One of the newest and most cost-efficient trends is converting every light in your home or business to LED lightbulbs.
5 years ago, Energy Efficient bulbs were all the rage. They were mostly inexpensive, and boasted a longevity of 7+ years.
These days, consumers have realized that these “energy efficient” bulbs don’t last as long as they stated, and haven’t really made an impact on their electrical savings.
This is where LED bulbs come in. Making this small but beneficial change can really make an impact financially.
LEDs are extremely energy efficient and consume up to 90% less power than incandescent bulbs.
They also last for a much greater duration.
The expected lifetime of different lightbulbs:
| Incandescent Bulbs | Between 750 & 2,000 Hours |
| Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) Bulbs | Between 6,000 & 10,000 Hours |
| LED Bulbs | Between 20,000 & 50,000 Hours |
Pros:
- Dramatic decrease in power costs. Over time you’ll really start to see a huge savings.
- Maintenance and replacement costs are significantly lower, due to their amazingly long lifespan.
- New color options; instead of only the glaring bright white of past LEDs.
Cons:
- Definitely the upfront cost. Spending a large amount at first can seem daunting.
- Color limitations. Although LEDs do now have more color options, they often emit a more blueish, brighter light.
Picking the right LED bulb:
LED bulbs are measured in Lumens, unlike incandescent bulbs which use Watts. The higher the lumen range, the brighter the light. So for a brighter light, look for the higher lumens. For instance; to replace a 125 watt incandescent bulb, choose a LED with 2600 lumens.
Also take into consideration the type of bulb you need. LEDs can come in a wide variety of unfamiliar shapes.
Recently, one of our multi-family community partners made the change over to all LED lightbulbs. Camden Properties LLC assessed the upfront costs as well as the projected savings over a 5-year span, and decided to make the move. Now their residents are already seeing huge savings on their electricity bills!
Whether you are in the Multi-Family industry, Hotel Management or just a homeowner looking to save money, LED bulbs are the way to go!