Do LEDs Save Me Money?

LEDs will save you money as they use a lot less wattage to produce the same amount of light compared to older types of lighting technology. They may be more expensive than incandescent or halogen bulbs first but they will save much money over time due to their energy efficiency and longer lifespan.

Key Financial Benefits of LEDs

1. Reduced Energy Consumption

LEDs are vastly more energy-efficient than older lighting technologies. Below is a comparison between LEDs and their predecessors.

Bulb Type	Energy Usage (Typical 60W Equivalent)
Incandescent	60 Watts
CFL	13-15 Watts
LED	6-8 Watts

A LED will use approximately 75-80% less energy than an incandescent bulb to produce the same amount of light. This direct reduction in wattage inevitably leads to lower monthly electricity costs.

2. Extremely Long Lifespan

Thanks to their superior technology and how they’re made, the durability and longevity of LEDs will also contribute to lower costs over time as they will need to be replaced less.

Bulb Type	Average Lifespan (Hours)
Incandescent	1,000
CFL	8,000
LED	25,000 - 50,000+

3. Lower Heat Output

LEDs produce very little heat compared to incandescent bulbs, which release about 90% of the energy used to produce the light as heat.

Considerations for Maximum Savings

Choosing the Right Bulb

Look for an ENERGY STAR certification: These products meet strict energy-efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and offer guaranteed performance.
Check the Lumens: Lumens measure brightness. If you match the lumens of the LED you’re looking to buy compared to your older bulb this will help it to appear the same. It is better to check the lumens than the advised wattage.
Consider Color Temperature (Kelvin): You may want to consider the colour temperature you want as this will affect the mood of the room. Please be advised that this will have no impact on saving money.

Energy-Saving Practices

Utilize Dimmers: Many modern LEDs are compatible with dimmers, being able to tailor the light to the brightness you want can save even more money as less energy will be used for a duller light. You will need to make sure the dimmer switch you have is compatible with LEDs and that the LED bulb also advises that it is dimmable.
Turn off Lights: Although LEDs do not use a lot of power, it is good practice to turn off when you leave a room to save even more energy.

In conclusion

Switching to LEDs offers long-term savings and energy consumption as they use less power to work and have a longer lifespan compared to older lighting technologies.