ENERGY SAVING FORUM › Forums › ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHTING (LED) › Are LED lights really that much cheaper to run long-term?
Tagged: energy usage, led, led bulbs, lightening, lights
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Hi, I’m thinking of replacing all the lighting in my house with LED, mainly to reduce energy usage. For those who’ve already switched, did you actually notice a difference in your electricity bills? Also, are there certain types or brands of LED bulbs that last longer or give better light quality? Would appreciate some real experiences before I go all in.
Yeah, we switched the whole house to LED a couple of years ago and honestly it was worth it. The difference on the electricity bill wasn’t “life changing”, but definitely noticeable over time — especially with lights that get used a lot like kitchen, hallway, and outside lights. Biggest thing for me was actually how little hassle there is now. Old bulbs used to blow constantly and I barely replace LEDs at all. As for brands, I had the best luck with Philips and LEDVANCE so far. Cheap no-name ones from Amazon were hit and miss – some started flickering after a few months. Also worth paying attention to the colour temperature. Warm white feels much nicer in living rooms/bedrooms, while cooler white works better in kitchens or bathrooms.
Hi, I switched pretty much all my lighting to LEDs a few years ago and I definitely noticed a difference in the electricity bills, especially in rooms where the lights are on a lot like the kitchen or living room.
But honestly, the biggest advantage for me is not having to constantly replace bulbs 😅 The old halogen ones used to blow all the time.
From my experience, it’s worth avoiding the really cheap LED bulbs. Some of them started flickering pretty quickly or gave off that cold, unpleasant light. Philips bulbs have worked best for me so far.
It’s also worth paying attention to the colour temperature:
* warm white = much nicer for living rooms and bedrooms
* cool white = good for kitchens and bathroomsI used to worry LEDs would look harsh or unnatural, but the better ones actually look completely normal now.
After switching to LED bulbs, I honestly did notice a difference, although it wasn’t like my electricity bills suddenly got cut in half 😄 It was more like, “okay, paying for electricity hurts a little less than before.” The biggest advantage for me is probably that the bulbs basically never burn out. I used to replace them all the time.
At first, I bought the cheapest LED bulbs and kind of regretted it because some of them gave off this cold, “office-like” light that didn’t feel cozy at all in the evenings. Later I started buying warmer-toned ones, and it’s so much better. If you like a cozy atmosphere at home, I’d definitely recommend the warmer ones. Those cool, very white lights might look nice in a bathroom or kitchen, but they felt tiring to me in the living room.
I don’t know if it really matters, but for me the brand that worked best was Philips.
Hey everyone,
I also switched to LED bulbs a while ago, and honestly, I agree with most of what has already been said here. The biggest difference for me wasn’t even the electricity bill itself, but the convenience — I basically stopped replacing bulbs all the time. Before that, my old halogen bulbs kept burning out, especially in the kitchen.
When it comes to saving money, I noticed the biggest difference in rooms where the lights are used for many hours every day. In my case, the living room, kitchen, and outdoor lighting made the most noticeable impact.
I also learned pretty quickly not to buy the cheapest LED bulbs. A few budget ones started flickering or getting dim after a short time. In my experience, it’s worth paying a little extra for a reliable brand. Philips bulbs have worked best for me so far.
And the color temperature really makes a big difference too. Warm white light creates a much more comfortable and cozy atmosphere in the evening, while cooler white light works better in places like the bathroom or kitchen.
Hope that helps!
Hi everyyone
Yes, there is a difference in bills, but not really a “wow” one. After switching to LEDs, the electricity bill is a bit lower — usually by a few to a dozen percent, rather than any huge drop. You save the most if you previously used old-style bulbs or halogen lamps.As for quality: it’s worth avoiding the cheapest ones, because they break down faster and the light quality can be worse (sometimes it strains your eyes or is oddly cold).
From well-known brands, Philips and OSRAM usually perform well.
And a simple rule: for home use, choose warm light (that “cozy” feeling), not cold light like in an office.Hi everyone,
I switched to LEDs a few years ago and definitely noticed a reduction in my electricity usage, although it wasn’t huge since lighting was only part of my overall bill. Still, the switch was worth it, especially in rooms where the lights are on for many hours each day.As for quality, I think it’s more important to pay attention to color temperature and the Color Rendering Index (CRI) than to the brand itself. Some cheaper LEDs can produce rather harsh or “cold” light, while better-quality models tend to look much more natural.
Hi,For me, the biggest surprise was that I only started noticing the savings after a few months. My electricity bills didn’t suddenly drop dramatically, but over the course of a year, the difference became noticeable. On top of that, LED bulbs barely heat up and use much less electricity, so switching definitely felt worthwhile.I wouldn’t focus only on the brand. It’s also worth paying attention to the lumen output, color temperature, and CRI (the higher the CRI, the more natural the colors look). In my experience, it’s better to buy good-quality LED bulbs once than replace the cheapest ones every few months. That approach has worked best for me.
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