Why? Because they use 85 percent less energy than traditional bulbs and can last up to 25 years
ILLUMINATING FACT
There are about 700 million light bulbs in UK homes but still only a fraction are LED. We’ve got some catching up to do!
Get this. If every home in the USA switched to LEDs at once, that would save an emission equivalent of about seven million cars. Crazy, right? And because lighting accounts for nearly 6% of CO2 emissions and so has the potential for impactful change, there’s a global call for this to happen by 2025.
It’s within reach, but there’s resistance, not just on price. If you tried LEDs ages ago and weren’t impressed, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to know that they come in all sorts of fittings, have equivalent brightness to other bulbs and get cheaper every day.
Another hurdle for a generation like us, brought up on ‘wattage’, is learning the new vocabulary of ‘lumens’. Wattage measures energy, while lumens measure brightness, so a 60w bulb for example, gives off about 700 lumens. While we compute that, the nub of it is - whatever the measure, LED bulbs use a lot less power to produce the same amount of light.
Ok, so talk me through the details…
This is for those of us who haven’t fully switched yet, so here we go:
Nowadays, there are three main types of bulbs:
CFLs (compact fluorescent lamp – the standard type of energy-saving light bulb)
Halogens
LEDs
If you have CFLs, then don’t waste them - wait til they expire and replace them with LEDs. CFLs have a small amount of mercury inside which is dangerous for the environment so make sure you dispose of them according to your local council’s recommendation.
If you have halogens, replace them as soon as possible. The environmental impact and financial savings will outweigh the ‘waste’ of disposing of the working bulb. For some in-ceiling halogens, you might have to change the fitting, you’ll need an electrician for that.
If you’ve still got the everyday standard incandescent bulbs, stay with them, and next time buy LEDs.
Here’s a quick wattage translator:
Will it cost me more money?
LED bulbs cost considerably more upfront - a deterrent for many - but they use less energy and last much, much longer. Which? estimates that an LED could save you as much as £180 in energy use over its lifetime, compared with an old-style incandescent bulb.
We…
Aimee: I never noticed what bulbs I have until we researched this action. After a quick spin round my house, it turned out I’ve actually got quite a few LEDs, but there are still a few others lurking about! Going forward, it’s LEDs all the way.
Sonia: I bought LED’s years ago and hated them. They took ages to light up and I was squinting in Victorian candlelight. All change, so time to change it up.
“Who’s waiting for a light bulb moment?”
Photo: Francesco Casalino