LED bulbs: things to know

LED bulbs have been around for some time now, but as competition and availability have increased, so have the upfront costs of this type of lighting.

Is it worth switching to LED? The short answer is yes.

If you're wondering why these bulbs are making their incandescent competition all but obsolete, read on to learn more.

Why LED and not incandescent bulbs?

LED bulbs are superior in virtually every way to incandescents, at least in the vast majority of uses. The primary reason that should matter to everyone is that they're far more energy efficient, using less wattage to produce the same amount of brightness. This means you save money.

Historically, there's been really only one problem: LEDs cost slightly more upfront than incandescents. But this problem has practically vanished with how inexpensive the technology is now.

That's not to say that the initial costs were always this low. When this type of lighting first hit the scene, it was much more expensive than incandescent. But these days, you can easily find LEDs for around $5. An LED bulb will last much longer than any incandescent and pay for itself relatively quickly because it uses so much less energy.

The new federal energy efficiency standard

Even if you don't want to switch to LED for whatever reason, you won't have much of a choice in a few months. That's because the Department of Energy has mandated an energy efficiency standard of 45 lumens per watt in each bulb, which will go fully into effect in July 2023. Incandescents can't hope to meet this standard.

If reducing the effects of manmade climate change and minimizing the overall cost of energy matter to you, you should know that LED bulbs are much more environmentally friendly than incandescents. Over the next 30 years, when incandescent bulbs are virtually phased out because of the new policy, carbon emissions that cause global warming will be cut by 222 million metric tons, according to the Department of Energy.

There is no better time to switch to LED bulbs

This article only scratches the surface of the benefits of LED. You can also get them in different colors besides white, such as red, blue and even black. They can even sync with home security systems and smart homes so you can control them via your smartphone. Incandescent bulbs can't keep up, so switching to LED is something you should do now instead of later, if only for the sake of spending less on energy bills.

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