Brighten up with Cree's 100W Replacement LED (pictures)
This bigger, brighter version of one of our favorite LEDs looks like a nice value in the lighting aisle.
Cree 100W Replacement LED
Cree's got a bigger, brighter version of its original, highly acclaimed LED. Click through to see what this 100W replacement is capable of.
Lighting specs
Cree's bulb puts out 1,600 lumens' worth of warm, yellowy, 2,700 K light. For an extra dollar, you can get the same bulb with a hotter, whiter, "Daylight" color temperature of 5,000 K.
Efficiency
The bulb puts that light out from a power draw of 18 watts -- roughly 89 lumens per watt, if you do the math. Running it for an average of 3 hours per day, it'd add about $2 to your energy bill per year. A comparable incandescent would add about $12.
Longevity
Cree's LED is rated to last 25,000 hours (over twenty years at three hours per day). The company backs its bulb up with a 10-year warranty, to boot.
Omnidirectionality
On the left, a 100W replacement LED from Sylvania. On the right, the omnidirectional Cree LED, which casts more downward light.
Price point
Cree's LED sells at Home Depot for about $20. That's a very fair price point for a very solid LED -- read my full review to hear more about it.