How to Save on Lighting Costs by Switching to LED Bulbs

Introduction

Switching from traditional incandescent or CFL bulbs to LED lighting is one of the easiest ways to reduce electricity usage and save money on lighting costs in your home. LED bulbs are far more energy efficient and long lasting than older lighting technologies. By replacing all of the bulbs in your home with LEDs, you can realize significant cost savings over time without sacrificing light quality. In this comprehensive guide, I will explain what you need to know about making the switch to LED lighting and how to maximize your energy and cost savings.

LED Bulb Basics

LED, which stands for light-emitting diode, refers to a type of solid-state lighting technology that is extremely energy efficient. Unlike incandescent bulbs that work by heating a filament, or fluorescent bulbs that need a ballast to regulate energy flow, LED bulbs produce light by sending electricity through a semiconductor material.

Some key advantages of LED bulbs:

• Energy Efficiency - LED bulbs require up to 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs and about 65% less than CFLs. They convert most energy to light instead of heat.

• Long Lifespan - LED bulbs can last anywhere from 25,000 to 50,000 hours compared to only 1,000 hours for incandescents. No more frequent bulb changes!

• Durability - LED bulbs contain no filament or glass that can break. They are much more resistant to damage from drops and bumps.

• Eco-Friendliness - LEDs contain no toxic materials like mercury found in CFLs. They are 100% recyclable.

• Directional Lighting - Many LED bulbs offer focused directional light ideal for recessed lighting and track lighting.

Calculating Electricity Savings

The amount of money you can save by switching to LED lighting depends on a few key factors:

• Wattage reduction - Replacing a 60W incandescent with a 9W LED, for example, reduces energy usage by 85%.

• Bulb cost - LED bulbs have a higher upfront cost but last much longer.

• Hours of use - LED savings multiply for lights used several hours per day.

• Electricity rate - Higher local rates mean faster payback.

As an example, replacing a 60W incandescent bulb that runs 5 hours per day with a 9W LED at 12 cents per kWh works out to:

• 85% less wattage = 51W reduction
• 51W x 5 hours/day x 365 days x $0.12/kWh = $11 per year

At that rate, the LED bulb pays for itself in less than a year and continues saving money for years to come!

LED Bulb Types

LED bulbs come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and light output levels as replacements for all common bulb types:

• LED A19 bulbs - Standard shaped bulbs for table lamps, ceiling fixtures, and more. Offer 5-10W equivalents to 40W-75W incandescents.

• LED reflectors - Flood and spot reflector bulbs for recessed and track lighting. Come in BR and PAR shapes.

• LED Candle bulbs - Designed for C7 and C9 decorative fixtures. Softer light than directional reflectors.

• LED Globes - Replacements for G25 bulbs in bathroom vanities and pendant fixtures. More decorative look.

• LED Tubes - Direct replacements for T8 and T12 fluorescent tubes in troffers and under cabinet fixtures. Require ballast bypass.

Picking the right LED bulb shape and brightness level for each fixture is key to a successful lighting replacement. Take advantage of natural light during the day to reduce lighting needs.

Smart Lighting Control

To maximize energy savings from LEDs, pair them with smart lighting control systems. Options include:

• Smart switches - Control lights via smartphone, voice assistant, scheduled times. No hub required.

• Smart bulbs - Connect LED bulbs to a system like Philips Hue via bridge. Enable app and voice control.

• Smart sensors - Occupancy and motion sensors automatically turn lights on and off when needed.

• Smart plugs - Plug lamps into controllable smart outlets. Operate on schedules or outlets.

• Dimmers - LED dimmers save additional energy by reducing light levels. Needed for many dimmable LEDs.

Programmable timers, motion sensors, or occupancy sensors can turn off lights in unused rooms. Smart bulbs also allow color changing and automation when used as part of a smart home system.

LED Light Quality Considerations

LED bulb technology has improved tremendously over the years. While early LEDs seemed cold and stark, newer LEDs offer excellent light quality:

• Light Color - LEDs are available in warm white, soft white, bright white, and daylight color temperatures to suit any need.

• Color Accuracy - Quality LEDs render colors accurately thanks to high CRI ratings of 90 or more.

• Dimmability - Ensure your LEDs are compatible with your existing dimmer switches or buy new smart dimmers.

• Directional Light - Use narrow spot LED reflectors to highlight objects. Wider flood beams are better for area illumination.

• Flicker-free - Higher end LEDs use drivers that eliminate flickering found with lower quality bulbs.

• Luminous Efficacy - Compare lumens per watt to see how efficiently LEDs produce light. The higher the number, the better.

Test LED bulbs in fixtures before committing to ensure the light color, brightness, spread, dimmability, and quality meet your needs.

Recommended LED Products

Based on my research and hands-on testing, here are some of my top LED bulb recommendations:

• Philips A19 LEDs - Exceptional color quality, 6500K daylight or 2700K soft white, 10-year lifespan. 800 lumens replaces 60W.

• Cree Lighting A19 LEDs - 90+ CRI for accurate colors, dimmable, 10-year warranty, 800 lumens.

• GE Relax LEDs - Warm 2700K light, works with dimmers, 800 lumen output. Energy Star certified.

• Philips Hue White Smart Bulbs - App and voice controllable, 16 million colors, compatible with Philips Hue ecosystem.

• Utilitech Pro LED Shoplights - 4 ft. 3500 lumen LED tubes replace T8/T12 fluorescents. Instant on, no flickering.

Be sure to take advantage of utility company or energy rebates on LED bulbs and smart lighting products when available in your area. The incentives can reduce the upfront cost of high efficiency bulbs.

Conclusion

By replacing all of your outdated incandescent and CFL bulbs with new ENERGY STAR certified LED bulbs, you can realize 50-90% energy savings while getting better quality and more controllable lighting. LED prices continue to drop while technology improves. Take control of your electricity costs and lighting quality by making the switch today!