Consumer Reports says the biggest beef people have with CFL (compact fluorescent) and LED bulbs is the price, with 23 percent of those surveyed stating that they cost too much.
Consumer Reports identified four light-bulb letdowns and ways to prevent them.
Too dim. Opt for more lumens. Check the lighting facts label on packages of CFLs and LEDs for the number of lumens.
Weird light color. Choose the right Kelvin (K) number. Light color is expressed by its Kelvin temperature. The higher the Kelvin number, the cooler the light. Those wanting to trim electric bills who prefer the warm light of an incandescent should choose a CFL or LED marked 2700K or so on the lighting facts label.
Unflattering light. Choose bulbs with a higher CRI. When the colors of things look off, find out the color rendering index of the bulbs. CRI indicates how accurately a bulb displays colors; the higher the better. Incandescent bulbs are at or near 100; most CFLs and LEDs Consumer Reports tested are in the low-to-mid 80s.
Early burnout. Return the light bulb to the retailer or contact the manufacturer. You may need the model number or UPC and a receipt. When buying replacements, be sure the bulbs can be used in existing fixtures.
