LEDs Dethrone Compact Fluorescents as King of Eco-Friendly Lightbulbs
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Never mind that twisty compact fluorescent. The new energy-efficient way to light your home is with LEDs. An upcoming crop of bulbs draw 12 watts or less, edging out a typical fluorescent, and they have a more conventional shape, contain no mercury, and last at least 25,000 hours, three times as long.
They’re among the first LED bulbs as bright as a classic 60-watt incandescent (about 800 lumens), and they address past problems with LEDs, such as bluish light, overheated chips and too-concentrated beams. Launch the gallery to find out how they’ll do it, all within a 130-year-old form.
Click to launch the photo gallery

Warm Glow, Cool Bulb
Price not set (est. $60; by winter)
![GE’s design casts light in nearly all directions because its heat sink, made of thin aluminum claws, leaves most of the bulb exposed, and a diffusive coating scatters light. The first model will be a nine-watt substitute [shown here] for a 40-watt, 450-lumen incandescent; an 800-lumen version, using about 12 watts, is planned for next summer. <a href="http://www.gelighting.com">GE Energy Smart 9W LED</a><br />
$40–$50](https://www.popsci.com/uploads/2019/03/18/PNDE4QJV5PQVGF53SGH72CZN6Y-1024x775.jpg?auto=webp)
All-Over Light
$40–$50

Accurate Colors
Price not set

Dropping Costs
About $30 (avail. fall)