Best Reviewed
Light Bulbs
- Best compact fluorescent light bulbs EcoSmart Soft White (14-watt) *Est. $8
- Dimmable halogen light bulbs Philips Halogena Energy Saver (70-watt) *Est. $12
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- No mercury content
- Brightest LED bulb
- Reaches full brightness immediately
- Lasts up to 50,000 hours
- Dim compared with other types of bulbs
- Very expensive
LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs contain no mercury, have long lives, are extremely energy-efficient and don't get hot. But the upfront cost is high, and they don't deliver much light, although reviews and specifications indicate the EarthLED XR-10 10.8-watt is the brightest LED bulb available. It has a focused beam designed for track lighting or desk lamps. While it's designed to replace a 100-watt incandescent light bulb, owners say it's more like a 50-watt bulb and is better for hallways or staircases where instant light is more important than brightness. On the other hand, the EarthLED XR-10 is designed to last 50,000 hours -- five times longer than an average compact fluorescent bulb -- although there is just a one-year warranty. A cheaper but dimmer LED option would be the C. Crane CC Vivid Plus 2.5-watt LED (*Est. $15), which gets mostly positive owner reviews.
We found the most detailed coverage at LighterFootstep.com, but the article is no longer online. There are informative reader comments in response to less helpful articles at Grist.org and EcoStreet.com. Reader comments at EcoStreet.com are critical.
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Our Sources
1. Lighter Footstep
This review describes hands-on testing of several big LED light bulbs supplied by the manufacturer, though only the white versions are evaluated, not the warm. The review praises the build quality of EarthLED light bulbs and finds the light "white but not harsh."
Review: Review: EarthLED's Bright Idea, Chris Baskind, August 2007
2. Grist.org
Grist.org, an environmental website, compares four light bulbs in hands-on tests. EarthLED isn't among them, but a reader comment suggests it as an alternative.
Review: Lumen Essence: A Review of Compact Fluorescent Bulbs, Katharine Wroth, Dec. 14, 2007
Tracy Stokes' review isn't credible – it's a "sponsored post." But it does include reader comments, including one that notes the EarthLED produces a "halo effect" that he doesn't like.
Review: This Is Why LEDs Are the Light bulbs of the Future, Tracy Stokes, Sept. 18, 2007
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3 picks by top review sites.
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Litetronics 10150 10W T2/5000K NEOLITE CFL NL-10150
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