Lighting savings

Lighting represents approximately 20% of an average home’s electricity bill. Lighting retrofits are one of the quickest ways to get a return on investment (ROI) and it’s one of the easiest improvements to implement nationally. LEDs are more energy efficient than CFLs and have a longer life which allows more time for the savings to add up. This factor is important when considering the cost analysis of a bulb’s lifecycle. Currently the upfront cost of LEDs is a limiting factor, but that is only a matter of time.

Saying good-bye to the old 60-watt bulbs

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is sponsoring a competition called the Energy's Bright Tomorrow Lighting Prizes competition, otherwise known as the L Prize. The goal is to find replacements for the 60-watt incandescent and the PAR 38 halogen, two of the most widely used but inefficient light bulbs. These two bulbs have been targeted for extinction.

Quality is key

For now, be cautious of new labels and new manufacturers. It is important to bear in mind that a tremendous amount of research and development is taking place in the LED market. Plenty of new companies are racing through the process in an effort to get these new LEDs on the shelves. This quickened process also took place with the CFLs a few years ago. The result: poor quality equaled poor performance and many consumers were convinced that all CFLs were junk.

Companies you can count on

So, buyer beware. When purchasing LEDs, stick to the established brands like Philips which offers the EnduraLED and the Sylvania Ultra A-line LED. These reputable companies have too much to lose by putting poorly manufactured products on the market.

References

(2010) DOE L Prize; Philips; Sylvania