LED vs Tungsten Bulbs: The Savings in Electricity Consumption

When transitioning from traditional tungsten bulbs to energy-efficient LED bulbs, the financial and environmental benefits are significant. This article explores the key differences in electricity consumption between these two types of lighting and provides a detailed analysis based on real-world usage scenarios.

Understanding Power Consumption

The primary difference between LED and tungsten bulbs lies in their power consumption. Traditional tungsten bulbs are notorious for their high energy use. An example of this is a 60W tungsten bulb, which produces light at approximately 600 lumens (lm). To achieve the similar illumination, an LED bulb with just 7-8W would suffice, making the LED bulb approximately 7-8 times more efficient in terms of power usage.

Case Study: Real-World Application

To illustrate the impact of this efficiency, let's analyze the electricity savings in a typical household setting. For instance, consider the installation of a single 9W LED bulb in the lounge, replacing a chandelier with three 75W tungsten bulbs. The cost of electricity for this scenario is 38 cents per kilowatt-hour (kW/hr).

Calculation Methodology

Calculate the power consumption of the tungsten bulbs: 3 x 75W 225W. Convert this to kilowatts: 225W 0.225 kW. Determine the daily usage time: 5 hours per day. Calculate the kilowatt-hours per day: 0.225 kW x 5 hours 1.125 kW-hr. Determine the cost per kilowatt-hour from your electricity bill: 38 cents per kW-hr or 0.38 per kW-hr. Calculate the daily cost: 1.125 kW-hr x 0.38 per kW-hr 0.4275 dollars, which rounds up to 43 cents per day. Estimate the monthly cost: 30 days x 0.4275 dollars 12.825 dollars, which rounds to 12.82 dollars per month.

For the single 9W LED bulb used in the same lounge, the power consumption is minimal:

9W 0.009 kW. Determine the daily usage time: 5 hours per day. Calculate the kilowatt-hours per day: 0.009 kW x 5 hours 0.045 kW-hr. Determine the cost per kilowatt-hour from your electricity bill: 38 cents per kW-hr or 0.38 per kW-hr. Calculate the daily cost: 0.045 kW-hr x 0.38 per kW-hr 0.0171 dollars, which rounds to 2 cents per day. Estimate the monthly cost: 30 days x 0.0171 dollars 0.51 dollars per month.

This results in significant savings: 12.82 dollars - 0.51 dollars 12.31 dollars per month, purely from the lounge room alone. Accounting for the initial cost of the LED bulb, which is usually around 50 dollars, the investment pays off in less than five months.

The Broader Impact

When considering the entire house, the savings can be even more substantial. For instance, if every room in the house had a single 60W tungsten bulb replaced by an 8W LED bulb, the total daily power consumption would be approximately 200W. Since 100W 0.1 kW and one kW-hr costs 0.38 dollars, the total monthly cost would be:

200W 0.2 kW. Determine the daily usage time: 5 hours per day. Calculate the kilowatt-hours per day: 0.2 kW x 5 hours 1 kW-hr. Determine the cost per kilowatt-hour from your electricity bill: 0.38 per kW-hr. Calculate the daily cost: 1 kW-hr x 0.38 per kW-hr 0.38 dollars. Estimate the monthly cost: 30 days x 0.38 dollars 11.40 dollars per month.

The comparison to the previous scenario, where the house would use approximately 33.25 times more electricity (225W vs. 200W), highlights the immense potential for savings.

Conclusion

The switch to LED bulbs not only reduces your electricity bill but also contributes to a more sustainable future. Given the significant savings and the minimal initial investment, it is clear that LED bulbs offer a compelling alternative to traditional tungsten bulbs. From a single room to the entire house, the savings are substantial and well worth the investment.