Lighting is very important for businesses and homeowners alike, but changing the entire lighting system could be costly. Over time, the investment will prove to be worth it, but there are ways to raise the benefits. Using rebates and getting discounts is very easy, so you can save money on LED lighting, thanks to their energy efficiency.
5 Tips to Save Money on LED Lighting
In order to save money on LED lighting, you’ll need to find the way that works for you. There are plenty of opportunities to find sales or discounts on LED lighting, but to sweeten the deal find the rebates. Local governments want everyone to switch to energy-efficient bulbs, aka LED lighting.
However, they know the cost could be high, which is why many local governments and energy companies offer rebates for switching.
Where to Start
Since LED lighting is more expensive than traditional lighting, take it slowly. In order to get the best light for your buck, start where the most energy is used so the benefits will be higher. Recessed or can lighting is where the most energy is usually used as these tend to stay on longer both in homes and in businesses.
Replace can lighting bulbs with LEDs first, then move to open fixtures like table lamps, desk lamps, and drop-down bowl fixtures.
Looks Great Costs More?
Above we pointed out where to start with LEDs, but you also need to know where to end. While replacing the lights that most people will see is great, it’s not the best idea. This is best pointed out in the overtime view of the savings. LED lights will take some time to start making you money, which is why it’s best to start with the lights that are turned on most of the time.
Then move to the accent lighting and decorative lighting. These lights may be seen the most but won’t use as much energy. Therefore, these lights will not add much to the savings until later down the road.
Save Money on LED Lighting | Ditch The Watts
Incandescent bulbs have made Wattage the most popular way to measure how much energy is used; LEDs changed that. Become familiar with Lumens as the new measurement of energy in lighting. A Lumen measures the energy that a bulb draws instead of how bright it is.
Knowing this will help you not make the mistake of buying an LED light bulb that will not work for your fixtures or money-saving goals.
Calculate the Savings
One of the best ways to justify the cost of an LED bulb is to see how much money it will save you over time. An LED could cost $1 a year to run, while an incandescent will cost $4.50. That’s a 75-80% savings over time, and while these numbers aren’t exact, they are representative of what you could save.
Take the money you’d normally spend on energy and put that towards the upgrade to your system. Over the next three years, that money will be made back and then some. Changing everything can take some time, and that’s just fine. Slowly becoming more efficient, better lit, and cost-efficient makes the whole process well worth it.