2019: the year to make the switch to LEDs for your festive lighting
If it’s been a while since you’ve changed your festive lighting, you might still be using incandescent bulbs to light up the nights over the Christmas season, We’re here to tell you that 2019 is the year to make the switch to LEDs. Whether you are responsible for Christmas lighting in a shopping center, a city, a hotel, or even a private home, switching to LEDs makes good sense all round.
Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of LEDs:
Save money by switching to LED lights over Christmas
When it comes to cost-savings, LEDs are beneficial on two fronts.
First, longevity reduces costs. Although LEDs might need a little extra outlay to get started, LED bulbs last longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. In fact, some sources show that one LED bulb can last for 25,000 hours of use, while a similar incandescent bulb would need to be replaced 20+ times during the same period.
Of course, this depends on the lights you’re buying, their quality and how you’re using them, but it clear to see that LED lighting has cost benefits in terms of replacement costs.
Second, the energy efficiency of LEDs when compared to incandescent bulbs lowers energy costs and keeps them low for years to come. Incandescent bulbs get hot, and around 90% of the energy used in creating light goes toward heat. Only 10% goes towards light. So switching to LEDs means that you waste less energy—and therefore money—on energy to heat up your bulbs.
Whilst the cost-savings for a house with normal household lighting may be small, the cost-savings for a festive lighting display in a city or shopping center can really add up!
Third, LED lights – especially string lights – are more durable than their incandescent counterparts. Individual LED light points are made from a tiny chip enclosed in an epoxy resin whereas incandescent bulbs contain a very fine metal filament enclosed in glass. LEDs have more robust components, which means that they are much better able to stand up to vibration, shock and temperature extremes, which in turn means lower replacement costs over time.
Safer festive lighting means a happier holiday for everyone
We’ve already mentioned that incandescent bulbs get hot, but did you know that they can get so hot that they can cause burns, especially to little hands and curious children? They can also heat up nearby decorations and may result in things getting so hot that fires break out. Not great if you’re trying to attract visitors and especially families!
LEDs don’t get hot to the touch, so by making the switch, you’re reducing the risk of both burns and fire risks.
Do your bit for the environment by switching to LEDs
We’ve already explained that LEDs use less energy and last longer than their incandescent counterparts. If you choose to get rid of your old incandescent festive lighting and move to LEDs, your energy consumption will go down and that means that your festive lighting will be responsible for a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions – great for the environment.
In fact, LED lights have a smaller overall carbon footprint than their incandescent counterparts: according to some calculations, if you compare an LED bulb and an incandescent build—both with the same luminosity—the LED bulb emits 80% less greenhouse gases.
In the UK alone, recent reports have indicated that the move to LEDs across the country has already started to make a difference (albeit a small one) in the UK energy demand, which is great example of how LEDs can help to turn the climate change tide.
And let’s not forget the landfill benefits: because your lights will last longer, you can keep them longer, too, which means less landfill waste and less toxic materials being buried each year.
Ready to make the switch from incandescent lighting to LED lighting for your Christmas display this year?
Get in touch with your local MK Illumination office for a chat. We understand what an investment festive lighting is and can make sure that you get the best solution for your space and your budget.
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References:
Low Energy Light Bulbs; carbon footprint™; Accessed July 15th, 2019
https://www.carbonfootprint.com/lightbulbs.html
Light Bulb Guide: LED vs. CFL vs. Halogen; Tom’s Guide; Written July 3rd, 2019; Monica Chin, Mike Prospero; Accessed July 15th, 2019
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/light-bulb-guide,review-1986.html
Comparison of LED Lantern to Incandescent Bulb, Sciencing.com; Updated April 25, 2017; Marie-Luise Blue; Accessed July 15th, 2019
https://sciencing.com/comparison-led-lantern-incandescent-bulb-12329538.html