Switching from your energy intensive lighting to the more energy-efficient LED lights is another way you can save money on electricity. The cost-saving benefits can be substantial to justify the expense.
Why would you make the switch to LED lights?
LED lights use much less energy to run than any other light bulbs in the market at the moment. LED lights also have a longer life-span and can generally last around 20,000 hours. Other light bulbs vary between 2,00 hours to 10,000. Taking into consideration that about 10-15% of your electricity bill is your lighting, this extended life span and lower electricity usage will impact your savings.
LED lighting will save you money, save power, and last longer.
How do you make the switch to LED lights?
Before you head off to your nearest hardware store, you should probably acquaint yourself with the distinctions between LED lights and the others.
The first notable difference is the measure of brightness. Traditionally, we are all familiar with associating the wattage with how bright a light bulb is likely to burn. The problem with LED light bulbs is that there is no equivalent wattage – this is because they consume so much less energy. The best way to compare the brightness of an LED light to what we are accustomed to recognising is to compare the Lumens.
Lumens
Definition: the SI unit of luminous flux, equal to the amount of light emitted per second in a unit solid angle of one steradian from a uniform source of one candela.
In normal English: Lumens = Brightness.
Lumens and LED Lights
So how do Lumens indicate the kind of brightness you want in an LED light?
| Incandescent Lights | Lumens | LED | CFL | Halogen |
| 100W | 1600 | up to 22W | up to 26W | up to 72W |
| 75W | 1100 | up to 20W | up to 23W | up to 53W |
| 60W | 800 | up to 12W | up to 15W | up to 43W |
| 40W | 450 | up to 9W | up to 11W | up to 29W |
| Note: Output and wattages based on most common products available for each medium screw-based light bulb. Actual light output may vary by product. | ||||
So! When choosing your LED lights, look at Lumens not watts.
LED Colour: Warm – Cool – Day
Next, you need to consider the colour of your new LEDs. A criteria that is often overlooked at the time of purchase, yet becomes important if you make the wrong choice. For those who are accustomed to the cozy glow of a warm light, a bright coloured LED will really feel quite jarring.
Warm white can be compared to the yellow, warm glow that is comparable to an incandescent light bulb. Cool white is cooler in hue than warm white, without the harshness of a (cool) bright white. Day Light is bright, harsh and best used for task lighting.
What about dimmable LED Lights?
Plugging in your LED lights into a dimmable outlet will not produce the results you are most likely expecting. Because of the way they work, LED lights are mostly not compatible with traditional dimming switches. In order to make your LED dimmable, you need to either find specifically compatible LED light bulbs, or replace your current dimming switch with an LED compatible dimmer.
Replacing Your Dimmable Switch
Only a licensed electrician is allowed to replace light sockets. Replacing light fittings, dimmer switches, LED drivers, and any other electrical work is work that only a licensed electrician can carry out – attempting to do so yourself is extremely dangerous work.