LED Light Bulbs and Their Benefits

Benefits of LED Light Bulbs

Many people are replacing their outdated incandescent, halogen, and compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs with Light-emitting Diode (LED) bulbs, but what are the benefits of making this change? The benefits are many and include increased energy efficiency, lower electric bills, a longer bulb life, and a better and safer light source overall.

LED bulbs were designed as a more energy-efficient light source, using a semiconductor to convert electricity into light. LED lights to use their energy much more efficiently than other types of bulbs — producing light up to 90% more efficiently than incandescent light bulbs and 80% more efficient than CFLs. This is partly due to the fact that LED bulbs require much less wattage than incandescent or CFL bulbs. According to the Solar Electric Power Company, fluorescent lights waste 95% of their energy as heat and only use 5% actually to generate light. LEDs are the complete opposite—using an astonishing 95% of their energy as light!

Like other new technologies introduced to the market before it, LED bulbs were expensive, but they have since reduced in cost by over 80%. However, some consumers are still reluctant to try LED bulbs due to the higher upfront cost than traditional light bulbs. Yet, a study by the Consumer Federation of America found that the average American household could save about $1,000 over a ten-year period by switching to LEDs, saving consumers money in the long run. It’s the whole – pay now or later scenario. Because, while an average incandescent bulb may cost half the price of an LED bulb at the store, that same incandescent bulb would cost almost five times as much as an LED to use each month. This monthly amount added to a consumer’s electric bills can be reduced easily by switching to LED.