By Huck Fairman
The New York Times just reported that the cost of LED light bulbs has dropped dramatically from between $15 to $20 dollars apiece down to $4 and change. Now, not only can businesses and residential customers save money on their electric bills, but they can now save on the initial purchase. And the bulbs can last years. The frequent replacement of traditional incandescent bulbs is no longer necessary.
G.E., Philips, Osram Sylvania, and TCP (a company that makes its own brand of energy-efficient lighting but also for Home Depot and Walmart,) are all offering varieties of LEDs. An industry analyst at the research and consulting firm Navigant predicted falling demand for the compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) and rising demand for the LEDs as the cost differences no longer justify choosing the inferior lighting quality and flexibility of the former.
The report noted that CFLs are still better suited for high-intensity lighting of 150 watts and more.
The LEDs come in a variety of models, some dimming, some not, some offering warmer or cooler tones. Some are designed specifically for business usage while others are intended for little used spaces.
Though advertised to last for years, occasionally the LEDs fail, (as do CFLs and incandescent bulbs) so it is recommended to keep receipts for exchanges with the merchant. When purchasing, check with the merchant about the light quality, dimming, and return policy.
But anecdotally, users report lower electrical bills after switching to both CFLs and LEDs. A G.E. product manager predicted that “…everybody will get out of CFL over time … It’s just a question of when.”
Huck Fairman writes Solutions in The Princeton Packet.
