CFL v/s LED – Is It the Planned Act of Phasing out CFL or Are These Claims Really Worthy?

2001, a small factory in California; staffers were cutting a cake for an electric bulb; this bulb was working there continuously from the last hundred years. It means that in 2001, the functional life of this electric bulb was approximately 1 million hours, when Thomas Elva Edison made the first bulb. In the history of humankind, it lasted for 1500 hours. Then, with the passage of time, this life decreased to 1000 hours, and it became a kind of standard for these bulbs.

The Second Decade of the 21st Century Is Once Again Raising the Same Question

Are we standing on the threshold of a big change? During the period of Thomas Elva Edison, it was a tussle between the marsh gas v/s electricity; it was a tussle between the luminosity of fire flame v/s light emitting from a tungsten source. And now, this battle of LED v/s CFL is going to repeat the same history, or is it a passing phase?

The Internet Is Bombarded with One-Sided Information

Both the sects of industry are trying it hard to save them from the tussle. The light industry still falls in the domain of the “need bracket.” It means that we do not purchase lights to have fun or recreation. LED lights are priced very highly. LED indeed is a superior light, when you use it for focusing purposes. It means that if you are planning to buy a bulb for your showcase, then LED bulb is the best bulb. CFL light sources, on the other hand, are more effective, when you need to cover a larger area or you when need a flooding light effect.

Merits Were Creating the Market for Both the Lights

In the past, CFL lights were confined to the premium segments, and recyclable CFL lights became an effective lighting solution for the masses. In the recent past, we have seen the change, where they are marketing LED lights as the lighting solution for the masses, and they have weaved around an equation to cover up this price difference. They are saying that LEDs are more energy-efficient, and in the long run, they will cover the cost by saving energy. Now,they are putting this interesting equation forward where LED bulbs are coming in the forefront. Search on the internet and you will find many things written in favor of LED bulbs.

Is CFL Really a Toxic Light?

We are certainly not acknowledging this fact; we are only putting some facts forward. One & half decade ago, they were appealing everyone to switch over to CFL lights. They were saying that our trusted old friend, i.e. the electric bulb, consumes more energy and it is an obsolete technology. Remember the fact that CFL technology is much costlier if we compare it with a regular bulb. One decade later, when CFL indeed has become a viable option because of its recycling properties, now they are trying to force LED bulbs on our heads.

There Are Two Sides of the Coin

We did not get into the technicalities and the comparison between two bulbs, as any novice can do that; these numbers are quite simple to count. However, here we would like to judge CFL v/s LED on two scales. LED is a challenger in the market, and CFL certainly has carved a niche for itself; and as a leader, CFL should be given its due with proper diligence. We cannot reject it straight away. We are not denying the equation of those talks about the advantage of LED. However, it needs to pass the test of time.

We Are Not Neo-Luddite; We Are Connecting It to the Past As Well

Thomas Elva Edison always dreamt of an electrical bulb with a much longer life. Besides being a scientist, he was a true philanthropist as well. It is true that LED has to pass the acid test of time; however, this fact cannot be denied that a lighting solution with an average age of 25000 (standard) hours and much lesser electricity consumption makes it of true worth, if some technical pitfalls are not waiting to open them up in the coming future.