Deal Seeking Mom

LED, the Future of Light Bulbs + Win a $50 The Home Depot GC!

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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.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Christine

    I hadn’t realized that LEDs are that much more efficient than CFLs. We use a lot of CFLs at home, but I am always super careful when changing them, as the mercury does make me nervous. I’d love to upgrade to LEDs now that the price is coming down.

  3. Katherine F

    I didn’t know that you could get LED’s that give off a warm light. The website says it has to do with kelvins:”The number of kelvins in a light determine the color it gives off. A reddish hue considered to be “warm” will come from a bulb with a rating of 2,7000K.” I would love to get all LED bulbs for my home. I have read about CFL’s and “dirty electricity” and they scare me! LED’s sound like the way to go! Thanks for the great giveaway!

  4. Stephanie N.

    I find it very interesting that
    I could install an LED bulb in my childs room and probably not have to replace that bulb until my child is off to college. I never knew there was a bulb like that. I would love to stock up on these bulbs when they go on sale.

  5. Jessie

    I didn’t really know much about them, but it all sounds good except the price! We are using CFLs for now, very carefully.

  7. Gwen

    The most notable thing learned was “Nor do they contain mercury and other toxic material.” …all the other great facts are gravy! :)

  8. Diane

    I would love to switch to these! It seems we are constantly replacing light bulbs. I learned that if I put one in the baby’s room, I may not have to change it until he leaves for college! Wow!

  10. Beth

    I learned that LED lightbulbs don’t have mercury. We replaced all the bulbs in our house 9 1/2 years ago.

  11. Erika

    I learned that if you use a light for 8 hours per day, it will last for 17.1 years. I don’t have any lights on for that length of time, so does that mean they’ll last longer?

  12. George Comstock

    I use CFL bulbs throughout my home (except one location controlled by a dimmer switch that buzzes with CFLs) out of environmental concern and frugality. But I’ve been able to four packs at the 99CentsOnly store. Won’t be ponying up for LED lighting until the price has dropped a lot further. The other persuasive fact you mentioned that I first learned at the HD site was the important fact they don’t contain the hazardous substance which CFL’s do. Recycling dead bulbs has been a significant inconvenience.

  13. Robin Monks

    I learned that because they last longer there is less environmental waste. I have been using LED lights for a few months and really like them.

  15. dana

    I learned learned that they come in flood light sizes that reduce cooling costs by producing little heat.
    I’d be willing to purchase them – I’ve got one that’s out right now. It would be my first time using LED lighting

  16. Misty

    I love that they last up to 100,000 hours! That’s amazing! Even more amazing, is that they don’t contain mercury! Save and long lasting. Wonderful combination!

  17. Marissa

    Love the fact that there is no mercury or other toxic material. I was not aware of the differences and was not going to buy the other type out there. Thanks so much for this review and informing us about this.

  18. Jillian B

    It’s amazing that they can last up to 20 years longer than an incandescent! I would love to put them in our ceiling fan fixtures :o)

  19. shari

    I switched out most bulbs in my home to CFL, but I don’t really like the light they provide and have had 5 year bulbs last only one year!! I didn’t know LED’s were safer and do not put out heat. I’d be glad to try LED lighting, especially for those bulbs that are hard to reach!!!

  20. Ashley

    I didn’t know that led’s are 10% more efficient than cfl’s. I probably would use them, but not until the price comes down a ton!

  21. Cathy

    I didn’t know incandescent light bulbs were being phased out by 2014. Seems premature since LED technology isn’t quite there yet (more efficient but not capable of producing surround light) and CFLs are so harmful to our environment.

  22. Jerry Lafferty

    I learned that LED bulbs contain no toxic material. Yes I would purchase LED bulbs! At this time I do not own any LED bulbs, I do have some of the compact fluorescent bulbs lighting my home.

  24. Jill

    I love the fact that the save more energy and that they last so much longer! Ugh, we recently installed a bunch of CFLs, and sometimes they drive me nuts.

  28. Kate C.

    I didn’t know that LED lights were more efficient than CFLs! I’m very happy to hear that because I, too, was hesitant to have a potential hazard in our home (the mercury in CFLs). We had actually purchased a bunch of CFLs for our old home but left them with the house when we moved, afraid they’d get broken en route, and I haven’t gotten new ones in our current home. I didn’t know that LEDs were available for purchase yet at Home Depot! I’m very excited to hear that and will be investing in the LEDs over time as budget permits!

  29. Jerry Lafferty

    I learned that LED bulbs contain no toxic material, Yes I would certainly try some. I do not currently use LED bulbs but i do use the Compact flourescent bulbs in my home.