LED Home Lighting

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Vanguard Conversions

I'm just getting used to CFLs! What's with these LEDs???

We've reviewed CFLs: what they are, what they're best used for, and why they are so awesome. (If you missed that post you can find it here.) But they are not the top of the line in the home lighting game for expected lifespan! This is news because CFLs last for about 8,000 hours on average. So why are LEDs just now really showing their bright shiny faces?

For the past few years, LEDs have been costing a pretty penny, and haven't been in the public eye nearly as much as CFLs, a.k.a. "the swirly bulbs". LEDs use, on average, slightly less energy (wattage), deliver the same lumens*, but cost quite a bit more. Why then should we review? Because they last over 6 times longer than CFLs! LEDs have been made to suit almost any need. They never pose a fire hazard, because the bulbs do not get hot. They come in a variety of colors, and many can even be remote controlled.

The prices have fallen tremendously in the past few years. A bulb that would have cost $45 last year is now on the shelves for $20. That is quite the price shift. The prices are dropping fast.

Whether you’re rolling in dough or not, our advice would be to certainly consider the investment. You could go out and buy one every few months, or if you can afford it, switch out all your most commonly used lights. It’s a great idea to start with those bulbs in the attic, the cathedral ceiling, or other really awkward places, since you probably won't have to change them again for over 20 years. The convenience alone is worth $20. A bit of advice, you may find very cheap LEDs online that may fail prematurely because they are made with low-quality chips. If you're investing, chose a high quality LED. Whatever you decide, the technology is there and waiting to light up your life.

For more information on LEDs, and a comparison of LEDs and CFLs see the following:

http://cleantechnica.com/2011/09/01/led-vs-cfl-which-light-bulb-is-more-efficient/

http://eartheasy.com/live_energyeff_lighting.htm

*Lumen: a unit of standard of measurement that is used to describe the amount of light contained in an area as perceived by the human eye. The more lumens, the brighter the light.

written by Roxanna Shohadaee