A CFL light bulb is also known as a compact fluorescent lamp or a compact fluorescent light, they were made to replace incandescent light bulbs. CFLs use 1/3rd to 1/5th the electrical power of incandescent lighting and can last 8 to 15 times longer. An average CFL bulb which provides 800 lumens will use only 13 to 15 watts compared to a similar incandescent bulb which uses 60 watts.
Click calculate to find out the electricity cost of a single CFL light bulb running at 14 Watts for 5 hours a day @ $0.10 per kWh, you can also modify the calculator.
Hours Used Per Day: Enter how many hours the device is being used on average per day, if the power consumption is lower than 1 hour per day enter as a decimal. (For example: 30 minutes per day is 0.5)
Power Use (Watts): Enter the average power consumption of the device in watts.
Price (kWh): Enter the cost you are paying on average per kilowatt hour, our caculators use the default value of 0.10 or 10 cents. To find an exact price check your electricity bill or take a look at Global Electricity Prices.
Comparison Between LED, CFL and Incandescent Light Bulbs:
| LED | CFL | Incandescent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifespan in hours | 10,000 | 9,000 | 1,000 |
| Watts (equivalent 60 watts) | 10 | 14 | 60 |
| Cost per bulb | $2.50 | $2.40 | $1.25 |
| Daily cost* | $0.005 | $0.007 | $0.03 |
| Annual cost* | $1.83 | $2.56 | $10.95 |
| Cost for 50k hours @ $0.10 kWh | $50 | $70 | $300 |
| Bulbs needed for 50k hours | 5 | 5.5 | 50 |
| Total cost for 50k hours with bulb price | $62.50 | $83.20 | $362.50 |
* Assuming 5 hours a day @ $0.10 per kWh.
CFL is a good option for lighting and may be preferred in some specific cases, as they produce slightly more heat than LEDs. But generally LED light bulbs are more energy efficient at a similar cost, and therefore are more preferred for typical house lighting.
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