Previous studies of light source selection in private homes have indicated a preference for the use of incandescent light bulbs. In relation to light bulbs, the more energy-efficient sources of light that are available on the private market have emerged from divergent light emitting technology. Significant differences in lighting characteristics, light colour and visual comfort can be identified when light from fluorescent tubes, fluorescent lamps, low-energy bulbs and LEDs  are compared with that from incandescent light bulbs.  This may make the transition from using incandescent bulbs to increasing the use of more energy-efficient sources of light in private homes more difficult. There is a pressing need to map preferences for lighting characteristics, light colour and visual comfort in order to eliminate any obstacles to switching to more energy-efficient sources of light.  126 people from 25 different countries participated in the study. The study shows that the subjects from a physiological point of view and response, experienced a higher level of arousal, lower level of tiredness and felt more comfortable as expressed in mean values when staying in a lit environment designed with luminaries equipped with LED, halogen and low energy than compared to staying in the light emitted from luminaries equipped only with LED. The study also shows that when the color of the light (Color temperature, K. ) and the light source LED was evaluated from a quality perspective ( 2700K, 2950K, 3660K, 4300K, 5350K) by groups divided into Scandinavians, Centraleuropeans and non Europeans differences in the visual preferences was revealed.  The group of Scandinavians rated 2700K with the highest mean for the color of light. The Centraleuropeans and non Europeans rated 4300K as the highest quality of the light color. Results for preferred illuminance on the working table (measured horizontally, lux) on the other hand did not differ among the participants in the three groups. The results indicate several similarities in the pattern of light preferences as a respons to the research question.