Light Bulbs Reviews

Updated January 2008

Best Light Bulbs Reviews: (out of 30)
Consumer Reports, Popular Mechanics, Grist

Best Light Bulbs: (out of 22)
N:Vision Soft White, Litetronics Neolite T2, TCP Inc. Fresh2

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Fast Answers - Best Light Bulbs

Top Rated	What the Research Says
• N:Vision Soft White (*est. $7 for a 4-pack) >> Where to buy	Best compact fluorescent light bulbs. This soft-white light bulb is one of the top-ranked compact fluorescent light bulbs in comparison reviews, both for reading lamps and general lighting. It's small, so it fits in most lamps. The 14-watt version emits the equivalent of a 60-watt incandescent light bulb, and a 23-watt N:Vision bulb (*est. 7 for 2-pack) emits the equivalent of a 100-watt incandescent bulb. The N:Vision nine-year warranty is outstanding, as is the company's return policy. It's not meant for use with dimmers, but a 3-way light bulb is available (though it doesn't work in every 3-way fixture).
• Litetronics Neolite T2 (*est. $4.50 each) >> Where to buy	"Greenest" fluorescent light bulbs. These energy-saving ENERGY STAR light bulbs use lead-free glass and solder, only 1 mg of mercury (as opposed to about 6 mg in other CFLs) and are packaged in recyclable cardboard. Owners say they're truly compact to fit light fixtures well, and the 23-watt bulb puts out 1660 lumens, replacing a 100-watt incandescent. They're available in three color temperatures: warm, cool and "full spectrum" 5000K -- but they don't work with dimmers. (compare prices)
• TCP Inc. Fresh2 (*est. $20 for 2-pack) >> Where to buy	Odor-eliminating light bulbs. Despite initial skepticism, reviewers say the Fresh2 compact fluorescent light bulbs are effective in eliminating odors. The titanium dioxide coating interacts with the light emitted from the bulb to oxidize odor-causing chemicals in the air. The 23-watt compact fluorescent light bulbs can replace a 100-watt bulb, and though the odor-killing capacity only lasts about two years, the bulbs themselves are rated for 10,000 hours. You can try them for 90 days risk-free, but they don't work with dimmers. (compare prices)
• C. Crane CC Vivid Plus 2.5-watt LED (*est. $45) >> Where to buy	LED light bulbs. These bulbs contain no mercury, save even more energy than compact fluorescents and last longer (up to 60,000 hours) even when turned on and off frequently. They also turn on instantly, so reviews say they're good choices for hallways and staircases. The downside is that while LED bulbs hold promise, they are quite dim right now compared to other types. This "large" 36-LED light bulb uses only 2.5 watts of power, but puts out only 60 lumens (a regular 60-watt light bulb puts out about 1600 lumens). (compare prices)
• EarthLED XR-10 10.8-watt LED (*est. $100) >> Where to buy	Brightest LED light bulbs. This 10.8-watt LED light bulb puts out 400 lumens with a focused beam designed for task or track lighting. It's designed to replace a 100-watt incandescent light bulb, screwing into a regular medium-base socket. However, owners say it's too dim for reading, and that right now, LED bulbs are better for hallways or staircases where instant light is more important than brightness.
• Philips Halogena Energy Saver (*est. $9 for 2-pack) >> Where to buy	Energy-saving halogen light bulb. Halogen light bulbs turn on instantly and can be used with dimmers, unlike most compact fluorescent light bulbs. Reviews recommend them for fixtures that are turned on and off often, since this doesn't shorten their life. The light is especially good for task lights and displaying art. These new energy-saving halogen light bulbs copy the "A-shape" of most incandescent bulbs, and fit medium-base screw-in light fixtures. They use about 30 percent less energy than an incandescent (so a 70-watt light bulb replaces a 100-watt incandescent). However, the Philips Halogena lamps are hard to find, and other than this bulb, few halogen bulbs are designed for medium-base fixtures.
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What the experts say, our analysis, and more...

This report covers light bulbs that fit into regular medium-base Edison sockets, the type used in most household lamps and fixtures. The emphasis is on energy saving choices, which is especially important in light of the December 2007 energy bill that mandates phasing out most incandescent light bulbs by 2012. (Many other countries are phasing them out even earlier.)

Reviews and lighting experts say that energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs (also called compact fluorescent lamps, or CFLs) are much better now than they were just a few years ago, and most fit standard sockets. Prices are lower, too. New energy-saving halogen lights are also available, and are a good choice for use with a dimmer switch. Finally, LED light bulbs save the most energy of all, but are very expensive.

Experts say the best compact fluorescent light bulbs use about 75 percent less electricity than incandescent light bulbs that put out the same amount of light. Although fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury (a neurotoxin), the mercury can be safely recycled; experts assure than even if fluorescent light bulbs are disposed of improperly, they create less mercury pollution than the production of coal-burning electricity to run incandescent bulbs.

We found the best reviews of compact fluorescent light bulbs at Consumer Reports and Popular Mechanics, which run bulbs through both objective and subjective tests. Consumer Reports compares only five major brands and covers several types in addition to standard household lighting. This review rates light bulbs for warm-up time and actual brightness in lumens, and tests their durability for up to 3,000 hours. Consumer Reports doesn't rank the light bulbs nor rate their quality of light, but Popular Mechanics does -- and also tests more brands. More than 80 readers weigh in with additional comments on warranty fulfillment and durability. A Canadian review by Doug Hembruff is also useful since it identifies specific compact fluorescent light bulbs reported to be dangerous, and a review at Grist magazine covers not only light quality, but the environmental impact of the light-bulb packaging as well.

Not surprisingly, we found only a few reviews of incandescent light bulbs; the Good Housekeeping review is helpful but is neither comprehensive nor detailed. LED light bulbs that fit standard medium-base Edison sockets are just beginning to accumulate a few single-product and owner-written reviews. Reviews of energy-saving halogen lights are also limited.

By far the most information available covers compact fluorescents, and after reading hundreds of comments from owners of compact fluorescent light bulbs, the only reasonable conclusion is "your results may vary." Some owners buy good brands and do everything right, yet experience a high proportion of premature failures. Other owners break some usage rules but have good luck with all their compact fluorescent bulbs. Reviews and owners agree that it's definitely a mistake to buy the cheapest compact fluorescent light bulbs -- dollar-store brands -- but that paying more only gives you a better chance of avoiding premature failure. ... Continued