8 Best Fluorescent Light Alternatives

Whether it’s an office, kitchen, garage workshop, or warehouse, both fluorescent tubes and bulbs are very common. In fact, a study in the United States found that approximately 60% of all the areas around the country are still using either compact fluorescent bulbs or light tubes in high bay or low bay ceiling fixtures. Fortunately, there are plenty of other options when it comes to more energy-efficient alternatives.

In addition to being energy hogs, fluorescent lights contain a toxic chemical (mercury), produce a significant amount of heat, and have a relatively short lifespan. For all of these reasons, and more, many find themselves seeking out fluorescent light alternatives. If this is the case for you, you’ve come to the right place.

While compact fluorescent lights are an alternative to the traditional fluorescent tubes, other alternatives include natural lighting, halogen bulbs, CMH lighting, candles, and LED bulbs and tubes.

That said, let’s dive in and take a look at the top eight options.

The standard fluorescent lights are found in tubes, typically between 48 and 84 inches in length. Compact fluorescent bulbs are, as the name implies, a compact version of the fluorescent light. While they are still tubes, the bulb is designed in a spiral or looped pattern to allow it to replace an incandescent bulb. They were originally created to serve as a more efficient and longer-lasting alternative to incandescent lights.

In recent years, both compact fluorescent bulbs and full spectrum fluorescent light bulbs have gained popularity since they possess a higher color rendering index. When compared to incandescent lights, compact fluorescents are also better for the environment and last longer. They allow you to enjoy the benefits that come with traditional fluorescent fixtures, but in a much more compact, practical, and economical design.

Although compact fluorescent bulbs use a fraction of the electricity of incandescent bulbs and diminish carbon emissions, there are environmental dangers related to the improper disposal of CFLs. As such, you may want to look into other alternatives such as optimizing natural lighting, halogen, LED, and more.

Whether you’re seeking out a fluorescent light alternative for your home or office environment, it’s important that you examine things from multiple perspectives. While there are many great options, nothing is quite as good for you and the environment as natural lighting is. Although it’ll simply be impossible to completely avoid unnatural lighting, it is very beneficial to incorporate as much natural light into the space as possible.

As humans, we need sunlight in order to have energy and stay healthy. Not only does light from the sun provide us with vitamin D, which is proven to increase productivity and boost mood, but it’ll also save you tons on your utility bills. Natural lighting is crucial and you should do your best to include it in your home’s lighting design plan. If you’re planning a remodel, consider installing more windows throughout your house.

Alternatively, you can maximize pre-existing windows by making them larger, switching out your front door for one that has glass inserts, and installing skylights to allow the sun to enter during mid-day. To take advantage of the windows you already have, remove the screens and replace bulky curtains with blinds. Trim back bushes and tree branches that may be blocking light from entering the space. Also, something as simple as adding houseplants and greenery to the interior will help to lighten and brighten up your home.

By allowing as much natural light as possible into your home, you’ll be using up less of your unnatural lighting. Aside from lowering your energy bill, you’ll also enjoy the benefit of feeling better and more productive. The only significant drawback to this solution is that natural lighting cannot be utilized when the sun has set. Therefore, you’re going to need to implement another alternative to fluorescent lights during the evening hours.

The halogen light bulb or lamp is essentially a more sophisticated version of the incandescent bulb. Like incandescent light bulbs, an electrical current enters the socket and travels up to the tungsten filament inside the bulb. This results in heating of the filament and ultimately incandescence. Halogen bulbs consist of tungsten filaments that are housed in a quartz capsule and filled with halogen gas.

These bulbs function almost identically to incandescent lamps, with the halogen cycle being the major difference. In a conventional incandescent bulb, tungsten evaporates, which results in blackening of the lamp, and ultimately reduced life and decreased light output. Halogen bulbs, on the other hand, eliminate this issue because the halogen gas chemically reacts with the tungsten to prevent it from adhering to the glass.

The halogen cycle makes halogen lights around 10 to 20 percent more energy-efficient than their traditional incandescent counterparts. Unlike CFLs which have a deferred warm-up, halogen bulbs offer bright, crisp light instantaneously and can be dimmed. According to the United States Department of Energy, halogen bulbs meet the federal minimum for energy efficiency.

However, they do not last remotely as long as LEDs, which carry a lifespan that is approximately eight to 25 times longer than halogen lamps. Halogen bulbs also tend to have a higher upfront cost than CFLs, LEDs, and incandescent bulbs.

Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH), or often called ceramic discharge metal-halide (CDM), lamps closely mimic the sun and are commonly used to grow plants. Due to their more balanced light spectrum and higher emittance of blue wavelengths, CMH lights are conventionally used in vegetation grow cycles. As the name suggests, the arc tube of CMH lamps is made out of a ceramic material. This material is much more stable than the quartz found in halogen bulbs.

Aside from being excellent for helping your plants grow and develop indoors in the same way as they would outdoors, CMH bulbs have a high color rendering index which creates a pleasant work and home environment. When compared to CFLs, they produce a more true, natural color. These bulbs also have a relatively low wattage, and can be considered an energy-efficient alternative to fluorescent lights.

The downsides to opting for CMH bulbs is that they won’t last you as long as CFLs and have a higher upfront cost.

Of course, when it comes to alternatives to fluorescent lighting, you can always go with the traditional light bulb – incandescent. Though they can be purchased for cheap, they waste a considerable amount of energy and do not last as long as CFLs or LEDs. In fact, incandescent bulbs usually only last a mere 750 hours. They also require a lot more electricity and watts to function.

For example, if you were to leave an incandescent bulb running for 25,000 hours, it would cost you approximately $169. An LED bulb, would only cost $30 to be lit for the same amount of time. As a result, incandescent bulbs tend to not shine as brightly as CFLs or LED bulbs. Although many choose to buy incandescent bulbs for their low-price tag (around $1 a bulb), you will end up paying more in the long run – between your electricity bills and having to purchase more bulbs long term.

With that said, while incandescent bulbs can be used in place of fluorescent lights, they come with very little, if any, benefits. They are also incredibly difficult to find in the United States, as federal rules began phasing out these bulbs, in favor of more energy-efficient bulbs. As of 2014, the United States no longer manufactures or imports incandescent light bulbs.

One of the main reasons why individuals find themselves searching for fluorescent lighting alternatives has to do with the fact that these bulbs pose health concerns. The mercury inside both fluorescent tubes and bulbs is unsafe and studies have shown that this type of lighting can have a negative impact on one’s health. If you’re working from home, using the soft light of a candle after hours can be a nice touch. The light that comes off of candles is more calming and natural than that of a CFL or even an LED bulb.

If you need some light after the sun has already set but want to avoid using fluorescent lighting, LED lights are arguably the most practical solution. However, you may desire a break from unnatural lighting sources. In this instance, you can turn to candles. Reading by candlelight can be rather soothing and promotes a calming energy, helping to get your body ready for bedtime.

Unnatural lighting can actually keep you up when you’re supposed to be going to sleep, which is why many burn candles regularly during evening hours. Candles are also inexpensive and the wide range of scent options that are available make this solution very versatile.

Depending on your particular needs, working by candlelight may also be possible. If you’re working from home, you’ll most likely already have lighting provided by your computer monitor. The soft, natural light of a candle can offer supplemental lighting and a calming presence in your work environment.

Of course, candles do not give off a ton of light and this fluorescent light alternative does not have the ability to illuminate an entire room. Candles are generally used as mood lighting and whenever you desire a respite from unnatural sources.

If you’re looking for the best alternative to fluorescent lighting, LED technology is going to be your best bet. Light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs are among the most energy-efficient types of lighting available. They last approximately three to five times longer than CFLs – between 25,000 and 50,000 hours – and use about 75 percent less energy, if not more. However, some of the newer LEDs can last up to 100,000 hours or more.

A diode refers to an electrical device with two electrodes (anode and cathode), which electricity flows through. The electricity flows in only one direction – in through the anode and out through the cathode. In most cases, diodes are constructed out of semi-constructive materials like selenium or silicon. When the electrical current passes through this material, the bulb emits visible light.

Unlike CFLs which usually aren’t dimmable, and cannot be used outdoors or as spotlights, LED bulbs are well-suited for any fixture. They can even be used in decorative installations and chandeliers. Although CFLs may be less expensive and have a quieter operation, LED bulbs can be easily and safely disposed of, use less energy, and may help lessen carbon dioxide levels. However, modern LED bulbs are more competitively priced, and far surpass CFLs in terms of color and overall energy consumption.

If you’re looking for a fluorescent light alternative for an office environment, LED tube lighting is going to be an important component in your lighting plan. Fluorescent tube lights are very common in modern offices and many types of businesses. Though, people are slowly making the switch to LED tube lighting because of the numerous benefits that it offers. The following are just some of the advantages you can enjoy from using LED tube lights over fluorescent tube lights in a work environment:

Related Questions

Are LED shop lights better than fluorescent?

As the name suggests, shop lights are commonly found in workshops and garages where a basic, cost-effective fixture is needed to light a small space, like a workbench or craft table. LED shop lights are essentially the updated, LED version of traditional fluorescent shop lights.The overall advantages of opting for LED lights over fluorescent lights hold true for shop lights – including decreased energy consumption, longer lifespan, and no harmful mercury. Plus, LED lamps emit light downward instead of in a 360-degree angle like fluorescent lights, which makes for a more efficient light. With these benefits in mind, LED shop lights are better than their fluorescent counterparts.

Are incandescent light bulbs banned?

Governments all over the globe have enacted measures to effectively phase out incandescent light bulbs in favor of more energy efficient lighting alternatives. In 2007, the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) officially phased out 60-watt incandescent bulbs. Another set of EISA restrictions were supposed to go into effect in 2020, but the Department of Energy reverted back to previous standards.So, as it stands, incandescent bulbs are not banned by the federal government. Instead, they were made drastically more energy efficient. However, there are currently three states in the U.S. that enforce a ban on some incandescent bulbs: California, Washington, and Nevada.

Do fluorescent lights use more energy?

Fluorescent bulbs, including compact fluorescents (CFLs), use approximately 75 percent less energy than their incandescent counterparts. However, LED light bulbs use about half the wattage of fluorescent lighting. In other words, LED lamps are 20% more efficient than fluorescent lights, on average.