If your home still relies on old incandescent light bulbs, it’s high time to think about switching to LED lighting instead. In the last 20 years, LED lighting has evolved to become the new standard in home lighting systems and is superior to older incandescent or fluorescent light bulbs in just about every possible way.
A great Colorado electrician, like Hometown Electrical Services, can make the switch easy and affordable. Once done, you’ll enjoy years of high-quality LED lighting which is cheaper and more energy-efficient than previous types of lighting.
What is LED Lighting?
LED stands for Light Emitting Diode, a type of electronic circuit built to create brilliantly bright light – but it’s cold light, with almost no heat generated. This allows LED lights to be far more efficient than standard incandescent bulbs, up to 90% more efficient! Because the light-emitting system is electronic, that also makes it much easier to control via computers for more robust lighting solutions.
What Are the Benefits of LED Lighting?
1. Energy Efficiency
LED lighting systems are capable of transforming almost all of the input power into light, with very little waste. Approximately 80-90% of the energy used becomes light, compared to only 10-20% efficiency from regular incandescent bulbs, which turn most of their energy into heat rather than light.
This makes LED bulbs extremely good for the planet, as they can significantly reduce power use in any building using them for lighting.
2. Environmental Friendliness
Besides using far less power, LED bulbs are better for the environment in other ways as well. They don’t contain any toxic chemicals or gases, unlike incandescent or fluorescent bulbs, making their manufacturing more ‘green.’ In addition, they are also recyclable, unlike other types of bulbs.
So, when they do burn out – which takes a long time – be sure to dispose of them properly!
3. Long Lifespans
LED bulbs cost more individually than incandescent bulbs – but they last far longer. A standard incandescent light will burn out after only 1,000-2,000 hours, so a bulb running 24/7 will only last around three months, at most.
On the other hand, LED lights can last 20,000+ hours! Once you put LED lighting into your home, you’ll typically go a couple of years before having to replace any bulbs.
4. Improved Safety
LED bulbs are safer than either incandescent or fluorescent bulbs, in two big ways.
First, LEDs are far less fragile than either alternative type of lighting, which rely on glass tubes which are easily broken. This can be particularly good for families with children or pets who’d be at risk of breaking regular bulbs, creating a dangerous glass mess. LEDs can be dropped without breaking and are basically unlikely to ever break unless someone deliberately tries to smash one. Even then, the resulting debris is no more dangerous than any other broken electronics.
Also, because LEDs run cold, that means they aren’t a fire risk. Incandescent bulbs produce so much heat that they can ignite nearby flammable objects and have started numerous home fires. This simply isn’t a problem with LED lighting.
5. Incredible Lighting Control
As mentioned above, LEDs are electronic and easily controlled by computers. LEDs can put out a huge range of light levels, and even a wide range of colors, all in the same bulb. You can fine-tune the lighting in your home to a degree which is impossible with other bulbs.
On the topic, some people dislike the ‘pure’ white light of LEDs, which caused some people to ignore them when they first entered the market. That’s no longer an issue! Most LEDs are now sold with a default warmer light color, closer to that of incandescent bulbs. Plus, again, you can typically change the light levels and colors to be whatever you want.
6. Smart Home Integration
If you’re looking at automated smart home upgrades, LED lighting should be one of your first picks. LED lights integrate into almost any smart home system, which gives you even more control of your light levels. It’s easy to set up presets which are activated via your smartphone.
For example, your living room might have a standard fairly bright lighting setup as default, but if you want to watch a movie, just a couple taps can dim all the lights for easy viewing. Or set up different color schemes for ‘mood lighting’ that you can cycle through quickly.
7. Improved Property Value
Finally, looking long term: If you think you may sell your home in the years to come, LED lighting will be a big selling point that will make your home much more attractive on the market. Buyers want LED lighting and will balk at dealing with older lighting systems in the same way they wouldn’t want a home with a damaged roof.
Under normal circumstances, a home with properly installed LED lighting will get a higher price and sell faster as well.
Hometown Electrical Services Are Your Colorado Electricians for Hire
For over thirty years, we’ve brought the best in electrical services to the greater Denver, CO, area – and we’ve been leaders in LED lighting installations. With Hometown Electrical Services, you know you’ll be getting top quality products and workmanship. We focus on your satisfaction and have hundreds of satisfied customers.