Energy-Efficient LED Bulbs Save Consumers Hundreds of Dollars

Energy-efficient LED light bulbs are coming down in price. LED bulbs are approximately four times less expensive than when they were first introduced in 2010. Although the energy-saving bulbs originally cost $40, today consumers can purchase them for only $12! “Consumers,” The Star Tribute writes, “can choose from a light spectrum that ranges from soft white, similar to an incandescent, to bright white, similar to fluorescent.”

LED (or light-emitting diode) bulbs and fixtures, moreover, are incredibly cost-efficient in the long run. According to Consumer Reports, Americans can save up to $125 on an LED light bulb in comparison to a traditional, incandescent bulb. Manufactures also sell LED fixtures in dimming or colored varieties. For these reasons, the majority of consumers already use at least some LED bulbs. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are also a popular, energy efficient alternative.

“The color temperatures and brightness of the bulbs has really come a long way in the past two years. Very good products have gotten even better in the last 12 months,” lighting expert, Michael Connors, tells The Star Tribune. Prior to these recent improvements, many consumers complained LED bulbs were too dim — or did not emit enough light for activities like reading.