Philips LED is first 60-watt replacement to earn Energy Star status

As the battle of the bulb intensifies, Philips can declare a victory. Its 12.5-watt LED has earned Energy Star status, making it the first LED replacement for the 60-watt incandescent to qualify.

That means these Philips AmbientLED bulbs meet or exceed the standards and a third-party lab, approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, has verified the test results. The Energy Star label can translate into consumer savings since utility-rebate programs often focus on Energy Star products. Philips reports that utility rebates of up to $30 are available in some areas, and the manufacturer is offering a $10 rebate. That's a start, given the LED costs $40 at Home Depot.

So what makes an LED Energy-Star qualified? For bulbs replacing the 60-watt incandescent, the LED must have:

• A light output of least 800 lumens; lumens indicate brightness.
• The color temperature must be 2700K, meaning the light is soft white.
• The color rendering index is 80 or higher. The CRI indicates how accurately the bulb reveals color; natural sunlight has a CRI of 100, an incandescent is close to 100.
• A warranty of three years or longer.

There are other requirements, such as the LED must cast light in all directions, something some other LEDs are not able to do. The Philips LEDs have a six-year warranty, 806 lumens, 2700K, and a CRI of 80. And not only do these Energy Star LEDs use a fraction of the energy of standard incandescents, but they must last at least 25,000 hours, or more than 22 years when on three hours a day. But Energy Star doesn't require the bulbs make it to 25,000 hours in tests, so the claims are based on testing and probability analysis.

We're testing LEDs now and will report back with our findings. Until then, before you shop become familiar with lightbulb lingo. A low-priced LED is hardly a bargain if it's a dim bulb. And be sure to scout for rebates.

—Kimberly Janeway