Halogen Bulbs
Halogen GE light bulbs surpass most LEDs and CFLs in color faithfulness and in their breadth of application. With regard to color faithfulness, or the color rendering index (CRI), LEDs and CFLs are inconsistent. A 2009 report by the Pacific Northwest Laboratory for the US Department of Energy found that LED replacement bulbs for directional MR16s and more diffuse light sources like A-shape bulbs had CRI scores at best 85 and at worst below 70. In other words, LED replacement bulbs may not be able to accurately display the colors in your home, restaurant, or store. Though CFLs fare slightly better than LEDs, halogen GE light bulbs are by and large the best choice when color is important, such as in spaces like a kitchen or retail environment. Another advantage of halogens over LEDs and CFLs is that halogens produce a versatile light. In low voltage 12v MR16s, halogens GE light bulbs can produce a highly focusable light perfect for spot or broader beams, whereas in PAR shapes halogen bulbs are exceptional for flood lighting and general illumination. Some LEDs struggle as general light sources and some CFLs are inconsistent as directional light sources. Though LEDs and CFLs may be the longest lasting and most efficient, sometimes they are simply the wrong choice in certain applications and consumers‘ lighting may suffer because of it. Halogen GE light bulbs on the other hand are found in nearly all applications from stage & studio lighting to surgical and medical lighting. With respect to LED replacement bulbs, a 2010 report for the US Department of Energy on LED bulbs found that some of them do not correspond to the dimensions of the shapes they are replacing as specified by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) codes.
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