Halogen bulbs may be found in numerous places in any given household, and have become quite popular over the years. They are most often used in spot lighting, such as landscaping lighting that is meant to highlight specific areas, but halogen bulbs have also been used for many other purposes around the house. These bulbs are bright and fairly inexpensive in the short term, which is the reason why they have become popular with consumers.
However, a detailed analysis of halogen lighting may surprise most consumers, because in reality, these bulbs aren’t as cheap or environmentally friendly as they first appear. These shortcomings become especially significant when comparing halogen bulbs to LED lighting. The difference between LED and halogen lights is significant, and can add up to hundreds and even thousands of wasted dollars every year if the wrong solution is chosen.
Energy Usage
The average household energy bill is one of the biggest monthly bills after rent or mortgage. Overall, about one third of your energy bill is likely due to lighting of the household, and in some cases, this proportion can be as much as 80 or 90 percent (depending on the appliances in your household). How many lights a household uses, how often they are switched on and off, how long they are on for – these are all factors that contribute to the final amount you pay the power company.
The cost of running any given bulb is calculated by how many watts it takes to run it continuously for an hour. LED bulbs may use anywhere from 7 – 20 watts per hour. Halogen bulbs, on the other hand, need anywhere from 35, to as much as 500 watts an hour (in some cases) to emit the same amount of light. This translates to significant savings in every energy bill you get. As a guide, Halogen Bulbs can use 9 times as much electricity as an equivalent light from an LED globe or downlight. Multiply that savings by the number of bulbs in your house or office, and it can literally add up to hundreds of dollars over the course of an average year. For an office or a large home with landscape lighting, this savings could even reach thousands of dollars per year.
Longevity
When compared to LED bulbs, halogen bulbs have a very short lifespan; between 1,000 – 2,000 hours. Compare that to a comparable LED light, which can burn for 50,000 hours. This means that a consumer would need to replace over 20 halogen bulbs during the same time it would take one LED to burn out. When you factor in the cost of the bulbs and the energy savings, LED lighting blows halogen solutions out of the water. They are simply so far apart in their efficiency, that it’s like comparing an elementary school rugby player with a professional one.
Call your local, trusted electrical company with over 25 years on the Sunshine Coast – 5438 2382.
