Should I really use LED lights or change my lightbulbs?
As an energy coach who likes to work on large homes I am constantly surprised by the number of homes I visit that still have not swapped out their old incandescent lightbulbs for LEDs. I suspect it is due to the rather large energy bills they already pay and the belief that the lights cannot be a substantial part of that. But these homes often have large numbers of bulbs in each room due to the architectural design. They have high and often vaulted ceilings and the designer has infused the room with either a dozen or more “flood” style bulbs or small spotlights. The small spots are often MR-16 bulbs using 35 or 50 watts and the floods are often PAR30 style bulbs consuming 50 to 65 watts. When one turns on the light switch the room lights can easily consume 800 watts or more and the lights are left on for 6-7 hours a day since there is no other light source in the room – no floor or wall lamps. We recently visited a house that had 170 MR-16s installed and the homeowner had not switched them out to LEDs because she dreaded the effort. But once the cost difference was made clear she changed her mind immediately.
The solution is extremely simple and involves just a bit of research. LED bulbs have improved dramatically since the days they first hit the market and the belief that they are too bright or look like “showerheads” is no longer true. The range of the light is usually measured on a scale of 2700K (Kelvin) to 5000K and there will be a number on the side of the package (or online listing) that indicates that bulb’s brightness. 2700K or 3000K is the warm light we are generally used to and 4000 to 5000K is the type of light you would experience in a mechanic’s garage – bright and bluish in tint.
Swapping out the dozens and dozens of overhead lights can result in huge savings each month. 800 watts can be reduced to 120 watts (using twelve 10-watt LEDs for example to replace 65 watt bulbs) and the quality of the light is equivalent or better. There are a number of great sites where you can purchase these bulbs online (earthled.com, 1000bulbs.com or Amazon.com) or your local big box store. Start with just one or two bulbs to see if you like the look and feel and then buy the balance of them for each room.
You won’t be sorry (and the room will stay cooler as well).
