With incandescent light bulbs being phased out for good this year, research suggests that the change won’t be as painful as you might expect. Below are 10 facts about LEDs that may help shed some light on this new type of bulb and its many advantages:
1. LED bulbs, which were previously quite costly ($30 or more in 2010), can now be purchased for between $10-15.
2. Replacement LED bulbs are readily available and can be purchased almost anywhere, both online and in stores.
3. Glass choices for LED bulbs include both clear and frosted, closely resembling their incandescent predecessors.
4. The color of the bulb, which is listed as its temperature in degrees Kelvin, no longer has to be cool like the original LEDs. The warm glow that emanates from a standard incandescent light bulb can now be replicated with an LED.
5. Unlike fluorescent lights, LEDs turn on instantly, which means no more waiting for the lamp to reach its full light level.
6. LEDs can be dimmed with standard dimmers, but make sure you have a dimmable lamp so the bulb can work properly.
7. Some LEDs have warranties from the manufacturer and some do not. A manufacturer can offer up to a 10-year warranty on its LED bulbs.
8. The life expectancy of an LED light bulb is 25,000 hours or more, which is approximately 17 years at a usage of four hours per day. By comparison, an incandescent bulb typically lasts between 1,000 to 2,000 hours.
9. LED bulbs are made up of not one, but multiple LEDs. Over its lifespan, an LED bulb will not burn out like an incandescent bulb, but will instead dim gradually over time.
10. Last, but certainly not least, is the reason for the federal ruling: a reduction in energy use. A 60-watt incandescent equivalent LED will use about 10 watts of electricity, which is a whopping 83.5% energy savings.
Even if you’re not ready to go out and replace all of your incandescent bulbs, think about trying just one LED bulb. Although incandescent bulbs are required to be phased out this year, many home improvement centers have reported up to a six-month supply in stock. Based on how well LEDs appear to have progressed and currently perform, home centers may get stuck with their incandescent stock and keep them around indefinitely.
Ron Lanner, R.A., LEED AP is the leader of H2M’s sustainability committee and the director of our municipal architecture studio. To learn more about sustainable design, you can reach Ron at rlanner@h2m.com.
