Tips to Save Energy with LED Lights

If you’re looking to protect yourself and the environment from energy waste, using light-emitting diode (LED) lighting is a great way to save big. Energy efficient LED lights combine state of the art technology and have surged into high demand for top light quality, durability, long life spans and impressive energy savings.

Did you know that lighting your home accounts for approximately 15% of your home’s total energy usage? Alternatively, using energy efficient LED lights in your home allows you to experience an equal amount of light at a much lower cost. This means that annually, you could be saving over $225 on your energy bill.

At Price To Compare, we value your ability to make energy smart choices that work for you.  We know that you want to find and implement ways to create predictable, reasonable energy budgets for your households. There are a number of simple steps to solving your energy concerns.

For instance, you can compare your available energy rates. Or, you can look at your home for energy upgrades. Let us illuminate the possibilities and help you start saving today.

Time to Turn on the Light on Old Technology

Eureka! Since Edison and the invention of the light bulb, incandescent lights have been the gold standard in home lighting. Happily, technology has broken through the mold and LED lights have taken the industry by storm.

The three most common lighting options on the market are traditional incandescent bulbs, Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL), and LEDs. Here’s how each one stacks up. With incandescent lights, electricity is sent through a filament. This metal heats up and makes light. A whopping 95% of the energy used is wasted as heat.

With CFL bulbs, an electric current passes between two electrodes at the tip of a gas-filled glass tube coated in phosphor. Light is produced from the energy reacting with the phosphor. This results in a 3-second delay for the reaction to take place and an 80% energy loss as heat.

On the other hand, LEDs pass energy through a semiconductor and the electroluminescence emits the light. Energy efficient LED lights direct their light in a specific direction and don’t need reflectors or diffusers, allowing much more light to get where it needs to be. Additionally, very little heat is produced or lost. This creates an avenue for highly efficient lighting solutions.

Comparing Incandescents, CFL and LED

Light brightness is measured in lumens and energy used is measured in watts; package labels may present either or both measurements.  It's handy to understand how brightness affects energy costs and how different bulbs compare.

If you need to calculate a specific electricity usage, take a look at this easy Energy Use Calculator.

Clearly, LEDs present the most cost savings. They may cost more upfront, but when comparing total cost, combined purchasing plus powering a light bulb, LEDs are simply the smartest option.

Look for Savings on the Label

It's best to read and understand the lighting facts on the label, not unlike food labels!

➤ One key feature to look for on any label is the ENERGY STAR® logo. This tells you if the bulb under examination meets requirements for efficiency, lifetime, and quality.

➤ Brightness will tell you how much light the bulb emits.

➤ Light Appearance tells you the shade of the light. Most people at home prefer warm lights while hospitals utilize bright “daylight” bulbs.

➤ The Life is calculated at 3 hours of use per day day and estimates how long you’ll get before needing to change a bulb.

➤ Energy Used (watts) measures bulb energy use.

➤ Contains Mercury - LEDs are free of mercury while CFLs do contain small amounts of it.

Energy Efficient Timers, Dimmers and Motion Detectors

Putting lights on a timer removes the worry of forgetting to switch off the light. If you know you regularly vacate a space at a given time, set a timer and relax. You know your energy savings are taken care of.

Dimming the lights when practical is a terrific way to conserve energy. For instance, softer dinner table lighting or dimming the lights down while you’re watching the television is fun and easy. For the best energy efficient option, be sure to read the labels and ensure you are using a dimmable, LED bulb matched with an LED-compatible dimmer.

Motion Sensors are also frequently used to save lighting energy. By automatically switching the light on when humans are present and turning off again when they aren’t, it’s so easy to save on energy costs. These days, not only can today’s motion sensors turn the lights on, they can send you notifications for an added home security benefit, as well.

Where LEDs Really Shine

Energy efficient LEDs have gained in popularity so fast that it has led to dramatic development of more product availability, better manufacturing and thus lower prices. The efficiency and ability to direct the light to the desired location makes them desirable for outdoor, commercial, and industrial lighting, as well. In addition, they’re ideal for modular needs, refrigerated cases, and especially task lighting.

Homeowners love the small, directional nature of LEDs and most modern kitchens are designed with recessed lights and under-counter lighting fixtures. When considering safety, the small heat production of the LED’s has tremendous benefits, reducing the risk of combustion.

Another safety factor is in the construction. Made from epoxy lenses rather than glass, they are much sturdier and less likely to break. This is particularly useful for bright holiday lighting displays. LED holiday lights consume less energy, are much safer, and last year after year.

Power to Change the Future

LED lighting technology has been a game changer in the electrical industry. It’s even possible that if LEDs were to replace other lighting options at a national level, America could save 348 TWh of electricity by 2027. That's only 5 years away! This could mean $30 billion saved at current electricity costs. Make sure you get your share of the savings!

For more great tips on conserving energy and cutting costs in your life, check out our blogs on 4 Simple Ways to Reduce Your Energy Costs and How to Save Energy in Your Bathroom. Price To Compare is committed to helping you find ways to save, so check out our site regularly for the latest info.