Wondering why your energy bills keep climbing while your friends seem to shell out far less for their lights?
As if they have a trick up their sleeve? As if they are privy to some secret information?
Next time you’re at your place, look at their light bulbs. There’s a strong chance you’ll find they’ve switched to LEDs while you’re still hanging on to old-school incandescent bulbs.
And that’s where the real problem lies.
Incandescent bulbs gobble down electricity like there’s no tomorrow, causing your lighting bill to soar. In contrast, LEDs produce the same amount of lighting using far less energy.
Wasting electricity is not the only thing to dislike about traditional bulbs. Their other drawbacks include:
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Higher costs
Okay, we know what you’re thinking: Aren’t LED bulbs more expensive than traditional bulbs? Upfront, yes; long-term, no.
Even though LEDs have a higher price tag, they last many times longer than incandescent bulbs. This means you need to replace them at far greater intervals. In addition, LEDs go easy on electricity, resulting in monthly savings on the electricity bill.
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Fewer light quality options
When it come to light quality and colours, old-school bulbs don’t give you a lot of options. Compared to LEDs, their ranking on the colour temperature scale is much lower.
While many of us have got used to incandescent bulbs, they’re simply not cut out for task lighting. If you need sharper, clearer light, for instance in your kitchen or home office, cool white LED lights are worth considering. They emit more blue light that creates a clear, crisp, and vibrant look.
Having said that, this doesn’t mean that LEDs are not a good choice for those looking for warm, orangish light, because they are. Warm LED lights can help create a relaxing, cozy vibe, perfect for bedrooms and living rooms.
Long story short, LEDs offer many more colour options compared to old-school, incandescent bulbs.
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More fragile
Do you have young children or pets at home? If so, think twice before you decide to continue using incandescent bulbs. This is because they are more fragile compared to LEDs. On top of it, they contain mercury in small amounts. Exposure to it could be harmful for your young children or pets.
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Heating dangers
Have you ever noticed how hot traditional bulbs get? Overheating is a real risk with incandescent bulbs, which in turn can cause them to burn out quickly. And when an incandescent bulb goes kaput suddenly when in use, you’ve got to wait a few minutes for it to cool down before you could replace it, or you’ll end up with burned fingers.
Compared to traditional bulbs, LEDs are way cooler. Even though they may feel a warm to touch, they’re a big improvement. So, if you want to avoid overheating issues and keep your electricity bills in check, switch to LEDs as soon as possible.
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Conclusion
There’s much to be unhappy about incandescent bulbs. In contrast to LED bulbs, they use far more energy (meaning, higher lighting costs), have a shorter lifespan, contain mercury, and are more prone to overheating. If you’re still hung up on energy-guzzling traditional bulbs, it’s about time you replace them with LEDs.
LiquidLEDs offer a wide range of high-quality, yet affordable, LED lighting solutions. Browse through our collection and we’re sure you’ll find what you’re looking for. And in case you need any help or want to ask a question, feel free to contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the biggest drawbacks of incandescent bulbs?
Incandescent bulbs use more electricity than LEDs to produce the same amount of light and have a much shorter lifespan. Other drawbacks include presence of mercury and the risk of overheating.
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Are LED bulbs safe?
Yes, they are. They don’t contain mercury and are less likely to overheat. However, avoid using them in enclosed places because then they can get hot quickly.
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Which is better — halogen or LEDs?
LEDs are much better than halogen. For example, LED headlamps are up to 275% brighter compared to halogen lamps.