The Light-Emitting Diode (LED)
The Light-Emitting Diode (LED) saves money. In 2022, this is hardly a revelation. Yet there are still houses, apartments, offices, and more built using classic incandescent bulbs. Why is that? How and why are LED bulbs better and more cost-effective? Should you make the swap in your home?
The LED craze was already in full swing during the last decade as people and companies became more aware of their energy consumption and learned how to preserve electricity and save money each month. Despite this, my new living space was still equipped with standard incandescent bulbs. Why would a newly built house be equipped with dated and arguably subpar light bulbs even with the ENERGY STAR craze?
The simple answer is that incandescent bulbs are standard for a reason. They are what most people have become accustomed to and expect. They emit a broader range of color as compared to the limited spectrum of an LED. Some people don’t like the appearance an LED provides, and for some, it’s just too bright.
Another reason why most places haven’t upgraded to LEDs is the initial cost to make the swap. Changing out every bulb in a building all at once would be an expensive undertaking considering the average house has at least 45 light bulbs. To spread that cost out over time, you could just change a few out here and there . . . but now you have half the building as incandescent bulbs and the other half as LED bulbs. Now, that’s not a good look. And adjusting to the different color ranges from room to room is sure to put strain on your eyes.
But what if you’re willing to put in the time, effort, and upfront costs? Well then, through the coming years you’d save more and more money and energy, and in states like California, it’s a requirement. With the average ENERGY STAR–rated bulb, you can save up to $125 a year on your electric bill. Considering those 45 bulbs on average, that calculates out to some major savings. Another factor to ponder is the lifespan of a bulb. The average incandescent bulb lasts up to 1,000 hours. That’s a decent lifespan, no doubt, but when you compare that to the average LED lifespan of up to 50,000 hours, incandescent bulbs seem rather weak. When switching bulbs, note that LEDs require much less energy (wattage) to reach the same brightness (lumens) as an incandescent. Refer to the chart below to determine what wattage LED you should purchase.
Why is this? You may already know the answer if you’ve been in a smaller room with incandescent bulbs. It’s heat. We’ve all touched an incandescent bulb and know how hot they can get. All that heat produced by that bulb is wasted energy. However, LED bulbs use their energy more efficiently by providing more light and not wasting as much on heat.
If your house or business has incandescent bulbs, by no means are you stuck with them! It may be a brief hurdle and a bit of an investment, but in the long run, LED bulbs prove to be easier on your wallet and on the planet. Shop LED bulbs for all applications at 1000Bulbs.com. Have more questions about the benefits of LEDs? Call our lighting experts at 1-800-624-4488 to shed light and save money!
