Introduction Fluorescent lights and LED (light-emitting diodes) light technology are technologies of producing devices, which act as sources of light. In modern day technology, a number of items make use of these two technologies. However, it is imperative to note that most of the items are of LED technology such as television remote controls, car indicators and digital clocks. Characteristically, these gadgets are small and reliable. Additionally, LED items have narrow bandwidth possibilities and high switching velocities as compared to fluorescent lights. They are also available in different wavelengths, for example, infrared, visible and ultraviolet (William & Hall, 1978, pp. 3-7). Raw Materials In manufacturing fluorescent lamp tubes, designers use a number of commonly available raw materials. To start with, the tube of an LED light bulb is filled with low-pressure mercury vapor. Moreover, the walls of the bulb are coated using rare-earth phosphor salts and other easily available metals. Another raw material used in manufacturing fluorescent light bulbs is tungsten. The electrodes of the bulb are made of tungsten and behave as a cathode by emitting electrons. Nevertheless, in order to induce a low thermionic emission temperature, the electrodes must be coated with a blend of strontium, calcium oxides, and barium. Alternatively, the common raw materials used in LED technology include diodes, thin layers of semiconductor material, such as gallium arsenide (GaAs) or gallium phosphide (GaP). In the place of mercury, LED light bulbs have arsenic and lead, which are less toxic. Additionally, the semiconductor is doped with some impurities (zinc or nitrogen), which are responsible for the different colors of light emanating from LED items. Other materials include wires, which connect the components and a transparent plastic for casing. As we have seen, most of these raw materials are metals that are readily available in the market (Bellis, 2007. p.1). Energy comparisons Although fluorescent light bulbs are similar to LED items in terms of their roles (production of light), the differences between the two remains diverse. For instance, unlike fluorescent lights, items made through LED technology get neither hot nor burn out easily due to the absence of the filament. Furthermore, unlike fluorescent items, LED items do not use mercury, which is a dangerous substance; instead, they contain lead and arsenic that are less toxic. In terms of lifespan, LED light bulbs take more time to burn out as compared to fluorescent light bulbs. For example, depending on the application and the manner of use, LED light bulbs can survive lifespan period ranging from 35,000 to 50,000 hours. The long lifespan makes LED items attractive alternatives. Nevertheless, when compared to fluorescent lights, LED technology items are costly, thus, making them prohibitive in the market. On the other hand, the lifespan of fluorescent bulbs is shorter as compared to that of LED light bulbs ranging from 10,000 to 15,000 hours. Notably, since fluorescent bulbs generate some heat, they are significant in cold climates. In terms of energy emitted, LED light bulbs produce over 200 lm/W of light, at least, according to laboratory tests. Currently, there are