Answer 4—Not as well as you might expect. LEDs do well as panel indicators because their light output is directed in a relatively narrow cone. Most of the light emitted by an incandescent indicator is wasted.

However, for general lighting, it’s the total amount of light emitted in all directions that counts. In terms of lumens per watt, incandescent bulbs have long been the leader, and fluorescent bulbs are several times better yet. LEDs have only recently achieved parity and begun to surpass incandescent bulbs in terms of efficiency. The best LED-based bulbs today lie between incandescents and fluorescents.

Contributor: David Tweed