Light Bulbs : Ratings of Sources

Our AssessmentA panel of New York Times staffers reviews 21 light bulbs, 14 of which are CFLs. The reviewers compare the whiteness, brightness and buzzing sounds emitted by some brands, as well as warm-up time and flickering upon lighting. The panel favors halogen bulbs, which created a more pleasing light overall. Panelists are mixed on CFL bulbs, but a few, such as the N:Vision (now EcoSmart) Soft White, are preferred. The article also notes that the use of the bulb, including the lampshades used, can alter the way the light looks, and therefore should be considered an important part of the bulb selection process.

Our AssessmentIn this review, compact fluorescent light bulbs are evaluated for how their light looks on a book page, through a lampshade and when cast on a wall. Although this review compares only four brands of compact fluorescent light bulbs, the author also compares soft white and daylight versions -- concluding that soft white light bulbs are much preferable. Quite a few of the readers' comments disagree, saying that daylight compact fluorescent light bulbs just require getting used to, but put out better light for reading and tasks. Readers also recommend some other brands -- especially Litetronics for its all-cardboard recyclable packaging.

Our AssessmentThis review is by a lighting expert who has been reviewing compact fluorescent bulbs for several years, continually updating the list. He notes that the reviews are based on his own personal tests, so he hasn't evaluated many samples of each model. The review is nicely organized into the various purposes you might be using the light bulb for, so you can quickly zero in on the type of light bulb best suited for your needs. This is part of a larger site on lighting that includes additional information not only on compact fluorescent light bulbs, but also on halogen, incandescent and LED light bulbs. This review is particularly useful because many complaints about CFLs are related to bulbs not functioning well in certain uses.

Our AssessmentThis blog focuses on reviewing energy-efficient light bulbs. Reviews are informal and based solely on the editor's personal experience, usually with one bulb. There aren't many reviews here, and you must read through each review to get a feel for the author's opinion on each light bulb. The GE Energy Smart Soft White 15-watt light bulb, which features a spiral CFL inside a traditional-looking bulb, the OttLite 100-watt replacement bulb and the N:Vision (now EcoSmart) 23-watt bulb are all favorably reviewed.

Our AssessmentThis Canadian reviewer reports on personal tests of eight compact fluorescent lamps of various brands, sizes and wattages. Though the comments seem unsophisticated, plenty of detail about each CFL is provided, as is a useful summary. The author finds all three major brands disappointing. He recommends against GE, Philips and Sylvania compact fluorescent lamps and favors TCPI and Commercial Electric (now EcoSmart) brands. This is partly due to reliability and light quality and partly due to the TCPI and CE bulbs turning on instantly. Even the best CFLs seem to have uneven quality, so the author recommends checking each one and exchanging any that buzz or show other problems.

Our AssessmentThis article/PowerPoint presentation summarizes the evidence against compact fluorescent bulbs, providing detailed information on the actual electricity used, life span of the bulbs, energy required to produce them and various hazards of use and disposal. The larger site is devoted to arguments against the ban on incandescent bulbs, with quite a bit of authoritative information. One link goes to an article by a Greenpeace expert documenting arguments against expanding CFL usage.

Our AssessmentThis blog author reviews the N:Vision (now EcoSmart) 9W standard CFL bulb, noting that they're very affordable, especially compared with the price when CFLs first hit the market. He is very satisfied with the bulbs from the company, has never had problems, and notes that they don't flicker or get hot to the touch.

Our AssessmentConsumers weigh in with ratings and feedback on energy-efficient light bulbs on this environmentally focused social community. Both CFLs and LEDs are rated by consumers, with the EarthLED CL-3 earning 4.5 stars out of 5, based on more than 10 reviews. Other favorably rated light bulbs include N:Vision (now EcoSmart), GE Soft White Energy Smart Spiral T2 and GE Daylight Energy Smart Spiral T3, which all earn an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 (or better), based on eight or more reviews.

Our AssessmentThe Home Depot website allows readers to submit reviews for products, including light bulbs. However, the reviews are a pain to find. You have to choose a product first to view ratings, and reviews don't appear in the comparison feature, which allows you to compare up to four products at a time. Furthermore, most light bulbs receive only a handful of comments from owners.

Our AssessmentThe editor of this blog reviews products in various categories and provides a rating between 1 and 10. The EcoSmart CFL bulbs earn a score of 9 out of 10 for their low price, light quality and brightness. However, several readers comment that they've had EcoSmart CFLs that have failed after one or two weeks.