For the closest match, choose a 6-watt-equivalent LED to replace your 60-watt incandescent bulb.
If you’re switching from incandescent to CFL (compact fluorescent light bulb), choose a 13-watt CFL.
Either one will save you a lot of energy: LEDs use about 90 percent less energy than a traditional incandescent bulb, while CFLs save 75 percent. Plus, CFLs and LEDs emit little to no heat, while incandescents spent 90 percent of their energy producing heat and only 10 percent on light.
LEDs are different from incandescents in two other ways:
First, LED light is directional. That means it shines light in a single direction onto the surface you point it to. Incandescent and fluorescent bulbs are non-directional, which means they send light out in all directions so they fill a space with light. So if you’re switching to energy-efficient bulbs, fluorescents might be better for “general” lighting, and LEDs might work best as accent lights.
Second, LEDs are not quite the same color as incandescents. The incandescent bulbs we’re used to at home are a warm white or slightly amber color. LEDs emit a “colder,” bluer light. Still, the color is getting closer all the time as manufacturers work to perfect these ultra-efficient bulbs.
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