LED Lights vs. Traditional Bulbs: Which Are More Eco-Friendly?
By Beth Rush
Choosing lightbulbs for your home or workspace can feel confusing. There are so many options, especially if you’re shopping online. Don’t risk compromising your sustainable values just to replace old bulbs quickly. Learn more about the best energy-saving lightbulbs so you understand the differences between LED and traditional versions. That way, you’ll be confident about your choices.
What Are LED Lights?
Light-emitting diode (LED) lights are lightbulbs that utilize microchips to create visible light. They’re a modern take on older bulbs because they rely on technology to streamline light production and long-term performance. Due to the shape of their glass structure, LED lights often resemble incandescent bulbs, but they can also come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
What Makes Traditional Bulbs Different?
Traditional bulbs are different from LED lights because they come in two forms — incandescent and fluorescent. Incandescent bulbs were the first type invented by Thomas Edison. They create light by passing electricity through a filament that burns hot and emits visible light.
Fluorescent bulbs channel electricity through tubes containing argon and mercury gases, which react to the energy by producing ultraviolet (UV) light. The UV rays turn into visible light as they pass through the coating on each bulb’s tube. Until LEDs came along, fluorescent bulbs were considered the more eco-friendly version of an incandescent bulb.
Why Are LED Lights Better for the Environment?
LED lights are better for the environment because they eliminate multiple issues within older models without reducing the amount of light they produce. Check out how they support the planet to determine if they’re the best choice for your lightbulb replacement needs.
1. They Use Less Electricity
The smart microchips within LEDs make them the best energy-saving lightbulbs on the market. The technology requires 75% less electricity than traditional bulbs. The same research shows that LED lights last 25 times longer than incandescent or fluorescent versions, likely due to less electricity consumption.
LEDs are powerful enough to illuminate expansive spaces for long periods without requiring much power. As the months and years pass, they reduce that area’s environmental footprint. Local electricity plants don’t have to work as hard to support the power grid, so they’ll ultimately produce fewer carbon dioxide emissions.
2. They Don’t Utilize Mercury
Fluorescent bulbs need mercury gas to create light. When those lightbulbs inevitably end up in landfills and get crushed by compactors, the gas escapes into the atmosphere. LEDs don’t need mercury to create the same amount of light.
Researchers recently noted that if Americans swapped all their fluorescent bulbs with LEDs, the country would stop producing the amount of carbon emissions equivalent to 4 million passenger vehicles in a single year. LEDs would require less electricity and never release mercury into the environment when people throw them away.
3. They Minimize the Need for Lightbulbs
When you turn an LED lightbulb on, the brightness is identical to the light produced by traditional bulbs. Many models are even brighter if they have more powerful microchips. You might only need a few bulbs to illuminate a large space that would otherwise need twice as many incandescent or fluorescent lights. It saves money and electricity simultaneously.
4. They Last Much Longer Than Other Bulbs
LED lights are better for the environment because they last 25 longer than traditional alternatives. They create the same amount of brightness through a greener production process, thanks to modern microchips. Since they last longer, people need to replace them far less often. Ultimately, that means fewer lightbulbs are ending up in landfills as frequently, and reducing the amount of garbage is a good step for the planet.
5. They Help Plants Grow
Sunlight is a crucial part of helping plants thrive, but they may need some extra help during certain times of the year. They don’t get as much sunshine while the sun sets earlier in the winter. LEDs are some of the best energy-saving lightbulbs because they help plants grow indoors and outdoors.
Turning on lights around indoor plants or using floodlights in your yard encourages photosynthesis. It’s a significant environmental advantage compared to traditional bulbs that don’t offer the same benefit.
6. They Attract Fewer Insects
Anyone who’s spent time outside during the evening knows that floodlights and street lamps attract all kinds of bugs. Swapping your bulb choice changes that. LEDs attract fewer insects than traditional alternatives because they create a different spectrum of light. That makes them better able to support your local biome.
It’s just another reason why LED lights are better for the environment. You’ll get to enjoy outdoor spaces at night without swatting away as many bugs. It’s a win all around, especially for large light fixtures in public areas.
Improve Your Carbon Footprint With the Best Energy-Saving Lightbulbs
Learning more about LEDs makes it easier to get bulbs that match your sustainable values. Whether you need them to light up your living room or illuminate an outdoor space, LED bulbs are a great choice for anyone who prioritizes the environment. You’ll use less electricity, support local insect populations, and get bulbs that last much longer.
About the author: Beth Rush is the green wellness editor at Body+Mind, where she covers topics like the power of climate consciousness at all stages of education. You can find Beth on Twitter @bodymindmag. Subscribe to Body+Mind for more posts by Beth!