Which is Better, LED or Fluorescent T8 Bulbs?
1000Bulbs.com explores the changing trends in the lighting industry and the progression towards more efficient lighting among T8 bulbs. But whichever bulb may work for you, we know that often the color of the bulb, may not. And that’s where LEE Filters can help! With over 300 colors and diffusion options to choose from, you can creatively transform the mood of a room just by using our gels! Visit our site HERE for to learn more on the endless possibilities in creating your ideal interior or exterior lighting design with LEE Filters’ Fluorescent Sleeves !
In the past few years, we’ve seen many light bulb phase-outs aimed at removing inefficient incandescent and fluorescent bulbs. We’ve also seen companies rolling out newer, more efficient bulbs and lamps such as LED T8s.
Overall, the lighting industry and civilization itself are progressing
toward lighting being as energy efficient as possible. A true increase
in efficiency, means decreasing energy losses without sacrificing
current levels of lighting brilliance and utility. After all, if it’s
just about using less energy, we could dim all of our lights for the
same effect. Progress means that lumens, color, and usability increase
or stay at their current level as energy and production costs decrease.
So how do T8 light bulbs stack up with the current forward motion? Are
LED T8s really any better than using your current fluorescent lamps?
Fluorescent tubes have had a very long history with many advances
made in their design, production, and efficiency. At this point,
they’re only slightly behind LED lights on efficiency and lifespan, but,
barring some major technological breakthrough, there’s little we can do
to truly improve fluorescents without developing a new technology
altogether. Fluorescent tubes now have much higher lumen and CRI values
than previous lamps. They also last longer, use less energy, and have
improved on-times thanks to better electrical ballasts.
And even with all of these improvements, fluorescent T8s are still
inexpensive on a per-bulb basis (the ballasts themselves can be fairly
expensive).
However, some of a fluorescent’s strengths come with disadvantages.
The newer ballasts last longer and help to improve lamp life, but while
the bulbs are inexpensive, a good ballast is costly. That same ballast
introduces an additional failure point, since it will eventually wear
out. No matter how efficient a fluorescent is, flickering and warm-up
time are still hallmarks of a fluorescent bulb. Both problems are
compounded by cold temperatures. And, while they contain less mercury than a can of tuna fish, fluorescent lamps do contain mercury and require careful disposal.
Meanwhile, LED T8s have fewer failure points because they are
self-driven and can be connected directly to a building’s line voltage.
It should be said that direct-wire LED T8s should always be installed by a licensed electrician.
Even so, they’re easy to install, with newer bulbs being designed to
work with existing T8 ballasts for end-user installation without a
licensed electrician. Unfortunately, each individual bulb is far more
expensive than a fluorescent tube. So, if fluorescents are already efficient and long-lasting, what benefit would an LED T8 give?
For one, LED T8s aren’t as fragile. Most LED T8s are made from
plastic rather than glass, without any tiny filaments or internal
phosphor paints to break or erode. You’ll also find that, with rare
exceptions (typically caused by incompatible dimmers), LEDs do not flicker
when turned on or while in use. Once the light is active, it’s active
at full brightness, without a warm-up period. LEDs work under a greater
range of temperatures compared to fluorescents, and they aren’t
negatively affected by cold. Standard LED tube lights are also safe for
UV-sensitive areas because, like most LED light bulbs, they don’t emit
an appreciable amount of UV.
It’s true that the difference in efficiency and longevity between
high-efficiency fluorescents and LED T8s is marginal, but there is a
difference. While LEDs are more efficient and longer lasting, they can
be expensive. Overall, it’s best to use fluorescent lights when you
need to install many lights in a temperate area, and LED T8s when you
need fewer lights, are lighting a colder environment (where fluorescent
lights can be problematic) or for color intensive rooms. You may also
want to use LED T8s if you’re one of the few people sensitive to the
high frequency flickering of a fluorescent light.
- Source