LEDs: Illuminating your light choices

The cheaper a technology becomes, the more pervasive it gets. So the precipitous price drops in the LED bulb market mean it's ready to go mainstream -- although you may need a few pointers about how to choose the right LEDs for your home. Just a few years ago, a 60-watt equivalent LED or light-emitting diode bulb cost $40 to $50. Last year, more advanced LED bulbs dropped to $10 each. A year on, prices have dropped 50 percent, with bulbs from TCP and Philips now under $5. GE is continuing the price war this summer with a new line of even smaller, less expensive bulbs dubbed the LED Bright Stik.