Do you want to reduce your energy costs? For most people, their electric bill is under constant scrutiny, and lighting is something you can have a great deal of control over, and control how much energy you use. Most people are aware that it’s more cost efficient to move away from using incandescent bulbs, but some of the compact fluorescent bulbs on the market are expensive and lacking the same warmth as incandescent bulbs. A newer arrival on the scene are LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs for the home and outdoor use.
You may think of LEDs as those red lights that make up a ticker type of sign, or are the small but powerful lights in pocket flashlights, but LED lights are a bright spot in lighting choices for your home and yard.
6 Benefits of Using LED Lights
1. Produces more light per watt than incandescent bulbs and fluorescents, and do not generate heat. Both of these qualities save electricity in terms of lighting costs and in cooling a room that may get overheated due to incandescent bulbs.
2. Are difficult to break or damage compared to fluorescent and incandescent bulbs.
3. Have a longer useful lifespan (estimated 60,000 hours) compared to fluorescent tubes (around 30,000 hours) and incandescents (a mere 1,000 to 2,000 hours). With a quality LED light, you may have up to 17 years or more of use.
4. LEDs dim as they start to burn out, which is preferable particularly in safety situations (garages, basement stairs, etc.) than a CFL (compact fluorescent light) or incandescent, where you only know it’s not working when you turn on the light and the bulb doesn’t illuminate.
5. LEDs light up very quickly.
6. LEDs do not contain mercury, unlike compact fluorescent lamps.
The only drawback might be the upfront costs of LED lighting, which are more expensive than more conventional lighting technologies. However, what you save in lower energy bills and less frequent replacement will have you recouping your costs usually within a year.
You may have your own personal preference for lighting, but in general, “cool white” and “natural white” are good choices for general ambient light as well as for spaces that require more task lighting, like in kitchens, a study or home office spaces. Incandescent lights can cast a yellow hue. Using LEDs gives you the flexibility to use these lights throughout various rooms in your home.
In general, cool white and natural white are are reliable choices for most uses and spaces, but for reading, a “natural” or “daylight” bulb is recommended.
Some say that bugs are attracted to UV lights and some LED lights do not emit UV light; therefore, it’s worth it to explore which options might be best for a backyard to reduce the amount of insects with your lighting choices. Because of their long life, LEDs are perfect for hard to reach lights around the exterior of your home, be it floodlights, front and back door lights and anywhere that is turned on and off frequently.
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