFL vs. LED
Upfront Cost
Upfront Cost

7. CFL vs. LED
Lifetime cost
Lifetime cost
This is a very simple example based on a small
cafe which has a total of 18 recessed down
lights in it’s ceiling. The example looks at the
10 year cost of CFL versus LED when you
combine replacement cost and electrical cost.
This model assumes the cost of LEDs and
electricity remains static over a decade.

8. CFL vs. LED
Lifetime cost
Lifetime cost
The truth is over the last decade electricity
prices have gone up on average 2.9% per
year. Here we see that LED actually saves
money over time despite higher replacement
costs.

9. So What’s Right For
Your Business?
How long will your business be in it’s current location?
The longer you plan on staying the more you should consider LED.
What kind of business are you running? Does great color and
dimming matter?
If so, you might want to consider LED.
Is Energy Conservation a core value of your business?
There’s no comparison - for energy savings always go with LED.

10. Need More Information on
CFL vs. LED?
Feel free to contact me.
James Bedell
jp@jamesbedell.com
@jamesbedell