Consumers Edging Towards LED Light Bulbs1

As lighting manufacturers begin phasing out the classic incandescent light bulb from production and replacing them with efficient alternatives such as LED light bulbs, new halogens and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), consumers are guaranteed to see changes when shopping for lighting solutions.

Of course, it's not all good news, even with the obvious energy benefits presented by LED bulbs. LED lights come with high price tags, which may turn off consumers who may be maintaining a strict budget. LED bulbs can cost up to $40.00-far higher than any incandescent or CFL bulb on the market. Experts however, are quick to defend the new light bulb's price, saying that there's a very good reason behind it.

LED light bulbs cost a lot because they last longer, and use far less energy than any other bulb or lamp on the market. Everyone knows how much of a pain it is to keep switching bulbs after they burn out or break. You may have to change CFL bulbs twice or thrice a year - with incandescent bulbs, that number can easily double.

But with LED bulbs, you won't have to replace bulbs for more than a decade-at least that's what manufacturers say. When you factor in how many times you need to replace conventional bulbs in 10 to 20 years, you'll see that using LED lights can save you more money. Think of it as investing in something that will be usable over the long run. While it's true that LEDs cost more initially, their low maintenance and energy efficiency pay off more over the long run.

Talk of LED-based lighting solutions dominating the market isn't all talk either. Recent consumer behaviour only reaffirms the shift towards more energy efficient lighting products. Waco Walker, a manager at a Lowe's branch, a popular chain of American hardware stores, says that customers are now becoming more interested in LED light bulbs, especially after fears of CFLs containing mercury.

The growing interest is also a result of various governments working to phase out the incandescent bulb. It's important to note however, that what's taking place isn't a phase out per se. Rather, governments are mandating manufacturers to make incandescent bulbs more efficient by as much as 25 percent. The incandescent light bulb's design can still be kept, as evident in new halogen lamps, which are essentially efficient upgrades to Edison's bulb.

It may sound silly, but by buying LED light bulbs, you're doing your part to help solve the problem of climate change.