


Unfortunately, there are a number of trade-offs. They're a popular choice in kitchen cabinets and pantries because they don't add extra heat to their surroundings, which can increase the likelihood of food spoilage. Their color rendering makes granite countertops or trinkets in display cabinets look their absolute best, and because they are brighter than Halogens, Xenon bulbs save energy by using fewer watts than a Halogen bulb.įluorescent under cabinet lights are a great choice for bright, energy-efficient lighting that burns cool. Xenon keeps the benefits of Halogen, but burns brighter and cooler. Halogen under cabinet lights, especially the light "pucks" you see in hardware stores, are cheap and provide perfect color accuracy ( color rendering index), but they use tons of energy and waste most of it as heat.
Halogen under cabinet lighting update#
Xenon under cabinet lights are an update of older Halogen lights. Choosing the right light is a matter of personal preference, and it depends on how much you value dimming, heat reduction, color accuracy, and energy savings.

There is no "good, better, best" with under cabinet lights. Halogen, Xenon, Fluorescent, or LED: What is the best type of under cabinet lighting? If you've ever asked yourself that question, you were asking the wrong question.
