September 9, 2022
Incandescent vs. LED
When installing your Christmas lights, knowing which products to use can take time and effort. To the invested consumer, exterior illumination is often an extension or representation of themselves. Through carefully selected products, it’s possible to create a “lightscape” that satisfies you and delights all who see it. Whether it’s a vibrant color exhibit or a more quaint display of clear light, ensuring you have the best products is essential.
There is a lot to consider when deciding between incandescent and LED lights. However, these lights’ pros and cons are easily weighed against one another.
Brite Nites only uses the highest quality LED lights on the market. This ensures our clients receive the best service and holiday lights every season.
Price
The first thing that people consider when purchasing lights is price. Incandescent lights are far more inexpensive, but clients need to consider how often the incandescent lights will need to be replaced. LED light strands last considerably longer, saving you much money in the long run. LED lights are also more cost-effective as they use less electricity. View the chart below to compare how incandescent and LED lights differ directly.
| Incandescent | LED | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Life Span | 1,200 hours | 50,000 hours |
| Watts of electricity used | 60 watts | 6 to 8 watts |
| Kilo-watts of electricity used | 3285 KWh/yr. | 329 KWh/yr. |
| Annual Operating Cost | $328.59/year | $32.85/year |
Environmental Impact
| Incandescent | LED | |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 4500 pounds/year | 451 pounds/year |
These lights also have significantly different impacts on the environment.
Understanding LEDs
Warm White vs. Cool White LEDs
| Incandescent | LED | |
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity to low temperatures | Yes | No |
| Sensitive to humidity | Yes | No |
| On/off Cycling | Yes | No |
| Heat Emitted | 85 btu’s/hour | 3.4 btu’s/hour |
There is undoubtedly an intrinsic charm that surrounds incandescent lights. When done correctly, the dimmed glow of incandescent bulbs creates an alluring ambiance that is a thing to behold. For many people, this charm keeps them returning to incandescent lights year after year, and that sense of tradition and warmth is often why LED lights are overlooked. Several common misconceptions make client’s reluctant to purchase LED lights.
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- Misconception #1: LED lights are too bright. While LED lights shine more luminously than incandescent lights, the brightness can be controlled by how many strands you install.
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- Misconception #2: Clear/White LED lights have a bluish hue. White LED lights come in two colors: Warm White and Cool White. Warm White resembles the traditional clear incandescent lights while Cool White l, rights have that bluish hue that looks modern and a bit icy.
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- Misconception #3: LED lights are too expensive. While LED lights are more costly at first, you save money because you will pay for fewer replacement strands, and they don’t use as much electricity, reducing your power bill significantly.
These common misunderstandings often prevent people from purchasing better quality, longer-lasting, all-around superior bulbs. The table below shows how LED bulbs are durable and last longer than incandescent bulbs.
Which Will You Choose?
Incandescent lights have been the number one choice when people have their Christmas lights installed. Technological advancements, however, have allowed LED lights to increase the options available to consumers. Both the diversification and development of bulb size and color have allowed LED lights to surpass incandescent. LED lights use a fraction of the power needed to light incandescent bulbs. They are also far more durable and have a greater lifespan. With LED bulbs, there aren’t any drawbacks. So why wait? Try LED lights next time you get Christmas lights installed or your next family get-together, party, or holiday display, and see for yourself!
