LED light bulbs: A bright idea

One popular green message is that we can all do simple things, like changing a light bulb. Sure, that’s true, and Canadians are doing that – according to Statistics Canada, “Between 2006 and 2007, the proportion [of households] using at least one compact fluorescent light bulb rose from 56% to 69%. Households in all provinces contributed to this increase.”

Don’t get me wrong, this is a great thing. Reducing energy consumption, and thus greenhouse gas output, is top priority. I’d like to suggest that we go one step further.

Most people have switched to LED light strings for the holidays, and I know I’m not alone in having LED solar lights in the garden, but general-purpose screw-base LED light bulbs for the home are another story. They aren’t sold in most mass-market stores, so they aren’t very accessible. But they are sold online at stores like Efston Science and Super Bright LEDs. LED bulbs aren’t ideal if you want to light a room with one overhead bulb. They aren’t available in that level of brightness (measured in lumens). But if you prefer accent lighting and  use a few types of lighting in each room, why not try a few LED bulbs? (I suggest warm-white bulbs for a light colour that’s closer to incandescent.) They are very efficient, producing very little heat (heat and energy waste are really the same thing – the bulb is converting electricity to light or heat), lasting for about 50,000 hours – about five times as long as a compact fluorescent bulb and 50 times as long as an incandescent bulb.

LED light bulbs are a better choice from a health point of view as well – they don’t contain mercury as compact fluorescents do. While there isn’t much mercury in a CFL, we have to rely on everyone to handle them carefully and recycle them, otherwise we risk contaminating the earth through landfills. That’s why it’s great news that many TV, computer and other electronics companies are moving to LED-lit screens from fluorescent tubes. LEDs should also be recycled, of course, like any other electronics – but you won’t have to worry about that for years.

Have you switched to more energy-efficient bulbs in your home?