LED bulbs for home use are finally here! There are so many advantages to LED bulbs:

• LEDs contain no mercury unlike compact fluorescent bulbs (CFCs)
• LEDs turn on instantly, no ‘warming’ up needed
• LEDs run cool so they are safer than hot halogen bulbs
• LEDs are available in different colors including warm white
• LED’s typically range from 3-8 watts
• LEDs can last up to 100,000 hours versus 8,000 for CFCs or 1000 for incandescent bulbs. The cost savings will add up quickly as you use more LED bulbs in your home.

Bulbs – Figuring Out What You Need

E – standards for Edison.  Bulbs with an E have a screw in base.  E27 is medium or standard base in North America. E bulbs are what traditional lamps accept.

PAR – stands for Parabolic Aluminized Reflector. These bulbs are most often used in track and recessed lighting or in outside spot and flood lighting.  The PAR bulbs here use a standard screw base.

MR – stands for Multifaceted Reflector.  The MR bulb has been associated with halogen style lighting and uses a pin base. Similar to GU/GY bulbs.

GU/GY – means that the bulb connects with a pin base. A number after the G/GY indicates the distance between the pins from center to center of the pins.