One of the first places you can start to go green is by switching out your current lightbulbs for LED ones. There have been some debates on what type of lightbulb is the best for the environment, and the clear choice is LED.
When you use fluorescent and incandescent lightbulbs, it takes a significant amount of energy just to produce a little bit of light.
LED lightbulbs, on the other hand, are approximately 80% more efficient.
By using lightbulbs that are 80% more efficient than others, it helps reduce greenhouse emissions from power plants that are harmful to the environment. That’s because LED lightbulbs consume less power per unit (lumen).
Regular lightbulbs, such as fluorescent ones, convert upwards of 95% into heat and a mere 5% into actual light. Whereas LED bulbs convert 95% into light and only 5% is wasted as heat.
Conversion rates alone can have long-term benefits for the environment.
While the upfront cost of LED lightbulbs is a bit higher than others, it’s important to keep a few things in mind. First of all, they are significantly more affordable than when they first came out. That cost may continue to decrease as more people go green and there’s a bigger demand.
Second of all, the long-term energy savings far outweighs the cost per bulb.
The Consumer Federation of America recently came out with a report stating the average household, over the course of a decade, can save upwards of $1,000 just by switching to LED lightbulbs.
In addition to this 10-year outlook, LED lightbulbs last much longer than other lightbulbs. The average LED lightbulb lasts about 50,000 hours, whereas incandescent ones last around 1,000 hours.
They also create a more focused glow than incandescent bulbs, which means you may not have to have as many lightbulbs going at one time.
When the time comes to discard lightbulbs, contact your local recycling center. Recycling lightbulbs is a specific process that your area may or may not do.
The next time you go shopping for lightbulbs, take a look at your LED options and consider switching. The environment and your bank account will thank you!