What kind of lightbulbs are illuminating your home right now? Are you even sure of the type?
If you’re like most Boston homeowners, you’re solely focused on finding the right wattage when choosing light bulbs. Beyond that, you don’t pay much attention to the type of lighting you use.
However, the type of bulb you buy has a significant impact on a variety of factors including energy efficiency, lifespan, overall cost, and much more. You’ve probably heard that LED lights are better than conventional kinds, but what exactly makes them more advantageous?
LED vs Incandescent Lights: What’s the difference?
Before we look at the specific benefits of LEDs, let’s see how this superior option differs from incandescent bulbs.
LED
Light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs work by passing electricity between two electrodes. As the electrical current passes from one electrode to the other within the bulb, light is produced. Additional semiconductive material helps facilitate this process.
Incandescent
Also known as Edison bulbs, incandescent lighting is what most people think of when imagining a standard light bulb. They produce light by using energy to heat up a wire filament which illuminates as its temperature increases.
What are the advantages of LED lights?
Now that you have a better understanding of the fundamental differences between LED and incandescent bulbs, let’s take a look at why LEDs are a superior lighting option for Boston homeowners.
Longer lifespan
On average, homeowners only get around 1,000 hours of light from their incandescent bulbs. This pales in comparison to LED light bulbs which can provide up to 50,000 hours of light. That’s nearly a 50-times longer lifespan. But that’s not the only factor helping LED lights outlive their conventional counterparts. Incandescent bulbs are incredibly fragile because of their glass shells. Alternatively, LEDs are built with epoxy lenses which are much sturdier, decreasing the chances you’ll break your bulbs.
Lower cost
There’s a common misconception that improved energy efficiency has to come at a higher cost. In reality, it’s often the energy efficiency of newer technology that leads to increased savings in the long run. But it’s not just the lifespan of LED lighting that makes it more cost-effective for Boston homeowners. Due to their popularity, there’s been a major increase in manufacturing efficiency leading to lower product costs for LED lights. This is just one of many smart home electrical upgrades you can make that will save you money down the line.
Improved energy efficiency
If you’re looking for ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency, LED bulbs are the obvious winner. In fact, this lighting technology uses anywhere between 25% and 80% less energy than incandescent bulbs, allowing LEDs to last up to 25 times longer. With traditional incandescent bulbs, 90% of the energy being used is emitted as heat. This simple switch can end up saving you more than $8 each month. It might not sound like a lot but when combined with other energy efficiency strategies, you’re bound to notice a drop in utility bills.
Safer to use
It’s estimated that 51,000 fires each year are caused by issues with home electrical systems. These avoidable fires cause nearly 500 deaths and over a billion dollars in damage annually. LEDs can help Boston homeowners reduce their risk of house fires due to their lower heat emission when compared to conventional incandescent bulbs. As mentioned before, over 90% of an incandescent bulb’s energy is released as heat, increasing the chances of combustion. Conversely, LEDs are much cooler because these bulbs are more efficient at converting energy into light instead of heat.
High brightness
Another benefit of the energy efficiency of LED bulbs is their brightness. When compared to an incandescent bulb with the same output, an LED light will offer significantly more illumination. When making the switch between dimmable incandescent bulbs and dimmable LED bulbs, you might notice some flickering if the wrong type of dimmer is being used. This is when you should call an experienced electrician to replace the dimmer switch. Interested in making the switch to LED bulbs? Contact the experts at Boston Standard Plumbing for a quick and hassle-free transition. Our talented electricians can also conduct checkups, make repairs, and install new equipment if needed. We’ll make sure your home’s electrical system is working optimally.
Categories:
Energy Efficiency
