Choosing the right bulb isn’t just about brightness — it’s about long-term savings and environmental impact. With electricity costs rising across Australia, the type of bulb you use can make a real difference to both your wallet and the planet.
💡 Energy Efficiency: How Much Power Each Uses
LED bulbs are the clear leaders. They typically use 80–85% less energy than halogen lights and around 50% less than CFLs. In practical terms, a 7 W LED can deliver similar brightness to a 60 W halogen.
- Halogen: A modernised incandescent — still inefficient and converts much of its energy into heat.
- CFL: Better than halogen, but slower to warm up and uses mercury-based technology that’s now dated.
Australian context: Since the federal phase-out of inefficient halogens began, LEDs have become the standard for homes and commercial spaces. See our Classic LED Bulbs for efficient replacements that fit common bases (E27, B22, E14).
⏳ Lifespan & Replacement Frequency
- LED: ~15,000–25,000 hours (often up to 15 years of typical household use).
- CFL: ~8,000 hours — about half an LED’s life.
- Halogen: ~1,000–2,000 hours before dimming or burnout.
Fewer replacements mean lower waste and less hassle. LiquidLEDs lamps are designed for flicker-free comfort (IEC guidance: Pst < 1, SVM < 0.4) and use LM-80 tested LED packages that typically retain ~96–98% brightness at 9,000 hours, with projected L70 lifetimes well beyond 50,000 hours (package-level).
💰 Lifetime Cost: Purchase + Power
Upfront price matters, but the total cost of ownership tells the real story — especially with Australian power prices. The table below compares bulbs that produce roughly a “60 W incandescent equivalent” light output.
| Bulb Type | Typical Wattage (~60 W equiv.) |
Average Lifespan | Approx. Cost / Year* | Total 10-Year Cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halogen | 42 W | 2,000 h | ~$25 | ~$250 |
| CFL | 14 W | 8,000 h | ~$9 | ~$90 |
| LED | 7 W | 20,000 h | ~$4 | ~$40 |
*Estimated at $0.30 / kWh (typical AU rate) with average household usage. Purchase price varies by brand/model; even allowing for a slightly higher upfront cost, LEDs typically pay for themselves within a year.
Prefer mood control and extra savings? Explore our Dimmable LED Bulbs.
🌏 Environment & Disposal
- LED: Mercury-free, highly efficient, minimal heat, and fewer units sent to landfill thanks to long life.
- CFL: Contains a small amount of mercury vapour — must be disposed of at approved recycling points.
- Halogen: Mercury-free but short-lived and energy-wasteful, increasing carbon footprint over time.
Switching to LED reduces greenhouse emissions and material waste — an easy win for more sustainable Australian homes and businesses.
⚡ Final Takeaway
For Australia, LEDs win on every front: the lowest energy use, the longest life, and the smallest environmental footprint — all with beautifully consistent, flicker-free light.
If you’re upgrading from halogens or CFLs, browse our LED ranges or contact our team for tailored recommendations. Sustainable lighting starts with one simple swap.