Are LED Lights Eco-Friendly?

Light-emitting diodes are an eco-friendly lighting choice. LEDs are an energy-efficient alternative to traditional incandescent light bulbs, which waste 90 percent of the energy they consume on heat. Other energy-efficient lighting options include halogen incandescent bulbs and compact fluorescent lamps. All incandescent and fluorescent lights produce light that flows in all directions, wasting light as well as heat.

LED Technology

LEDs are a rapidly advancing technology that uses energy more efficiently and can save energy in indirect ways, such as with air-conditioning costs. LEDs use small, powerful sources of light that illuminate when electrons move through semiconductor materials. They shine in only one direction, produce a small fraction of the heat of fluorescent and incandescent lights, and lasting longer than other types of lighting.

Energy Star

Energy Star, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, labels LED lights that meet its energy-efficiency guidelines. Although LED lighting design creates efficiencies, poorly designed LED lights do not meet the potential of the technology. Energy Star guidelines require that LEDs consume at least 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last 15 times longer. In addition, the bulb must turn on instantly.

Savings

LED low energy-usage saves money in utility bills. As of 2011, an Energy Star-qualified LED bulb has an average operating cost of $1 per year. That compares to annual costs of $1.20 for an Energy Star-qualified compact fluorescent bulb, $3.50 for a halogen incandescent bulb and $4.80 for a traditional incandescent bulb. In addition, an Energy Star-qualified LED bulb's longer life -- ranging from a minimum of 15 times longer than a traditional incandescent bulb to a maximum of 25 times longer -- means there is much lower turnover of bulbs in your house.

Future Savings

Technological advances with LEDs raise hopes for significantly reducing electricity usage in the United States. LED lighting could cut the electricity demand in the country by 1/3, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The estimated savings from that adoption would total $265 billion, including preventing the construction of 40 new power plants.

References

1. Energy Star: LED Light Bulbs
2. U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy: Energy Savers Lighting Choices: Frequently Asked Questions
3. U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy: Energy Savers: Lighting Choices to Save You Money
4. Energy Star: What are LEDs?