For years, Light bulb technology hadn't moved much beyond the genius of Thomas Edison- a light bulb was a light bulb.
It wasn't until 2002 that the first residential LED bulb became available to consumers, but at a significantly higher price.
Nowadays, LED pricing has dropped considerably to become a viable replacement for outdated lighting technology. But what exactly is the difference between LED and Incandescent?
- LED lights cost three to five times more money up front- which is why some people avoid them- but they are by far more energy efficient, which saves your money long term on your electric bill and replacement bulbs.
What really makes LEDs stand out is their lifespan. LED lights can last between 20,000 and 50,000 hours, almost 5 times longer than any other type of light bulb.
One knock on LED lighting, however, is that it emits a colder, blue-hued light. This really comes down to personal preference.
- Incandescent- Spoiler alert! it takes energy to light up a light bulb, But did you know that with an incandescent bulb, 90 percent of that energy is converted into heat, not light?
Incandescent bulbs are cheaper up front but need more energy to emit light and are incredibly inefficient. You'll change an incandescent bulb 20 times before you'll need to replace an LED bulb.
Check out this side-by-side comparison:
You'll spend almost three times as much replacing incandescent light bulbs in the long run. And that's assuming LED lights don't become more affordable. We recommend switching to LED lighting wherever you can, both for indoor lighting and outdoor security lights.