02/01/2022
LED vs. Regular Light Bulbs
Do LEDs Make a Difference?
There has been a seismic change in the way we light our homes and businesses. Not all that long ago, all that was available were old fashioned light bulbs that used heated tungsten filaments to produce light. They had a short life and were expensive to run. Then along came compact fluorescent bulbs, and now LEDs are everywhere. We are promised cool, cheap to run, efficient lighting but is this really so? Let’s compare LEDs vs Regular Lights and see if LEDs are really worth it.
What are my options when it comes to light bulbs?
There are three sorts of lighting available for you to choose from:
1: Incandescent bulbs
Incandescent light bulbs have hardly evolved since Thomas Edison and his team of researchers invented them in the late 19th century. Basically, a thin wire filament in a vacuum-filled glass envelope is heated by electricity until it glows. The vacuum prevents oxidation – which would essentially mean the filament would burn up very quickly.
It is a simple technology but fragile, with a short lifespan. It is also far more inefficient than either of the other options, much of the energy is wasted as heat. The heat also causes its own problems as it can burn anything that comes too close.
2: Compact fluorescent light bulbs
Compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) were the first generation of low-energy lighting. They use the technology of the fluorescent tubes that companies commonly use to light offices, stores and factories. The tubes are folded to make them compact enough to be direct replacements for incandescent bulbs, although some versions require special fittings.
For the same amount of light produced, CFLs use around 60-80% less power and last 8 to 15 times longer than incandescent bulbs. The quality of light of a CFL is different from that of incandescent lighting. It has a discontinuous spectrum, and many think it is harsher and less pleasant. Modern versions have improved this quality immensely.
3: LEDs
The new(ish) kids on the block, LEDs are transforming every aspect of artificial lighting. You will now find them everywhere, from home, to store, to cars, to sports stadiums. They are sweeping the market.
Do LEDs save energy?
The huge benefit LED lights have over previous light bulbs is their energy efficiency. Compared to incandescent bulbs, they are a massive 80% more efficient, and they turn 95% of their energy into light, whereas older lighting would produce a lot of heat.
This has two major effects. The first is that this noticeably reduces the user’s electricity bill. With that sort of energy efficiency, the amount you pay for lighting will drastically fall if you’ve been using old-fashioned filament bulbs.
The second effect is more important. In the 21st century, we have finally realized that the demand for energy used globally must decline. We need to reduce greenhouse gasses and move away from fossil fuel power sources, and LEDs reduce the demand for electricity, meaning we can more easily rely on alternative renewable energy sources.
