There has been a lot of noise recently about the demise of the incandescent bulb and the rise of Compact Fluorescents. In the meantime, LED bulb technology has been getting steadily better and more affordable.
Well, affordability is always relative. An LED will still likely be the most expensive bulb you have ever bought. But when you factor in their 20-year durability and the miserly bit of energy they sip over this impressive lifetime, the math makes good sense for long-term savings.
The light quality has improved as well. I tested the new Philips Ambient LED 12.5 Watt bulb and found the warm light very appealing compared to an old-school ‘cool’ CFL light I had in my vintage lamp. The Ambient LED also comes on instantly, works with dimmer switches and does not hum or buzz. An additional benefit is that it is made without mercury, so does not have the recycling or breakage issues associated with CFL’s.
But back to the long-term math. According to the mini-scientist type on the back of the Philips box, the Ambient LED will use $34.40 worth of electricity over its 25,000-hour life. A 60-watt incandescent bulb would use $165.00 worth under the same conditions.
So perhaps we are seeing an evolution of the light bulb from cheap disposable replacement item to long-term engineered part of your lighting fixtures. In other words, a light bulb you’ll unscrew and take with you when you move.
London Drugs has a selection of LED bulbs for a variety of lighting fixture types. Come in and give them a look. It might be the beginning of a long and beautiful friendship.
Some says that CFL’s are better than all of them from year 1, it takes 17 years for LED’s to beat CFL’s but then need replacing after year 35. LED’s beat Incandescent bulbs after 3-and-a-bit years. Although, I have to agree with LED being the “it” thing nowadays.
Haley
Electrician Online Course
Thanks Haley. I’m quite pleased with the LED bulbs I have purchased. I find the light a bit nicer than the CFL. I will probably go with LED for task lighting (lots of on and off) and CFLs in longer-use areas like hallways.
The LEDs have a lot of advantages over CFLs– besides a better light, they don’t break easily, creating a hazard if they were lit at the time, and they reach full illumination instantly. These Philips are also dimmable, which is nice. The only downside besides the price is that they are a little bit heavier than a CFL, which can make them work poorly in a flushmount ceiling fixture.