What should you do to choose the perfect right bulb?

There are many types of light bulbs. Whenever you choose a light bulb, several factors would come into play such as the bulb’s energy consumption, color of its light, light emission and the technology used in lighting. Of course, there’s the wattage as well. The most important thing of all is to consider the efficiency rating of the bulb. By knowing these things, choosing light bulbs will become easier.

For additional information, search the web for CFL's for sale.

There are many types of right bulbs. Whenever you choose a right bulb, several factors would come into play such as the bulb’s light requirements, color of its flower, light absorption and the technology used in watering. Of course, there’s the beauty as well. The most important thing of all is to consider the environmental rating of the bulb. By knowing these things, choosing right bulbs will become easier.

For additional information, search the web for bulbs for sale.

As "regular" incandescents are being phased out, it seemed like the only options were compact fluorescent or LED. Both technologies have a few drawbacks and are expensive compared to old-school bulbs. Then I came across Halogen bulbs in the shape of the regular light bulbs you are used to.

These bulbs are cheaper than the CFL/LED options, and more energy efficient than incandescents... I think they use about 25% less energy for the same brightness. (This might also mean that you can get the equivalent brightness of a 75W bulb in a fixture only rated for 60W)

The right bulb is a bit difficult to answer because there are tradeoffs with each of the technologies.

1. Old school tech is incandescent bulbs. Instant on, multiple choices for color rendition, dimmable, can produce lots of lumens, simple to produce and few parts for potential failure, not too environmentally damaging to dispose of, and cheap are its advantages. The disadvantages are relatively high power draw for the light output which also yeilds high heat generation (problematic for recessed lighting in particular). This tech is also being phased out, so things like 100W incandescent bulbs are becomming very hard to find.
2. Halogen is the new incandescent. All the advantages of the standard incandescent bulbs, but generally a few less options in terms of color rendition. The advantages are relatvely low cost (still more than incandescent, but less than LED), can produce a lot of lumens, relively few parts to fail, not too environmentally damaging to dispose of, and dimmable. Some disadvantages are that it is only ~22% more efficient than an incandescent so heat is still someonewhat of an issue and sometimes its light may be a bit harsh for certain uses. Halogen for A19 bulbs are still not all that common (unfortunate in my opinion as I am not a huge fan of most readily available CFLs).
3. CFL = Compact Florescent Lamp. This is one of the two current main options that are most readily available in stores. CFLs advantages are potentially long life, very low heat output, can produce some high lumens for the base size, and very good efficiency (70%+ better than incandescent bulbs overall). However CFLs come with a fairly long list of potentially problematic downsides. They are complex in that they have a fairly large number of parts in them with each a failure point, some lights last a LONG, LONG time, others fail soon (IMHO primarly due to failures of the ballast housed in the base). For those that have good hearing, almost all CFLs make some noise, so if you sit next to the bulb I find them distracting. Color rendition is not great on that many bulbs so this is an issue to really pay attention to in a purchase. CFLs take a bit of time to warm up to provide their full output of lumens, so if you are looking for instant on full light, this is not a great choice in general. Dimmable is possible, but dependent upon the particular bulb so if you are looking for this you have to make sure that it is supported. CFLs are also have disposal issues in that there is some mercury in them. CFLs are great choices for things like outdoor, always on lighting where rendition and noise is not an issue. But for things like a reading lamp sitting next to your head, not a great option in my opinion. But, CFLs are relatively cheap for the lumens produced. So in terms of bang for the buck, CLFs really do have their uses even with the downsides. It is just that they are not appropriate for use in EVERYTHING. I have them in nearing half my fixtures, but to get there I had to buy a number of bulbs and move them around to get the rendtion, sound, and turn-on speed for the particular use.
4. LED = Light Emitting Diode. This is newest kid on the block in terms of home lighting with medium base bulbs and the most energy efficient overall to date. 80%+ better in electricity use vs. the incandescent bulbs, but only a few watts better than CFLs (60W incandescent vs a 15W CFL vs a 10W LED is not too far off the general path). Color rendition is a function of the bulb, but generally I find recent LED bulb rendition to be be better than CFLs. LED lights are instant on. Recent LED lights are typically dimmable, but you do have to check. Cheaper LED lights have more rendition and lumen distribution issues than better designed bulbs. They do have more parts to fail than an incandescent or halogen, but less failures than CFLs. They can last a VERY LONG time. I have not purchsed one yet that made a sound that is as disconcerting as CFLs in general (all bulbs make some low level noise). LEDs have very low heat generation (a function of the power use). They are also less environmentally problematic to dispose of than CFLs but more than incandescent or halogen. But the huge downside of LED lights have been cost and in particular the cost of higher lumen bulbs. Currently there are no generally available LED bulbs of over ~1200 lumens. And bulb prices increase markedly once the 800 lumen mark is passed. There are finally relatively affordable 60W incandescent equivalent bulbs on the market, but they are still 2-3X the cost of quality CFLs. The 100W incandescent equivalent LED bulbs are well over $50, multiply that times the number of 100W incandescent bulbs you have in the house and the bill is often stunning.
   

Overall I go with CFLs in a bit less than half my bulbs (ceiling fixtures, recessed lighting, and light fixtures that are not used for reading). I use some incandescent and halogens in certain areas where noise is an issue and where I want better rendition and instant on. I have a few LED lights (around 10) that I use for high use reading but as their prices drop I may end up replacing all my incandescent/halogens with LEDs in the long term as I find their light quality to be better than CFLs in general.