C. Crane CC Vivid Plus 2.5-watt LED

LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs contain no mercury, have long lives and are energy-efficient, but the upfront cost is high, and they don't deliver much light. Owner reviews of the C. Crane CC Vivid Plus 2.5-watt LED are divided. Positive owner reviews say the C. Crane CC Vivid Plus 2.5-watt LED is fine when the light is focused narrowly, such as in a desk or reading lamp, or when multiple bulbs are used to illuminate a larger area. But other reviews say it is dim, producing only 60 lumens compared with about 1,600 from a 60-watt incandescent bulb. The C. Crane CC Vivid Plus 2.5-watt LED combines 36 little LEDs into one bulb and can last up to 60,000 hours -- six times more than an average fluorescent bulb. The bulb lights instantly, and one owner review suggests it as one way to initially aid lighting in a garage while brighter fluorescent lights gradually kick in. The bulb comes with a two-year warranty.

We found a very detailed owner review of the C. Crane CC Vivid Plus 2.5-watt LED in the reader responses to a CNET article explaining various forms of lighting. We also found some owner reviews at Amazon.com, HomeDepot.com and the blog Green Home. Reviews are scarce, probably because LED bulbs have only a small niche in the home market.