Why You Should Transition to LED Lights

Incandescent to LED Conversion

Switching from CFL or incandescent to LED house light bulbs can be an illuminating experience! Although the light-emitting diode light source has been around for more than half a century, the use of LED light bulbs in the home is a relatively new trend that has become increasingly popular over the last 10-15 years. In this post, we’ll explore the many benefits of converting to LED lights for the interior and exterior of your home.

Table of Contents

• Energy Savings Impact
• A Safer Home Lighting Alternative
• LED Light Fixtures for the Home

Energy Savings Impact of Converting to LED Lights

One of the biggest reasons why so many homeowners have made the transition to LED lighting is to keep those spiraling home energy costs under control. LED light bulbs require less energy than their CFL and incandescent counterparts to produce the same amount of light — they’re up to 75 percent more efficient. This can have a significant impact on your monthly electric bills. For example, it requires 75 watts for an incandescent bulb and 25 watts for a CFL bulb to reach 1,100 lumens (a lumen is a measurement of the amount of visible light emitted by a source), compared to only 15 watts for an LED bulb.

Regulatory changes encouraging manufacturers to produce more energy-efficient light bulbs have also fueled the growth of LED lights for home interior use. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 required lighting product manufacturers to stop making 100-watt bulbs by 2012, 75-watt bulbs by 2013 and 40- and 60-watt bulbs by 2016.

LED Lights Last Longer

Does it seem like you’re constantly changing the light bulbs in your home? Another major impact of converting to LED lights is their longevity. An LED bulb can give you up to 25,000 hours of service, which is 10 times longer than a CFL bulb and 25 times longer than an incandescent bulb.

One LED bulb can last 10 to 20 years, or even longer. Depending on how often you use the light, it’s possible you may never need to change the bulb again!

What About the Price of LED Lights for Home Use?

For years, a drawback to purchasing LED light bulbs was the high price. However, an increase in the demand for LED light products has resulted in a corresponding decrease in the cost of the bulbs, as well as LED light fixtures for the home. For example, you can often find a floodlight that cost $85 three years ago selling for as little at $19 today, which is comparable to similar CFL and incandescent fixtures.

Even if you end up paying a bit more for your LED products, the energy savings will quickly offset the initial upfront costs in most cases. A typical annual average saving is about $9 per LED bulb per year. A home that uses 100 LED bulbs (including interior and exterior LED house lights) could save as much as $900 a year or more. The longevity of LED lighting also contributes to a lower long-term ownership cost.

LED Bulbs Offer a Safer Home Lighting Alternative

Who hasn’t had the unpleasant experience of touching a hot light bulb? Burning from a light bulb is also a big concern for parents of small children.

Any safety-conscious homeowner will appreciate cool-burning LED light bulbs. You can replace a bulb without burning your fingers, and you won’t have to worry about your kids touching hot bulbs. Because they’re cooler, LED bulbs also pose less of a fire risk than CFL or incandescent bulbs.

LED Bulbs Offer an Environmentally-Friendly Home Lighting Solution

If you’re like many homeowners these days who are seeking ways to “go green,” LED bulbs offer a more eco-friendly alternative to traditional lighting products. In addition to their energy savings, LED bulbs are free of toxic chemicals or other potentially harmful materials.

And on those rare occasions when you’ll need to dispose of a worn-out LED bulb, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that it is made from recyclable materials.

What About LED Light Fixtures for the Home?

The good news is that you do not necessarily have to install new fixtures to accommodate LED bulbs — they’re compatible with most traditional incandescent or CFL fixtures. However, even a cool-burning LED bulb needs a way to dissipate heat.

If you’re installing bulbs in a fully or semi-enclosed lighting fixture, be sure to choose LED bulbs that are approved for use in enclosed/recessed spaces. You can also use dimmers with most LED bulbs, but you will need to install dimmers specifically made for use with LED products. If you wish to use one dimmer switch to control several bulbs, each must be an LED bulb.

LED Bulbs for Home Decoration

While LED bulbs were initially used as attractive landscape lighting, they also offer numerous interior design possibilities. Instead of the unappealing bluish-white color that was common in older versions, newer LED bulbs produce a warm yellow light that enhances the ambiance of a room. Unlike traditional incandescent lighting fixtures that scatter the light around the room, LED bulbs emit a bright, pure directional light that works well as a spotlight, display lighting and under-shelf and in-cabinet illumination.

The introduction of LED light strips now provides greater design flexibility when using LED bulbs. You can use the strips in virtually any room in your home, particularly the living room where they create an attractive way to accent furniture. You can also use LED strips to highlight a shelf or small wall unit or as under-cabinet kitchen lighting. Many new-home builders are incorporating LED lighting into the home’s design, using them in everything from chandeliers to recessed lighting.

Contact Lippolis Electric to Learn More About the Benefits of Switching to LED Lights

Lippolis Electric is a family-owned and operated electrical contracting company with more than 30 years of experience. You can count on us for all your LED lighting needs in Westchester County, NY.

Our services include new LED installations, retrofits for old, outdated lighting fixtures and comprehensive lighting maintenance and repair work. Contact us to learn more about the impact of converting to LED lights in your home.