Between 2018 and 2022, Google has seen a 128% increase in searches for energy-saving lights as we all look for ways to cut down our electricity bills and carbon footprint.
Since 2018, chances are you’ve bought a few replacement bulbs for your home, raising your lighting costs and adding to your overall outgoings. Nowadays, LED bulbs are leading the lighting market thanks to their energy efficiency, durability and versatility, leading to lower costs and more savings.
Follow our guide to explore all you need to know about LED energy-saving bulbs.
• Changing to LED lighting can reduce your energy bills, saving £2-3 per year per bulb.
• According to Which?, LED light bulbs use 90% less energy than traditional bulbs.
• Replacing every bulb in your home with an LED bulb will reduce your electricity bill by about £40 per year.
• LED bulbs use less energy than traditional bulbs, requiring less electricity to be generated.
• Using LEDs drastically reduces C02 emissions, reducing your carbon footprint.
• LED bulbs don’t contain harmful elements like mercury which are bad for the environment.
• Lasting for over 10 years, LED bulbs can last up to 10 times longer than traditional bulbs.
• Instantly bright when you switch them on; no warm-up is required for LEDs.
• LED light bulbs are available in various sizes and fittings to suit your home.
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are low-energy bulbs that are significantly more efficient than traditional bulbs.
Traditional bulbs create a lot of heat energy instead of light energy, meaning they are not very efficient for their intended purpose.
LED energy-saving light bulbs use heat sinks to absorb heat produced by the LED to prevent overheating. This heat management is part of what makes LEDs so energy efficient as they turn the majority of energy generated into light. It also means the bulbs last longer as they are much less likely to burn out.
LED bulbs turn most of their energy into light rather than losing energy via heat, which means they use less electricity when lighting up your room, making them great energy-saving light bulbs.
LED bulbs have a longer life span than traditional bulbs as they are not at risk of overheating. That means you will save money on bulb replacement costs.
Lighting makes up around 15% of a typical household electricity bill in the UK. As LED bulbs use less electricity, they will reduce your lighting bill costs annually.
The table below shows how much energy can be saved by switching to an LED energy-saving light bulb.
The estimated savings below are based on replacing a traditional incandescent light bulb with LED bulbs carried out by the Energy Saving Trust.
LED bulbs use less energy than traditional bulbs, reducing the output from electric power plants and, in turn, reducing the amount of fuel being burnt to create electricity.
Unlike compact fluorescent lights (CFL), which contain mercury, LED light bulbs do not have any chemicals that are dangerous to the environment.
As LED lights have a high electricity-to-light conversion, minimal energy is lost in the environment.
Cool white LED bulbs offer a clean and crisp light. Giving out a brighter lumen output than warm or extra warm bulbs, you’ll get more lumens per watt used with an LED bulb.
Ideal for: Kitchens, bathrooms or office spaces.
For a warmer temperature, discover warm white LED bulbs. These bulbs are ideal for a cosy look and match well with metal lights such as bronze or gold.
Ideal for: Bedrooms, hallways and dining rooms.
Extra warm white bulbs create a vintage feel with a more amber tone. Giving out less light and more of a glow, they are best suited for a rustic or industrial interior.
Ideal for: Living rooms or bedrooms.
Our selection of integrated lights offers stylish light fittings with integrated bulbs, eliminating the need to buy individual light bulbs.
• Integrated lights last much longer than normal lights.
• The cost of the light bulb is included in the price of the light.
• The light source is more efficient than traditional screw-in bulbs.
• Integrated lights usually offer brighter light.
Heading into darker winter days, you will find yourself using more and more lights, even during the daylight hours.
• Turn off lights every time you leave a room and don’t leave lights on overnight.
• Reduce the number of lights you have on in one room and prioritise task lighting.
• Make sure light switches are easily accessible so they’re easy to turn on and off.
• Use timers on lights so they are only on when needed.
• If you enjoy a bright room, choose lighter lampshades, as darker shades will absorb some light.
• Use dimmers, if possible, in rooms that you use most often, like your living room or kitchen.
• Use solar lighting in your garden to eliminate the need for electric lighting.
