Energy-saving bulbs have been around for a long time, and light bulbs, in general, have been around for even longer than that. The advantage of incandescent bulbs is that with very minimal power input, we can generate bright lights that keep our environments lit even when the sun sets. It may be hard to appreciate these light bulbs now, but imagine what the world would be like if we still depended on gas-lit lamps for light at night.
On the subject of minimal energy consumption and LED lights, you should really consider changing all your lights to the more cost-effective and efficient kinds, like the ones sold at e-conolight LED lighting. Why? Well, there are several reasons why you should make this switch, and they extend from what the bulbs can do for your monthly electricity budget to how they can potentially save the planet.
Reasons Why You Should Make the Switch
They are good for the environment.
Let’s first discuss the biggest reason—Mother Earth. Did you know that 18.0 terawatt-hour (TWh) of energy is consumed worldwide every year? Even though bulbs only constitute a small fraction of that, it’s still a lot considering how all that power is being generated. Power plants are said to generate about 2,460 kWh of electricity generated per ton of coal. That means that several tons of coal are being burned, and the resulting smog is released into the atmosphere so that we don’t trip over something at night.
While there’s nothing we can do about needing lights, we can certainly reduce how much energy our bulbs consume. Energy-saving bulbs are said to consume three times less power than their counterparts. That’s a marked reduction in the amount of coal that needs to be burned, and a reason to make Mother Nature happy.
They are cheaper.
We also have to look at what energy-saving bulbs can do for you and your bills. About $110 is spent by the average household every year on electricity. That’s a lot of money if you think about it, compared to how much less it could be. Imagine if you could get some of that money back.
It turns out you can, and all you really need to do is to switch to energy-saving bulbs. It’s true that your other appliances like the microwave and the refrigerator would still consume power, but your bill would amount to a lot less if you were using incandescent bulbs. What are you waiting for?
They last longer.
Most LED lights come with an average lifespan. The estimated average lifespan is about three years of continuous use. This means that you may only have to buy one bulb every three years. This is one of the most compelling reasons to buy LED lights. They last a heck of a long time.
But then, here’s a word of caution: When you replace your incandescent bulbs with LED lights, you’ll no longer be able to tell “How many people does it take to screw a light bulb?” jokes because you won’t be screwing in light bulbs all that often. You’ll just have to find new jokes to tell.
More light
Anyone who’s ever walked into a supermarket at night can tell you this: LED lights are incredibly bright. The reason they are so bright is that they have a high lumen or watt score. When talking about light bulbs, lumens are a measure of the total quantity of visible light a body emits. This is why a candle emits light with much less lumen than a flashlight.
The watt, on the other hand, refers to the amount of power supplied to the bulb. When we say that LED lights have a high lumen or watt score, we mean you can get much brighter lights for much less wattage of power. LED lights have a score much higher than incandescent bulbs, and that’s another reason why you need to ditch them for the bright and shiny LEDs.
Wider range
The wider range here doesn’t mean that the light from LEDs can reach a farther distance than incandescent bulbs. Light travels at the same speed, either it’s from a LED or an incandescent bulb. This point refers to the fact that you can get a wider range of products with LEDs than you can with other bulbs. This is because as the world is growing fonder of bright energy-saving alternatives, manufacturers are getting more creative with their designs.
This means you can get the kind of LED lights from candles, to spotlights, golf balls, tubes, reflectors, and even traffic lights. It also means you can get several colors and fittings. You’re always going to find a LED light that fits your socket, either its screw or bayonet.
They are good for plants.
Here’s another fantastic way that LEDs benefit the environment. Besides the fact that they can help you reduce the amount of energy you consume and indirectly reduce pollution, LEDs are also good for plants. LED bulbs actually emit light with blue wavelength, and the reason it appears white is because of the phosphorus coating on the glass of the bulb.
Plants have light receptors that react positively to the light of blue wavelength. According to botanists, it can help them grow and regulate their retention of water. There are also researches being conducted on its effect on the germination of seeds. All this is to say that if you have plants at home, you need to water them, put them in the sun, and get you some LED lights.
The Bottom Line
The advice to ditch your incandescent bulbs for energy-saving ones is more than just a way to get you to buy more light bulbs. It’s actually one of the best things you can do for the environment. No single person can stop global warming or get rid of pollution, but there are little things we can do that make a big difference – things like consuming less power.
Swapping your bulbs is also good for you because it saves you a lot of money in the long run, while giving you lots of LED options to choose from. LEDs may just be one of the best things that has happened to electricity in a while.
