Until then, consumers can find LED bulbs suitable for secondary and mood-lighting purposes in many hardware and big-box stores, as well as online. Got an environmental question?

Conventional fluorescent tube light fixtures officially need to die now that a Japanese company has announced a Wi-Fi-equipped LED fluorescent tube lamp replacement worthy of being on a spaceship.

GE's Bright from the Start hybrid bulbs, for example, contain a miniature halogen bulb that illuminates immediately, providing warm light while the fluorescent coil warms up.

To compare apples to apples, I tested only LED bulbs that aim to replicate the classic 60-watt/800 lumen incandescent bulb. A little spec-splaining: Watts measure energy use, lumens measure ...