LED Lightbulbs - Realistic Savings?

System

I am not sure that cost is the only factor. I have just purchased 10 GU10 bulbs (3.5W) to replace cfl 8 bulbs in our kitchen. The replaced bulbs were rated at 11 watts per bulb. I am now seeing parts of the kitchen that I haven't seen since we replaced the original halogen bulbs over 10 years ago. After reading customer reviews (UK and Germany) on a well-known online site, I went for Sebson with a CE mark at £34.99 for 10. Bayonet fitting LEDS may have to wait as the cost per unit is still too high.

FWiW, I calculate that with all 8 lights on it will take me 4728 hours of use to cover the cost of the bulbs in energy saved. We may have 'son of LED' by then!!

matelodave

My kitchen had 10 x 50watt halogens = 1 kwh every two hours = approx. 6p an hour. My 10x4watt LEDS use 40watts = 1 kwh every 25 hours = 0.5p an hour. Assume we average 2 hours a day for 365 days = 356x6p = £22 or 365x0.5p = £2.0 so we save about £20 a year.
The bulbs were about £6.00 each = £60 so three years to pay back. If I take into account that the halogens only lasted about 9-12 months each and were costing about £6 a year to replace the failed ones and so far in three years we haven't replaced a single LED we are already in profit. The light is much better and more even than halogens as well.

My wife's work room now has 4 x 4 watt LEDs instead of 4 x 50 watt halogens and she has them on for anything up to eight hours a day (128w instead of 1.6kw) so I reckon they were worth changing - she also prefers the wider angle and colour of the LEDs.

We haven't bothered in the bathroom 5x35watts for an hour a day or less so I don't reckon it's cost effective even though I'm replacing the bulbs in there at a rate of about two a year - I might do it if LED Hut have a 25% off sale but they'll still take 4-5 years to pay back as they don't get the use..

The outside lights are LED as well although they aren't on long enough to make a lot of difference to our energy consumption but I don't have to get up a ladder to keep changing the lamps any more.


We've got LEDs in the task lighting

Halogens seem to have quite a short life where we live - the voltage is quite high at 248-249v which might be the cause.

zaax

A couple of years ago Phillips did 1W 1200 lumen GU10's LED and I replaced my lounge lights - I think they were a test supply as any LED is have brought since have been very expensive, high wattage (5+) or failed in 6 months.

It now costs £5 / year to light the lounge continually - not that I do.

lstar337

Hengus wrote: »

FWiW, I calculate that with all 8 lights on it will take me 4728 hours of use to cover the cost of the bulbs in energy saved. We may have 'son of LED' by then!!

Indeed. Switching from CFL to LED isn't really worth it. It is only switching from halogen to CFL or halogen to LED where proper savings can be made.

System

lstar337 wrote: »

Indeed. Switching from CFL to LED isn't really worth it. It is only switching from halogen to CFL or halogen to LED where proper savings can be made.

It is when you are getting on in years and need good light. The 'warm up' time of cfl GU10s was becoming something of an annoyance.

lstar337

Hengus wrote: »

It is when you are getting on in years and need good light. The 'warm up' time of cfl GU10s was becoming something of an annoyance.

Savings! The thread is about cost savings, and my post is making a comment on the savings to be made from switching from halogen to either CFL or LED.

Remember this is MSE - Money Saving Expert

Not WUTRE - Warm Up Time Reducing Expert

System

lstar337 wrote: »

Savings! The thread is about cost savings, and my post is making a comment on the savings to be made from switching from halogen to either CFL or LED.

Remember this is MSE - Money Saving Expert

Not WUTRE - Warm Up Time Reducing Expert

A tad harsh:) Does ordering 2 OSRAM 6W LED outside sensor lights from UKNowhoo.de at a saving of £70 compared to their UK site count as a legitimate MSE post? Water dripping from one of the old units was a hint that they needed replacing.

Slightly tongue-in-cheek, you need to think strategically - better lights = less falls and less hospital admissions. Spend to save.:T

lstar337

Hengus wrote: »

A tad harsh:) Does ordering 2 OSRAM 6W LED outside sensor lights from UKNowhoo.de at a saving of £70 compared to their UK site count as a legitimate MSE post? Water dripping from one of the old units was a hint that they needed replacing.

Slightly tongue-in-cheek, you need to think strategically - better lights = less falls and less hospital admissions. Spend to save.:T

It's ok buddy, I was only pulling your chain. That's why I put the green smiley in for you.

My post was only about the cost though. Personally, with the higher cost of LED I couldn't justify upgrading CFL's. Luckily I had halogens so the savings benefit will just about cover the initial cost.

I agree with you that a better quality of light will lead to a better quality of life.