I’m sure you’ve all heard that one of the ways you can reduce your energy bill is by replacing your incandescent light bulbs with CFL bulbs, but if you’re like me, you’re probably also worried about the possible risks associated with doing so. CFL bulbs contain mercury, a neurotoxin that can cause kidney and brain damage, turning a minor mess of broken glass into a HazMat situation.
Because of this, we’ve been very hesitant to use CFL bulbs in our household, so I was very intrigued when The Home Depot contacted me about their new line of LED light bulbs. LED bulbs actually supply just as much light as traditional incandescent bulbs but use far less electricity — a whopping 85 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and up to 50 percent less energy than CFL bulbs.
I was also amazed to learn that LED bulbs an extremely long life expectancy that, 100 times longer than incandescent bulbs! Each bulb can last up to 100,000 hours or 11.42 years! I know we have several fixtures that are a real hassle to change, so my husband would be thrilled if he only had to do so every ten years or so.
More interesting LED facts:
- Replacing incandescent bulbs with energy-saving lighting options, such as LED lights, is a simple way to reduce your energy bills.
- Replacing standard light bulbs with energy efficient LED bulbs will bring you immediate savings on your electricity bill.
- In fact, innovative LED technology uses up to 85 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs, without sacrificing lighting quality.
- LED bulbs supply just as much light as your old bulbs but use far less electricity. In fact, the innovative technology uses up to 85 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs, and up to 50 percent less energy than CFL bulbs.
- LED bulbs also have an exceptionally long life expectancy that is 100 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Each bulb can last up to 100,000 hours, or 11.42 years.
Sounds great, huh? So you’re probably wondering what’s the catch. The bad news is this great new technology comes with a price tag that’s significantly higher than we’re used to paying for incandescent bulbs. Expect to pay about $17.97 for an LED bulb that’s a 40W equivalent.
However, the good news is that the price is rapidly coming down. In fact, just two years ago, a 60-watt equivalent cost $90 and a 100-watt dimmable bulb went for $360. Wow!
New legislation is requiring that most incandescent bulb production be discontinued by 2014, so it’s definitely important to start looking at other options. While the initial investment may seem steep, it’s important to consider the savings in energy coupled with the longevity of LED bulbs.
Next week I’ll take you shopping with me at my local Home Depot to purchase LED lighting for several fixtures in our house. But in the meantime, you can win a $50 gift card to The Home Depot!
To enter: Just check out the LED lighting page on HomeDepot.com and tell me one cool fact you learned about LED bulbs. Would you purchase LED light bulbs? Have you already started using LED light bulbs in your household?
This giveaway will close at 2:00pm EST on 1/13/11.
The Home Depot works with bloggers such as myself to conduct product reviews. They do not tell bloggers what to say about their products or how to say it. THD fundamentally believes that people should be free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. The Home Depot often provides product – free of charge – to bloggers for review as they did for this post. The Home Depot’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.
brea
I love that they do not contain mercury and produce minimal heat. We already switched to LED in a few spots. We are doing so slowly due to the cost.
Tanya
I didn’t know that LED bulbs last up to 20 years longer! I knew they lasted longer, but I didn’t know they lasted that long. I would love to start using these! I will have to keep my eyes open for promotions!
Holly
We already have LED lighting in our kitchen. They do last quite a long time which is good since those little buggers do cost a lot more than regular light bubs! But we are glad that we switched. And what I learned (or just forgot) is that LED bulbs are based on solid-state lighting technology that emits light from a chip, they produce minimal heat and there is no filament to burn out :)
Jo Ann Payne
I learned that they can save me money on my electric bill. I have never used any, but this maybe the time to start.
Michelle
LEDs last up to 100,000 hours, 100 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
I just purchased a LED bulb a couple of days ago for a night light. It was the only bulb small enough to fit.
Jane
LEDs last up to 100,000 hours, 100 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
I would purchase the LED bulb.
Selene
LED’s do not contain mercury and other toxic material.
Scott
LEDs last up to 100,000 hours, 100 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
I would purchase a LED bulb.
Sophie
LEDs last up to 100,000 hours, 100 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
I would purchase a LED bulb.
Sophie
LEDs last up to 100,000 hours, 100 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
I have purchased LED bulbs for my kitchen lights and they seem brighter.
Karyn
Minimal heat! We have a few heavily used desk lamps that I always have to be careful which types of bulbs I buy so I don’t burn through the lamp shades. Will certainly be getting one for the kiddos room.
Scott
LEDs last up to 100,000 hours, 100 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
I have them in my track lighting.
Samina
I love that they last as long as they do. I do have LED lighting for my kitchen’s undercabinet lighting & I love that the bulbs put out a nice clean light & don’t heat up the way my old flourescent tubes did.
Norb
LEDs last up to 100,000 hours, 100 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
They work great in the kitchen.
Michelle
LEDs last up to 100,000 hours, 100 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
I just tried one a couple of days ago.
MB
Great there is no mercury in the LED lights
Tracy
I learned that they are 10% more efficient than CFL. I don’t think these fit into my budget, yet worry that they don’t.
Evelyn M
LEDs have no humming or buzzing like some other light bulbs. I wish the prices would come down so that we could outfit our entire house!
Natalie F.
I saw that if you only ran your LED light bulb for 8 hours a day, it would last you 17 years. If you ran it 18 hours a day, it would last you almost 7 1/2 years, and if you ran it 24 hours a day (and who would do that) it would last 5.7 years! That’s cost efficiency at it’s finest if you ask me.
We already used LED lights in some rooms in our house and as the old are burned out we are replacing them with LED, slowly but surely we’ll be there someday.
deanna
They say if you put these in your newborn’s nursery, you wouldn’t have to replace the bulbs until your kid is in college. That was news to me. I have not started using LED light bulbs and probably won’t until the price drops.
Linda C.
If you put a LED bulb in your baby’s room, you won’t have to change it until they’re in college! That sounds good to me, considering I just had 2 CFL bulbs burn out that were less than 1 year old (Rite Aid freebies) They’re guaranteed but you have to have the receipt. Who saves light bulb receipts?
Jenna
I didn’t even know they were available for home use and that there were so many options. I would definitely buy them. We bought LED christmas tree lights this year.
Kristen G
I learned that LED light bulbs have a chip in them and that’s where the light is emitted from.
Maureen
Some LEDs can burn out but most just grow dim over time
Erica Best
i learn that they use 85% less energy then old light bulb. I would try one and see how i like it. no not yet but i hope to buy one soon.
Shandi Sequoia
One interesting fact: LED bulbs use 85% less energy than incandescent bulbs.
I would purchase them for my household.
I have not started using them yet, but I would love to!
Shannon
I didn’t know they emit less heat than other bulbs. I also didn’t know they don’t contain mercury. We have been switching our Christmas decorations to LED over the last couple of years, I think will also start swiching our daily light fixtures over to LED as well.
Michelle
I love the idea that I could install an LED bulb in our newborn’s room today, and probably not have to replace that bulb until our child is off to college!
I would purchase them for my house.
I haven’t purchased any yet.
Rachel Addison
LEDs are so much brighter than any other lights. I love them! My hubby and I were talking recently about solar panels. He was telling me that a small solar panel couldn’t power up even a low watt incandescent bulb but would power up an LED bulb. To me that shows just how little power it takes to use them!
Dan
I was not aware how long LED lights lasted — I knew they lasted longer, but 20 years, wow!
They also solve the biggest problem I have with CFL — slow start time (though new CFLs have been doing a lot better).
I’d probably buy some, especially for those hard-to-reach exterior floods. But I’ll probably wait for the price point to come down ($50 a lamp is a tad pricey).