The Energy Independence Act of 2007 is in full swing with retailers and consumers. The Act requires 30 percent more energy efficiency in bulbs, which leads to more energy AND more money. Phasing out inefficient incandescent light bulbs and introducing more efficient LED light bulbs is a costly, yet beneficial, venture for both producers and consumers.
According to the Washington Post, "with dozens of new LED products coming to store shelves this year, the bulbmakers and retailers such as Home Depot aim to smash the dominant incandescent bulb. [. . .] The catch is that LED bulbs cost $25 or more apiece, so the companies are plotting ways to persuade Americans to make the investment."
Here in Seattle, we are pioneers for sustainability and environmentalism, but I'm wondering how the rest of the country feels about this change. Would more energy and durability (albeit, more cost) persuade you, as a consumer, to work towards energy efficiency? Or would you tend to err on the side of frugality by using less costly fluorescent bulbs?
Image: Willis Glassgow/AP, Washington Post
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I kinda feel about LED bulbs how I initially felt about first-generation CFL bulbs - the light is not soft enough. I would gladly buy them if I didn't feel like they made my home into a Wal-Mart.
Absolutely. Maybe more. A well-made, sufficiently-advanced LED bulb should last around 15-20 years. Plus, if it's drawing less power, producing less heat and saving me money on my electric...At that point it becomes an investment – something you'd actually take with you if you move to a new apartment.
The Philips ambiled 60w replacement is perfect and cots $25 on sale at Home Depot. It's a bit finicky with my electronic dimmer, but on a regular switch it's been great. Definitely softer than any CFL I've used.
Only if it looks like an incandescent.
I got my LED bulb for well under 25 dollars. I media outlets would stop talking about LEDs like they were all super expensive. You can easily find LED bulbs for well under 10 dollars.
jcros,
I don't think you are supposed to use them with dimmers. You should switch out your switch.
I think it's interesting that you use the term "phasing out incandescent bulbs", when earlier you steer us towards a Re-Nest article that says they are NOT, in fact, phasing them out, but instead are making them more efficient. Which one of you is correct??
I'm surprised that neither the Post article nor the Apartment Therapy post mentions one of the most weighty benefits of LEDs over the lighting we have now: they are mercury-free.
...And before someone writes in to say that mercury is safe because they handled mercury in 1950s science kits, I'm aware of that, but the fact that you're still alive (and so are some of my relatives who did the same thing) doesn't undo the overwhelming evidence of its toxicity. I wish it did!
I'll buy LEDs, but I don't see it happening anytime soon. The CFLs I currently have last for years. In 2007 I put CFLs in all my lights, and it was only last month that I had to replace the one I use most often.
Yes. Agree with others though, only if they are indoor home-quality softness.
funstraw,
The Philips 60w equivalent LED bulb can be used with a dimmer, at least that's what is stated on the packaging. I have not tried one on a dimmer though so I can't comment on how well they do or do not work. I am quite please with the colour of the light given off though, I doubt most people could tell that it isn't an incandescent bulb.
There are definitely harsh white LED lights that are very unpleasant to look at, but there are also ones available that have a beautiful warm glow, such as the ones from Philips.
They have a high up front cost now because it's still relatively new technology; CFLs were quite expensive at first as well. The low operational costs still make LEDs worthwhile however, but probably not worth swapping out perfectly functional CFLs. When those need replacing though... look into LEDs.
It sounds like most people on this blog are pretty well off because most stated they would buy LED's for their home - despite the cost. That's HUGE investment for most of us that have regular jobs and mortgages to pay. Just in my living room I would need almost 12 bulbs, 10 in my kitchen - 22 bulbs total in just 2 rooms of my house X $25 a piece (on average because I've seen some more expensive and some cheaper also) = almost $600!!! I can't afford to spend $600 on two rooms just for lightbulbs.
I DEFINITELY agree that the long-term savings are worth it and the environmental impact is considerably less, but I still have to consider the fact that buying even just a few at a time is a large investment.
Not to mention the fact that the LED's I've seen are not as "warm" as incadescents or even soft-white CFL's. They come close, but still have a different glow to them that i'm not 100% convinced with - especially considering I'm paying $25 a bulb.
Once LED's are perfected, lower priced and easier to find in stores, then I'll consider changing out all the CFL's in my home for LED's.
Just my 2 cents.
Considering how long they last, I'm going to wait until the price comes down and the quality of light improves. Imagine having to tolerate a harsh light bulb you don't like for the next ten years.
Not only are Compact Fluorescents harmful to the environment, but they're also harmful to HUMANS! CFL's contain mercury that could poison someone if released from the bulb. They also emit radiation, so having them in areas of your house which you use most is a bad idea. Keep CFL's in low use, unimportant areas, like garages and outdoors IF YOU MUST. In my opinion, they should have never even been invented. Yes, I would switch to LEDs.
Yes I would. I've been looking at the LED replacements for MR16s for a while now. There is no place local for me to purchase yet but when I can buy one nearby (and have the ability to return if I don't like it) I'll purchase one to test.
Our local utility company recently replaced the street lights with LED lamps. They used to have the yellowish flickery lights in them. The new LED light is AMAZING. It's brighter and it seems like a much larger area is lit.
@ Keri Payne - the statement above doesn't say they're phasing out ALL incandescents. There is a list I've seen in a number of places of which incandescent bulbs are being phased out.
I will be investing in LED's- but slowly. I agree that at this time they are a higher price, but one at a time- it is the same price as a night at the movies!
Alan,
As long as they have specific dimmers installed for led dimmer bulbs.
sorry i wasn't done
and if the problem is what jcors was describing it sounds like they have the wrong switches, or a bad bulb
The Philips AmbientLED 60W equivalent is far and away the best LED I've seen. It's soft white (2700k) and is indistinguishable from an incandescent. Really the 'must-buy' when getting replacement bulbs at this point.
As mentioned above, it has dropped to $25 at HD and is a great buy. HD also has the 75W equivalent on their website as well, which is worth checking out. LED has arrived and is only going to get better.
We just bought our first LED the other day. I *had* to be rid of the CFL that had recently been placed in the socket because the color temperature of that bulb (2700 K) was just terrible to look at for me. Switched it out for a 4900 K LED and all was well.
As far as cost goes, we are moving to a new place and hope to slowly convert the entire house as bulbs burn out.
@ Angel Raphael,
You don't have to be well off. My entire condo has only 11 light bulbs, including lamps. Think smaller.
I'm afraid that the LED lamp that I want doesn't exist yet: as it dims, it turn redder like an incandescent. For evening lighting, I like the gentle glow of a dimmed light bulb.
I use incandescent and will until the LED's come down in price. I don't use CFL's because I don't like how they look and it's unsettling that you need a hazmat suit to clean up a broken light-bulb. Plus, several people I know how switched to CFL's and they have had them burn out ijust like good old incandescent bulbs and aren't lasting as long as it has been said.
Still, I like the idea of LED and some of the newer ones look comforting in terms of light color.
I've already invested in a couple. I have two fixtures in my bathroom that are next to impossible to change -- one directly over the shower stall, the other over the garden tub, on a ten-foot ceiling -- and after the ridiculous contortions it took just to get up there and see what kind of bulb went in the fixtures (this involved a folding ladder, inserted in the shower stall partially folded and then unfolded into place!), I climbed down and headed straight off to buy a 20-year bulb, because if I _never_ have to change those again, that'll suit me fine. It's a perfect application for these bulbs, and well worth the expense.
Hate, hate, hate CFLs. The light is bad, they are expensive, and they absolutely do not last. A seven dollar light bulb that lasts for a couple of months does not cut it. These might be worth it, if they truly last as long as suggested. But after my repeated experiences with CFLs that died much sooner than a regular incandescent bulb, I'd be hard pressed to turn over $25 without an easy guarantee. (not a "you are responsible for paying for shipping and insurance and we'll send you a coupon for 10% of your next purchase guarantee.)
Invest? You're not investing in anything. A lightbulb is a depreciating, expendable, consummable item. It's worth is less than the moment you bought it and it will eventually become worthless. There's no investment here - just spending. I'm hoarding incandescents with the plan of selling on the lightbulb black market.
Our priest says if we switched to cfls it looks really good on the resume. I have to find out about these new fangled leds.
>CFL's contain mercury that could poison
>someone if released from the bulb.
Yeah, if they ate it, maybe. CFLs contain elemental mercury, which is not terribly dangerous. Open the window, vent any gas, and sweep up the debris without touching it (don't vacuum).
It isn't anywhere near as dangerous as the organic mercury compounds belched by coal burning power plants into the environment. CFL's save so much electricity, even if you discard them and the tiny amount of mercury they contain instead of recycling them, they still pump less mercury into the environment than running an incandescent bulb does.
>They also emit radiation
No, they don't. They don't steal socks from your dryer or drink milk from the carton, either.
Oh, and where the heck are you people getting these CFL bulbs that don't last years? Even the el-cheapo CFLs I get at IKEA last 5+ years each, in daily use.
@wet chi - Why are you taking career advice from a priest? He's probably only ever had one job. :)
I'm not switching to LEDs until my current stock of bulbs (both incandescent & CFLs) burns out. Alternatively, if someone is giving them away, like many did when CFLs first came out, I'll take 'em.
you are allowed to judge me: BUT>I am verrry much not understanding any of this 'bulb thing'..bottom line: can't I still get my 'reveal' bulbs, when this all starts 'happening'? I know it's to save energy for all of us...but I just feel horrified thinking that I have to start to spend big bucks on replacing dead bulbs instead of the usual few dollars or so for a pkg of my 'reveal' bulbs...Is this like we all have no choice but to buy these bulbs> it kind of reminds me of when television was 'free' and now we have to pay companies due to television going 'digital'.... choices being taken out of our hands? I'm trying to understand and be informed of 'what is going on' with the emerging 'bulb thing' news..thank you my lifesaving aptther. friends!
That's my plan ..a binful of 'old fashioned' bulbs! Thanks hrhprincessfiona..I had a feeling they are not going to go over well with most here either..but will as 'time goes by'.
NO. The light is horrible. The chemicals are dangerous to the home and the environment. They require additional packaging to store, ship, etc. which uses more energy to produce. I am not sold, regardless on the price.