What is the Difference Between LED and Fluorescent lights?
LED lights are taking over the business world with their lower power consumption and long life. Fluorescent lights, on the other hand, have largely fallen out of favour in industries that can afford to replace light bulbs often.
However, are LED lights really more efficient than fluorescent?
The answer may surprise you! While both LED and fluorescent lights have their own advantages and disadvantages, what matters is the type of light bulb you’re using in a given circumstance.
Fluorescent Lights
First, let’s start off by looking at fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent lights use a gas that emits ultraviolet (UV) light when activated by electricity. This UV light then interacts with fluorescent powder on the inside of the bulb to emit visible light. However, the efficiency of the bulbs falls drastically as you put more distance between them and their power source; much like a flashlight, putting too much distance between the bulb and its battery results in dim lighting. Fluorescent lights also contain mercury vapor, which can be harmful to both your health and the environment if not disposed of properly.
That being said, fluorescent lights are more efficient than incandescent bulbs — by a factor of sixteen! Fluorescent lights also do not have a filament that can burn out, meaning you don’t have to worry about changing them as frequently as incandescent lightbulbs. Under the right conditions, fluorescent lights can last up to 20,000 hours before needing a replacement, whereas an incandescent light bulb will last for around 1,000 on average.
The main issues with fluorescent lights are their “stunted” light range and the fact that they contain mercury vapor. Fluorescent bulbs can emit very harsh lighting on some surfaces, especially those that fluoresce brightly already, and they require a deeper cleaning more often due to their light range. While the thicker glass of fluorescent bulbs makes them safer, they can also shatter more readily than LED lights. Also, because fluorescent lights contain mercury vapor, it is extremely crucial that you dispose of them properly to avoid environmental contamination.
LED Lights
That being said, let’s compare this to LED lights. LED lights run off of electricity to generate light rather than through a gas as you find with fluorescent bulbs.
LEDs have a wide range of light that is emitted from one bulb, meaning it has fewer moving parts which can break and less dust build-up over time. A new LED lightbulb also lasts around twenty times longer than a similar incandescent bulb.
LED lights also do not contain mercury vapor, meaning that they are more environmentally friendly than fluorescent bulbs. While LED lights cannot handle the same voltage level as fluorescent bulbs can, this is not an issue in modern society due to advancements in lightbulb technology over the years.
Overall
While both LED and fluorescent lights have their own benefits, what matters is the use case you’re using them in. For instance, if you are placing a light bulb outside or creating a lot of indoor lighting, fluorescent bulbs are more efficient due to their wide area of reach. However, if you are looking for spotlighting or something that can be controlled at higher voltages, LED lights are a more viable option.
Also, it is important to note that incandescent lightbulbs have been phased out of many areas due to the high amount of energy they require and their shorter life span.
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