LED vs Halogen: Which one is better? LED or Halogen?

LED vs Halogen: Which one is better?

There are many types of lighting technologies available in the market and it is important to know about them to choose the right one. Halogen and LED lights are the two most common types of lighting and you should know the difference between LED and Halogen lights so that you can make the right decision on what is the best lighting solution for you.

There are many assumptions regarding the Halogen vs LED lights, some say that LED lights are too expensive to purchase up front, and some say that halogen lights produce lots of heat and consume too much electricity that leads to the high cost of running halogen bulbs. Let's talk about LED vs Halogen lights to decide which one is better.

What are LED and Halogen lights?

LED or light-emitting diodes are different from halogen lights based on the technology used to generate light and unlike traditional light bulbs, they don’t have a filament. In simple words, LED bulbs generate light by the passage of current over a semi-conductor. LEDs are energy efficient as compared to halogen bulbs and generate very little heat i.e. only 20% heat and 80% light. 

The earlier forms of LED lights were criticized because they light up very slowly; however, the latest versions of LED lights immediately light up. For homes, LED bulbs and tube lights are the new trend and are the main component of the drive towards creating energy-efficient homes as well as reducing electricity costs. 

Several governments are trying to phase out such halogen lights in an attempt to switch towards more efficient types of lights such as LED lighting. Halogen bulbs are not highly efficient in terms of light generation and are not eco-friendly. Such kinds of lights burn out quickly as compared to LED lights.

How does LED work?

The full form of LED is a light-emitting diode. An electrical component, a diode is consists of two electrodes, which allows electric current to pass through it in only one direction. The light is generated due to the constant movement of electrons in the semiconductor.

How does a halogen work?

The working principle of a halogen bulb is the same as an incandescent light bulb. The main difference is in the generation of heat as in the case of halogen light, more electricity is converted into the light as compared to incandescent light. Halogen bulbs contain gas to prevent black spots on the lamp.

LED vs Halogen lights

Energy efficiency

LED bulbs are more energy-efficient as compared to halogen bulbs and they use 85% less energy than halogen lights but produce the same light.

Brightness

LED bulbs have the same brightness as halogen bulbs. LED bulbs generate the same light just like halogen lights while consuming 85% less power so that you can switch to a 7.5 Watt LED bulb with a traditional 50 Watt bulb. 

Cost

LED lights are a bit expensive when compared with halogen lights but this price difference is continuously reducing with the advancement of LED technology. You will recover most of the up-front cost of LED lighting with a significantly increased lifespan than halogen lights.

Heat generation

LED lights produce less heat than halogen bulbs and most of the energy consumed is converted into the light which makes them cool to touch. While the halogen lights convert most of the energy into heat, thus require more energy to generate the same amount of light like LED lights.

The life span of halogen vs LED

LED lights have a long lifespan when compared with halogen lights. LED lights last 10 times longer than halogen lights. When this fact is combined with reduced energy consumption, you can clearly see the price difference between LED and Halogen lights.

Lumens in a 100 Watt 

A halogen bulb of 100 Watt power will produce over 1,900 lumens while the same power LED bulb will produce over 11,500 lumens.

Advantages of LED lights

•          LED lights consume low power because they don’t have a filament to be heated and they are energy efficient. With the energy efficiency qualities, no energy is wasted and 80% of the energy is saved.
•          They have a long lifespan and on average LED lights lasts for about 15,000 to 150,000 hours. However, halogen lights have a lifetime of only 1000 hours. The long life of LED light sources results in less replacement and energy costs 
•          LED lights are great for accent lighting as they are available in various colour temperatures. LED bulbs generally have a light beam between 8° and 360°. It has the benefit that an appropriate LED light is available for any situation. It enables you to generate particular accent lights but also replicate the feel and look of a classical light bulb.
•          These light sources are environmentally friendly in contrast to traditional light sources as they are free of toxic chemicals. For instance, a broken CFL light bulb will not only harm your health but also damaging for the environment. Besides, they are a special type of waste that is not easy to dispose of.

Disadvantages of LED lights

•          The upfront cost or initial investment is quite high as compared to halogen bulbs. However, owing to the high energy efficiency and long life of LED lights, a fast ROI (Return on Investment) is possible.

Advantages of a halogen bulb

•          Halogen bulbs are not costly to buy
•          They are available in a wide variety
•          They have a good light intensity

Disadvantages of a halogen bulb

•          On average, halogen lights last only about 1000 hours, meaning that you are required to buy new light bulbs regularly, spending lots of time replacing light bulbs.
•          Due to high heat generation, they become too hot and can’t be touched when it is turned on or right after burning. 
•          A transformer is always needed to connect halogen lights to the mains.

LED vs Halogen: Conclusion

LED light bulbs are usually preferred over halogen lights because they last 10 times longer and consume up to 85% less energy. It means that you can save over £300 each year on your electricity bills when you choose LED lights over halogen bulbs.