Best replacements for 100 watt bulbs

The standard light bulb as you know it is about to be extinct. The Federal government is phasing out incandescent bulbs, but the swirly compact fluorescent bulb won't be your only option.

Consumers may not be paying much attention to all the changes in the light bulb industry, but you should because your next bulb could cost you $50.

Before you panic, listen to how long that bulb will last.

"These claim to last, some of them, up to 40 years. So there can be a whole generation of people that don't understand light bulb jokes," said Consumer Reports Deputy Home Editor Celia Kuperszmid Lehrman.

CFLs doing better in Consumer Reports testing

As of  Jan. 1, incandescent bulbs are being phased out, so you may want to stock up now. An incandescent may be cheap, but it's not energy efficient.

The compact fluorescent is more energy efficient, but a lot of consumers don't like CFLs.

Testing at Consumer Reports labs also revealed flaws with early version CFLs.

"They weren't very bright. They hummed. They buzzed. They flickered. They gave you the unfortunate light and you look yourself in the mirror saying I must look better than that," Kuperszmid Lehrman said.

The outlook for CFLs is getting better. Consumer Reports tested 26 of the newest bulbs and found they do a good job of mimicking incandescent light.

Look for the Energy Star logo. That means the bulb has met strict energy efficiency and durability standards, as well as guidelines for color and brightness.

Top Picks

Consumer Reports said the Eco-Smart soft white CFL bulb is a good choice for a table lamp. They cost $6 for a four-pack at Home Depot.

Another top choice is the Utilitech Soft White from Lowes, about $2 each.

There's another bonus: less mercury.

"Some of the ones we tested this year use about 60 to 75 percent less mercury than ones we tested just three years ago," Kuperszmid Lehrman said.

You still need to recycle them, but the newer CFLs are less of a concern than the older ones.

LEDs may take over the spotlight

Soon, we may be forgetting about CFLs, too, as light emitting diodes -- or LEDs -- take over the spotlight. Consumer Reports said LEDs outshine CFLs. There's no mercury and they last 40 years.

"They are instant on at full brightness. CFLs have a little bit of a delay," Lehrman said.

They are not swirly like a CFL, but the design is a bit odd.

"LEDs don't like heat. These are all the ways it dissipates the heat," Lehrman said, pointing out the casing on the light bulbs.

But, don't worry. LEDs are not hot to the touch.

LEDs are not the hot item yet, and the price may have a thing or two to do with that. But, Consumer Reports said the prices are dropping dramatically.

"The Phillips LED bulb is one of our top rated bulbs and when we tested them and published the results in September through October, it was $40. The price has dropped to $25," Lehrman said.

That's a $15 price reduction in just a few months.

While pricey up front, Consumer Reports said the bulb will pay for itself in just a few years. Over the lifetime of the bulb, expect to save hundreds of dollars.

As always, don't waste your money.

________________________________

Don't Waste Your Money is a registered trademark of the EW Scripps Co.john