Here’s one of the 6 fluorescent fixtures in my kitchen. They each have a 24″, 1200-lumen fluorescent bulb in them, and cost around 50 bucks, I think. 2 of them have begun to buzz loudly enough that spouse and I want to replace them. I’m thinking of replacing them with the next wave of energy-efficient lighting – a white LED array. A quick Google search turns up a bunch of fixtures and vendors: you can have 180 lumens for about $100 or 1680 lumens for $129 (plus a $35 power supply). As usual, early adoption means paying a price.

But then, LEDs last 4 times as long as fluorescents, appear to have similar efficiency (or better depending on the model) and don’t have mercury in them (which both Greg and Lamar pointed out when I said we were greening up here at gulker.com). Even though LEDs are more money, they may already be cost-effective if you figure in environmental costs.  CFLs are 8 to 12 times longer lasting than incandescents, and use one-quarter the power: LEDs may use half as much power as fluorescents and last 4x as long. So I guess we just bite the bullet, pick a fixture and order it…

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