COMPARATIVE STUDY

OF CFL AND LED

Submitted to:
Prof. Raminder kaur

Submitted by:
Geetika Gupta 12104067
Amanpreet Singh 12104068

In general, there are two popular types of energy efficient lighting:

Compact fluorescent lighting (CFLs)

Light emitting diodes (LEDs).

CFL produce light by converting ultraviolet emissions with a fluorescent coating on the
inside of the tube. LED is an electrical device or component with two electrodes (an anode
and a cathode) through which electricity flows from anode to cathode. When current passes
through the semiconductor material of the diode, the device emits visible light.
LED is the greenest option available in all forms of lighting because:

It does not contain any mercury, which is harmful for environment unlike the
fluorescent bulbs and lights. Over 95% of an LED bulb is recyclable. It lasts much
longer (about 10-20 years) and thus their disposal is less of a concern. Fluorescent
lights on the other hand contain mercury that is harmful for environment and their
disposal is a concern.

Most fluorescent bulbs/tubes may not last more than 3-4 years (10000-15000 hrs of
usage). But LEDs last much longer (upto 25000-50000 hrs of usage). And as with all
light bulbs, the life of the luminaire will depend on the quality. All lights emit heat
and the better the heat sink, the better the life. A good fluorescent light may last up to
4 years but can also die before that based on the environment and the quality of heat
sink. Similarly life of LED will depend on the quality of its heat sink and the internal
circuitry. Just like cheap CFLs, cheaper LEDs may not last long and thus buying a
branded LED can be a better approach.

LEDs give more brightness per watt of electricity if they are used for spotlighting.
LEDs are unidirectional source of light and thus they are excellent for spot lighting.
LED luminaires that are available for general-purpose lighting have inbuilt reflectors
that spread the light in all directions. And the use of reflectors causes decrease in
brightness per watt. This results in their efficiency come down to as low as that of
fluorescent lights. The LED will provide energy saving benefit if it is used for spot
lighting.

One of the biggest and most notable differences between LEDs and CFLs is in terms
of lifespan: while the light emitting diodes can last for over 50,000 hours, the

compact fluorescent lights have an average lifespan of about 8,000 hours. In addition
to this, the average life of CFLs is reduced even more if used in applications where
the light is switched on and off on a constant basis. CFLs become less and less
efficient over time because they must use more and more voltage to produce the same
lumen output as the light degrades. The LEDs are expensive but they last long and
thus provide energy saving for longer periods. Their payback period (or cost recovery
due to savings in electricity bills) is slightly longer just because of the upfront capital
costs.

The annual operating costs are also different: the average annual operating cost for
compact fluorescent lights is around $80, while for LEDs is approximately $32,
which means that LEDs are two times more affordable than CFLs. This is possible
because CFLs use two times more kilo-watts of electricity compared to LED lights.

The number of watts and lumens is also different: LEDs use considerably less watts
per unit of light generated (between 6 and 8 watts), and this helps reducing the
greenhouse gas emissions from various power plants, as well as lowering the electric
bills. On the other hand, compact fluorescent lights use between 13 and 15 watts of
electricity, which is approximately two times more than LEDs.
Comparison Chart:LEDs

CFLs

Lumens

Watts

Watts

450

4-5

8 - 12

750 - 900

6-8

13 - 18

1100 - 1300

9 - 13

18 - 22

1600 - 1800

16 - 20

23 - 30

2600 - 2800

25 - 28

30 - 55

Light Output

CFL bulbs cannot be dimmed, and it may take some time after switching them on for
them to become fully bright while LEDs turn on instantly. Similarly, CFL bulbs may
not turn on or reach full brightness in very cold climates, making them less suitable
for outdoor lighting.

LED bulbs are not sensitive to low temperatures or humidity and their special,
durable casing is designed to last in the long run. CFL bulbs, on the other hand, are

made from glass and this makes them very vulnerable over the years, not to mention
the mercury content that can pose a serious health threat. LEDs are solid state devices
due to the fact that they do not have a filament, therefore they hold up very well to
bumping and even jarring.

The amount of heat emitted is another aspect that makes the difference between these
two types of bulbs: light emitting diodes emit around 3 btu per hour while compact
fluorescent lights emit ten times more heat.

Long lasting, solid state, LED lighting is the future of high efficiency, consumer and
commercial lighting. Replacing your lighting with more energy efficient fixtures could cause
a significant decrease in your energy costs.
The chart below assumes a 15 watt CFL and an 8 watt LED bulb. Energy cost assumes a
home with 20 bulbs, with both of them on for at least 12 hours a day, and an energy cost of
10 cents per kilowatt hour.
LED Bulbs vs. CFL
Life Span
Energy Required To Equal 60 watt
Incandescent
Yearly Energy Cost Per 20 bulbs
Number of Incandescent Bulbs

15 Watt CFL
8,000 hours

8 Watt LED
25,000-50,000 hours

15 watts

8 watts

$131.00

$69.35

6.0
Saved
Contains Mercury?
Yes
Comes On Instantly?
No
BTU's Of Heat Generated Per Hour 30
Cycling On And Off Affects Life
Yes
Span?

41
No
Yes
3.4
No