LED Lighting

Definition: Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lighting uses semiconductors to convert electricity into light, providing highly efficient illumination.

Relevance to home energy efficiency: LED lights use significantly less energy than traditional incandescent or even CFL bulbs, leading to reduced electricity consumption for lighting.

Benefits:

  • Uses up to 75% less energy than incandescent lighting
  • Lasts 25 times longer than traditional bulbs
  • Produces less heat, reducing cooling costs

Drawbacks:

  • Higher upfront cost than traditional bulbs
  • Light quality may differ from what consumers are used to
  • Some LED bulbs are not compatible with dimmer switches

Statistics: The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that widespread use of LED lighting could save about 348 TWh of electricity by 2027, equivalent to the annual output of 44 large power plants.