How To Make LED Lighting More Affordable

LED lighting lasts longer and saves more energy than ever before. New LED light bulbs have better technology than before, meaning that they can replace the old incandescent light bulbs and CFLs (compact fluorescent bulbs - the curly ones!) in the same lighting fixtures, even dimmable ones. LED light bulbs save you money over the long-term, but the catch is that they still cost more than older bulbs to purchase at the start. Switching your whole house over LEDs is an investment, but one that many of us can't afford to do in one go. Here are some suggestions to make LED lighting more affordable, so that we can all benefit from its energy-saving advantages. Research Brands and Prices As with any new technology there is a huge variety of brands, quality and prices out there. It makes sense to buy the good quality brands - only then will you actually get full benefit from the longer life and optimum energy savings promised by LED technology. However once you've researched the best brands, you can shop around to find the best prices on those brands. Look out for specialist LED suppliers who ship direct from the manufacturers, as they can often pass on significant saving to their customers. Invest in The Right LED Light Bulb for the Job There are many different models of LED lighting - light bulbs for table lamps, for overhead lamps, spotlights, tubes and so on. There are also a wide variety of light outputs. Take time to work out exactly what you need for the job. There is no point getting a more expensive, bright, powerful light bulb for a table lamp where you just need a warm glow - you can save money by just buying what is needed. If you are not sure about the light output of a bulb ask advice from your supplier. Or buy just one bulb and try it in different situations in the house to see where it works best before investing in more bulbs. Replace A Few Light Bulbs At A Time Work out how many bulbs you can afford each month and buy them a few at a time. Even just one a month will eventually get you there. Replacing bulbs gradually is not only more affordable but also more sustainable. Plus you will be able to take advantage of advances in technology and drops in price as they happen (as LEDs become more mainstream, it is predicted that the prices will come down). Another side bonus is that your LED bulbs won't then all reach the end of their life at the same time 10 or 15 years down the road. You will then again be replacing them gradually with the newest, most energy-efficient technology then current.