10 Reasons You Should Upgrade to LED Lighting

10 Reasons You Should Upgrade to LED Lighting

American households spend approximately $121.61 every month on electricity. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, some states can expect to climb even higher than that, with averages ranging between $136 and $172 a month depending on where you live. If you aren't using energy-efficient lighting, it’s likely that you may be paying even more than you need to spend. This is where light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can help.

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LEDs are one of the most energy-efficient lighting technologies available to consumers today. Beyond saving you money on your energy usage, there are several compelling reasons to consider using LED lighting throughout your home, whether it's through LED bulbs or the creative use of LED strip lights.

Let’s delve into some of the most common benefits you can expect from switching to LED lighting in your home.

Advantages of LED Lights

LEDs offer several advantages over traditional light bulbs, building on the best features of their predecessors while leaving their inefficiencies behind. Here’s what makes LEDs so beneficial:

1. Long Life

The components of an LED and the way they generate light significantly extend the lifespan of these bulbs. Unlike other bulbs that have shorter lifespans due to both proper and improper usage, LED bulbs' low heat levels, durability, and energy efficiency allow them to outlast other types by thousands of hours.

Average Rated Lifetime Hours

Incandescent Fluorescent CFL Halogen LED
Typical Range (Hours) 750-2,000 24,000-36,000 8,000-20,000 2,000-4,000 35,000-50,000

Typically, important parts of a light bulb, such as the filament, weaken over time, causing the bulb to burn out. However, LEDs don’t burn out the same way; the amount of light they produce decreases gradually in a process called "lumen depreciation." The lifetime of an LED bulb is based on how long it takes for the lumen output to decrease to 30%. Thus, it will likely last longer than the average rated lifetime hour listed on the box if you don’t mind or notice the decreased illumination.

Some cheaper LED bulbs will last about 5,000 hours, which is still 3,000-4,000 hours longer than the average incandescent lifespan. Many branded bulbs are rated for over 25,000 hours.

2. Energy Efficiency

Due to their high lumen output per watt, LEDs can convert about 70% of their energy into light. This efficiency is significantly higher than other bulbs, which waste a lot of energy by turning it into heat. A 6-watt LED bulb can produce as much light as a 40-watt incandescent bulb, and their lower operating temperature also makes them safer to use. For example, incandescent bulbs can become very hot and pose a burn risk to children. Additionally, they can cause fires if they come into contact with flammable materials.

LIGHTING FACT: In November 1992, Windsor Castle burned for nine hours after a painter left a 1,000-watt halogen bulb on near a set of heavy curtains, causing them to catch fire. More than 100 rooms were damaged, and it cost £36.5 million to repair.

Replacing a single 60-watt incandescent bulb with an LED can reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 160 kg per year. If you replaced 10 lamps in your home with LEDs, that would represent a reduction of 1599 kg of CO2 emissions annually.

3. High Brightness and Intensity

LEDs are capable of emitting extremely high levels of brightness. That’s why wattage is no longer a viable measurement of brightness – instead, consider a bulb’s lumen output when switching to LEDs or other energy-efficient lighting options. Compare how LEDs stack up against incandescent and CFL bulbs:

40 Watt Bulbs

Type Incandescent CFL LED
Lumens 450 2,400 4,000

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CHECK OUT OUR LUMENS TO WATTS CONVERSION CHART

4. Exceptional Colour Range

Incandescent bulbs require gels or filters to create different colours and shades of light. On the other hand, LEDs offer a wide range of colours and colour temperatures without needing gels or filters, which can burn out or fade over time. With LEDs, the actual diode or its phosphorus coating is altered to change the emitted light's colour, ensuring it remains the same shade throughout its lifespan.

LEARN MORE ABOUT COLOUR TEMPERATURE

5. Low Radiated Heat

While incandescent bulbs operate by heating their filament to generate light, an LED bulb emits electromagnetic energy as light when electrified. By converting energy into light rather than heat, LEDs can operate at significantly lower temperatures than other light bulbs.

What little heat LEDs do produce is dissipated by a special heat sink designed to absorb and safely disperse the heat away from the diodes. Although the fixture or base can feel warm, LEDs don’t emit infrared radiation in their beam, meaning there is no warmth to it. This feature makes LEDs optimal for heat-sensitive areas, such as displaying artwork, as they won't cause fading or other heat damage to paints or dyes.

PRO TIP: LEDs run cool, but the way they dissipate heat means some designs should not be used in enclosed spaces as this could degrade the bulb and shorten its lifespan. Always check the packaging or product specifications for instructions on where a bulb should or should not be used.

6. Reliability

LEDs are exceptionally durable and reliable. They operate safely in cold temperatures and can withstand more impact and vibration than other light bulbs, as they have no filaments or fragile parts. This stability makes them ideal for areas exposed to temperature fluctuations, inclement weather, and jostling, such as outdoors or in ceiling fan fixtures.

7. Instantaneous Illumination

Have you ever turned on a light to look for something only to wait a few moments before you can see anything? Unlike CFLs, which take time to warm up, LEDs operate at full brightness the moment you flip the switch.

8. Directional Lighting

By design, LEDs emit light in one direction rather than all around. This targeted light output reduces energy consumption as no light is wasted or trapped within reflectors and diffusers, which can prevent over half the generated light from exiting the bulb. The directional nature of LEDs makes them ideal for task lighting and recessed downlights.