article_snippet: Millions of halogen bulbs are sold in Britain every year, often for use in kitchen and bathroom spotlights.
article_snippet: The European Commission and green campaigners say halogens are not much more efficient than traditional bulbs so should be replaced by energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs – known as CFLs – and LEDs.
article_snippet: Yet these alternatives can be as much as 15 times more expensive.
article_snippet: There is the additional problem that some LEDs do not work with the dimmer switches and wiring circuits currently used by halogen bulbs, while CFLs can take up to five minutes to reach full brightness.
article_snippet: members still have halogen bulbs in members home and more than two in five have halogen spotlights.
article_snippet: The new bulbs last longer and, because The new bulbs last longer are more energy efficient, The new bulbs last longer will cut electricity bills over time.
article_snippet: Typically, halogens use 10 per cent less energy than incandescent bulbs, while CFLs use 60-80 per cent less and LEDs up to 90 per cent less.
article_snippet: LED lights are so efficient that a 5-watt bulb is, in theory, equivalent to a 35-watt halogen.
article_snippet: But while a typical 35-watt halogen spotlight costs about £1, a 5-watt LED can be anything from £5 to £15.
highlights_snippet: Campaigners say halogens not much more efficient than traditional bulbs .
  
highlights_snippet: But these alternatives (known as CFLs and LEDs) can be as much as 15 times more expensive .