Switching to LED lightbulbs saves at least $100 a year: EECA

Saturday, 7 April 2018

LED lightbulbs look similar to traditional options

A typical New Zealand household could save between $100 and $150 a year on its power bill by switching to LED lightbulbs - but half of us still haven't bothered.

A new survey commissioned by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) showed only half the 500 people it questioned had installed any LED bulbs in their homes.

But the rate of take-up is increasing. Three years ago, just 18 per cent had made the switch.

An LED lightbulb produces 'light-emitting diodes'. The bulbs use up to 85 per cent less power to provide the same amount of light as an incandescent bulb. Each LED bulb is meant to last at least 15,000 hours.

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'LEDs are great because they use less electricity than traditional incandescent light bulbs and can last more than 15 times longer,' said EECA efficient products manager Eddie Thompson.

Thompson said 28 per cent of those surveyed said they intended to stop using incandescent lightbulbs completely.

Cost was a factor stopping some people, he said, although the price of an LED bulb had dropped a lot over recent years. Bulbs used to retail for about $25 but were now available under $10. That compares to as little as 50c for a standard bulb.

Renters could take the bulbs with them when they moved.

Consumer NZ estimates that if a lightbulb is on for three hours each day, an incandescent bulb will use $17.08 worth of electricity in a year, compared to $2.70 for the LED. That means a saving of $14.38 per year.

Most LED bulbs will pay themselves off within the first year and you can then expect them to last a decade more.

Thompson said it was better to replace the high-usage areas first, such as kitchens and living rooms, because it would provide the best return on investment.

He said renting households had traditionally been reluctant to switch but they should change their thinking.

'Renters can think about LEDs as an appliance – installing LEDs and removing them when they move. However it's important to store and replace the old incandescent bulbs when tenants leave the rental.'

Thompson said shoppers should keep the receipts for LEDs and contact the manufacturer or retailer if the bulbs are defective.

If the bulb gets too hot, such as in an old-style recessed downlight, it can reduce its lifespan.

Consumer NZ said a customer buying an LED to replace a standard incandescent lightbulb would often find the new bulb seemed brighter, because th beam angle was narrower.

'If you want to replace an existing incandescent bulb with an LED, use the wattage of the old incandescent as a guide. The packaging of LEDs usually indicates the equivalent wattage of incandescent bulbs that produce a similar brightness.'

You can opt for warm or cool light.