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Why LED
WHY LED?
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) bulbs:
• emit the same light output as incandescent bulbs, but
• consume 90% less power than incandescent bulbs,
• last up to 25 times longer, and
• last up to 10 times longer than CFL bulbs.
| Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) | Incandescent Lightbulbs | Compact Fluorescents (CFLs) | |
| Life span (average) | 50,000 hours | 1,200 hours | 8,000 hours |
| Watts of electricity used (equivalent to 60 watt incandescent bulb) | 2 - 5 watts | 60 watts | 13 - 15 watts |
| Kilowatt-hours of electricity used (30 incandescent bulbs per year equivalent) | 188 kWh/year | 3285 kWh/year | 767 kWh/year |
| Annual operating cost (30 incandescent bulbs per year equivalent) | $18.76/year | $328.59/year | $76.65/year |
| Contains toxic mercury | No | No | Yes. Mercury is very toxic to your health and the environment. |
| RoHS compliant | Yes | Yes | No. Contains 1 - 5 mg of mercury and is a major risk to the environment. |
| Carbon dioxide emissions (30 bulbs per year) | 451 pounds/year | 4,500 pounds/year 1,051 pounds/year | |
| Sensitivity to low temperatures | None | Some | Yes. May not work under -10 degrees Fahrenheit or over 120 degrees Fahrenheit. |
| Sensitive to humidity | No | Some | Yes. |
| On/off cycling Switching a CFL on/off quickly—in a closet, for instance—may decrease the life span of the bulb. | No effect | Some | Yes. Can reduce life span drastically. |
| Turns on instantly | Yes | Yes | No. Takes time to warm up. |
| Durability | Very durable. LEDs can handle jarring and bumping. | Not very durable. Glass or filament can break easily. | Not very durable. Glass can break easily. |
| Heat emitted | 3 - 4 BTUs/hour | 85 BTUs/hour | 30 BTUs/hour |
| Failure modes | Not typical | Some | Yes. May catch fire, smoke or emit an odor. |