Q. LEDs can be cost-prohibitive up front. Are they really worth it? How much can the typical homeowner save from switching over to LED lighting and do these lamps eventually pay for themselves?
A. The cost isn't that great really. A typical 6W bulb costs a little over $30, and it will last about 10 to 15 years in a normal house. If we assume that, for purposes of calculation, 1kWh costs $0.10, and the light is used for 6 hours a day we get:
6 x 6 = 36W per day or 0.036kW per day
0.036 x 0.10 = $0.0036 per day to run the light.
So in a year it will cost:
0.0036 x 365 = $1.314 per year
In comparison, a normal 50W halogen bulb will consume:
50 x 6 = 300W or 0.3kW per day
0.3 x 0.1 = $0.03 per day to run
0.03 x 365 = $10.95 per year
Savings per year are:
10.95 - 1.314 = $9.633 per year
Now assume at least a 10 year life span, and the savings will be $96.33 over the life of the bulb. In the same time you will have had to change the halogen bulb at least (assuming a 2000 hour life span) 10 times at a cost of at least $2.50 per bulb. This means a savings of at least another $25.00 over the lifespan of the LED bulb.
Q. Many LED light fixtures have that tell-tale look. What new styles are available, and how do they rate in terms of aesthetics compared to incandescent fixtures on the market?
A. This is changing, and I also think we will see more creative lighting fixtures. Since LEDs have a long life span, it is now possible to have designs that don't require you to have access to the light source. This is something that will definitely become more popular as LED lighting becomes more mainstream. Some of the bulb designs look like works of modern art in their own right, so we may see designs that show this off.
LED lighting is improving all the time. And it seems to a certain degree that it is following Moores Law (for computing power) in that we are seeing a doubling of light output about every 3 years or so. But what is happening in the lab normally takes a year before we see it ready for public consumption.
Adopting LED lighting now is definitely worth it, since you will be saving money and helping the environment. Benefits of using LED lighting include:
- Long Life. All the bulbs and tubes we supply last for 50,000 hours-that's over 5 years of continuous use. If you were to use a bulb for 8 hours a day everyday, you would need to change the bulb in about 17 years.
- Reduced power consumption. LED bulbs are more energy efficient. A 3W LED bulb will replace a 25 to 35W halogen bulb.
- Reduces your carbon footprint. Reduced energy consumption means a reduction in the amount of CO2 produced.
- Reduced running and maintenance costs.
- No UV and little IR. LED lighting produces no ultra-violet (UV) radiation and very little infra-red (IR) radiation, which makes them ideal for display lighting, since they won't cause fading or premature aging.
- Durable. LEDs contain no filament that can easily be damaged by shocks and vibrations, making them very rugged.
- Contain no mercury. Unlike compact fluorescents, LEDs contain no mercury, so disposing of them is easier.
- Wide range of colors. LEDs are available in a wide range of colors. Utilizing RGB LEDs and a special controller, virtually any color combination is possible, allowing greater flexibility in they way things are lit.
- Virtually instant on. Unlike compact fluorescents, which can take up to a minute to reach full brightness, LEDs come on instantly.
- No flickering. Something else that many compact fluorescents do is flicker, especially as they get older.
- On-Off cycling. When CFLs are used in places that have a short on duration such as cupboards and toilets, their life is reduced and in some cases it is actually worse than the incandescent bulb they have replaced.
As you can see, there are many benefits in using LED lighting over traditional and compact fluorescent lighting.
Many thanks to Dr. Shephard for his valuable input on LEDs!