How using LED lights can help you save money

Although indoor lighting is an essential, most of us do not pay much attention to the costs associated with them, perhaps because it’s not a big-ticket expense. However, it is not just the upfront cost of buying a tube light or bulb that you must take into account. Other costs like replacement and power consumption also need to be considered carefully before making a decision. Since electricity consumption forms the bulk of the running cost of light fixtures, an energy efficient option like LED lights can help you save a good deal of money in the long run.

“With an estimated energy efficiency of 80-90% compared to conventional light bulbs, LEDs significantly reduce energy consumption, and thus help save money by lowering electricity bills,” says Rakesh Zutshi, MD, Halonix Technologies and President of Electric Lamp and Components Manufacturers Association of India. Gautam Seth, Joint MD, HPL Electric & Power agrees, adding “LED lights are much more eco-friendly, and are up to 80% more efficient than fluorescent and incandescent lights”.

Although the upfront cost of LED lights is slightly higher, their energy efficiency and durability compensate for it. “The return on investment for installing LEDs is so much quicker because of their longevity and light emission per wattage,” says Radeesh Shetty, Founder, The Purple Turtles, a decorative lighting company. LEDs may cost you 30-40% more than traditional lighting options, depending on the brand you choose, but they last four to five times longer. This not only saves you the effort of replacing them often, but also making them environmentally sustainable.

Traditional lights and CFLs need to be replaced more frequently than LED lights, which are designed to function for years. “Since LEDs have close to zero maintenance cost, every section of society stands to benefit from their use, given the extra savings that can be made from the lower power bills, which is the norm for LEDs,” says VP Mahendru, CMD, EON Electric.