Brightness is measured in lumens; the higher the lumens, the brighter the bulb. Color rendering index (CRI) is a measurement on a scale of 0-100 of how accurately the light from a bulb represents an object's true colors; the higher the number, the more natural the colors appear. Any CRI value over 80 will show colors true to life. Bulbs with a warm light appearance have yellow tones. Bulbs with a neutral light appearance are often used in workspaces. Bulbs with a cool light appearance have white/blue tones and are good for inspecting. A bulb’s estimated yearly cost is based on 3 hours of usage per day at $0.11 per kWh.

LED bulbs last longer and are more efficient than fluorescent bulbs. They generate little heat and withstand vibration. To install, bypass the ballast by wiring the socket directly to the power source.

Plastic-coated glass bulbs are shatter resistant; the coating retains glass shards if they break.

Replace high-intensity discharge (HID) lights with the longer-lasting, energy-efficient LEDs. Brightness is measured in lumens; the higher the lumens, the brighter the bulb. LED lights are perceived as brighter at night than high-intensity discharge light technologies, so they require fewer lumens to provide the same brightness. Match your old light’s wattage to find the right LED bulb. A bulb’s estimated yearly cost is based on 3 hours of usage per day at $0.11 per kWh.

Ballast bypass bulbs eliminate the need for a ballast, so the socket must be wired directly to the power source.

Swap out the high-intensity discharge (HID) bulbs in your hazardous-location lights to lower energy costs. These LED bulbs are rated for NEC Class I, Division 2 locations, so they’re safe to use near combustible concentrations of gas. They last longer than HID bulbs and achieve the same brightness with fewer lumens. Match the wattage of the bulb you’re replacing. These are ballast bypass bulbs—install them in a socket that’s wired directly to the power source.