When deciding which energy-saving features to include in the LifeStyle SunSmart℠ building package, we strive to find an optimal balance between how much a certain product/technology will cost to purchase and install, versus how much it will ultimately save our homeowners in the form of reduced monthly electric bills.
LED lighting, which stands for Light-Emitting Diodes, is known for being the most energy-efficient illumination technology on the market today. Yet, it has been a bit cost prohibitive—until now.
A bit of persistence on our end, coupled with manufacturers’ declining costs, has moved us to a point where it makes sense to include LEDs in our homes. That said, we are happy to announce that LED lighting will be the new LifeStyle standard in all recessed cans and bathroom vanities.*
Here’s a quick breakdown of the three main reasons LEDs are so great.
ENERGY-EFFICIENT & ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY. LEDs are estimated to use 75% less energy than traditional incandescent lights. This is because they give off less heat, thus, less wasted energy. Unlike incandescent lights or CFLs that emit light in all directions, LEDs only emit light in a specific direction, which again means less wasted energy. In addition, LEDs contain no mercury.
According the U.S. Department of Energy: “By 2027, widespread use of LEDs could save about 348 TWh (compared to no LED use) of electricity. This is the equivalent annual electrical output of 44 large electric power plants (1000 megawatts each), and a total savings of more than $30 billion at today’s electricity prices.”
COOL TO THE TOUCH. As stated above, LEDs give off less heat than other lighting forms, making them cool to the touch. That said, they are safer in terms of reduced risk for combustion or burned skin.
LONG LASTING. Most LEDs have a lifespan of 30,000-50,000 hours. In fact, because they’re not built with the same parts as incandescent bulbs (no filaments, oxidation, etc.), they don’t burn out. Instead, their brightness simply fades over a long, long period of time.
If you’re not familiar with all the benefits of LEDs, we invite you to take a look at the U.S. Department of Energy’s informational page on this lighting technology. And if you’d like to know more about all the energy-saving features that come standard in every LifeStyle home, please visit our LifeStyle SunSmart℠ page.
