What’s the difference between incandescent, halogen, CFL and LED light bulbs?

If you’re looking to replace or add lighting to your home or business, your head might be swimming with all the different types of light bulbs available.  Which one is the best for office work?  Which one is better for general home use?  Before we dive into these questions, let’s take a look at the differences between these four different light bulbs.

Incandescent: annual cost is about $7 per bulb, and lasts about 1,000 hours.

Halogen: annual cost of about $5 per bulb, is 28% more efficient than incandescent, and lasts about 3,000 hours.

CFL: fluorescent lighting that costs about $1.75 per bulb per year, 75% more efficient than incandescent, and lasts about 10,000 hours; popular in many office settings, but recent studies have shown a link between fluorescent lighting and mood/sleep disturbances.

LED: annual cost of about $1.19 per bulb, is 83% more efficient than incandescent, and lasts about 25,000.  Its popularity has soared in the past couple of decades due its longevity and annual cost savings.

If you’re deciding on what type of bulb to use, we highly recommend LED lighting for the majority of your lighting needs.  The drastically reduced replacement schedule coupled with the annual cost efficiency makes it an obvious choice for most of our household and office needs.  There is nothing wrong with choosing the other types of bulbs, but be aware of the difference in annual cost, efficiency, colour temperature availability and maintenance.


Case Study

At Electrician St. Catharines, we recently helped a homeowner near Port Dalhousie and the Welland Canal upgrade their home’s lighting with energy-efficient LED fixtures. The homeowner wanted to lower energy costs and modernize the look of their living spaces. Our team carefully planned and installed new recessed LED lighting throughout the kitchen and main floor, ensuring even illumination and a sleek, contemporary finish.

By switching from outdated incandescent bulbs to high-efficiency LEDs, the homeowner can now enjoy up to 75% lower energy consumption and significantly longer bulb life. We also installed dimmer switches for customizable lighting and improved ambiance. At Electrician St. Catharines, we’re proud to help homeowners across the city reduce their carbon footprint and energy bills through smart, sustainable electrical upgrades that enhance comfort and style.

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