LED Lights: How Much Can You Save?

With the cost of electricity rising, every saved penny counts. While shutting off lights and trying to run appliances less may make a dent in your energy bill, there are other steps that let you use the same amount of light for less money.

And don’t just take our word for it. The U.S. Department of Energy reports it’s possible to keep the lights on and still save money. If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to switch to LED lights. Lighting accounts for around 15% of an average home’s electricity use. With LED lights in your bedroom, living room, kitchen, and every room in between, you can cut at least $225 per year in energy costs.

Here are a few things you should know about saving money with LED lights.

Why do LEDs use less energy?

Compared to conventional incandescent lights, LEDs can live up to 25 times longer and consume up to 90% less energy. They owe their efficiency to semiconductors called light-emitting diodes — yes, that’s short for LED — which transform electricity into light.

Unlike CFLs and incandescent light bulbs that release as much as 80% t0 90% of their energy as heat, LED lights use heat sinks to manage heat. The not-so-secret sauce consists of electrons that flow to create photons (light we can see) and those photons generate almost no heat. No lighting technology is evolving faster and none is more energy efficient.

Are LED lights as bright as regular bulbs?

When LED lights first appeared, they earned a bad rep for not being as bright as their predecessors. And by predecessor we mean the kind that Thomas Edison introduced in 1879. These days, though, LED technology has improved, enabling LEDs to emit a broad, warm light. But what about brightness?

A tip: take a look at lumen, which is a measurement of light. If the package of your LEDs and incandescent lights have the same lumen, they are equally bright. The experts at Arcadia, a platform that aggregates data on energy usage, advises: “For the most efficient light, find the lumen output you want (the bigger, the brighter) and choose the bulb with the lowest wattage. LEDs will probably win in every case.”

How much do energy-efficient lights cost?

While the up-front cost may be higher than traditional incandescent bulbs, you will save a lot in the long run. Once you have purchased an LED, you don’t need to replace it for another 10 years or 100,000 hours of continuous use later, manufacturers say.

How much can you save by switching to LED lighting?

For a direct comparison between LEDs and other types of lighting, Lighting Tutor offers a LED Cost Savings Calculator. Simply plug in the specs that fit your scenario to see how much you would save. As of this writing, the Average Electricity Rate in the United States is 10.42 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Do you need help with upgrading wiring to modernize your home or other light fixture needs? Gervais Mechanical can install new light fixtures with all the latest features so your home is more comfortable and more energy efficient. Contact us today.