March 2010
Q: Aren’t you missing the boat by not educating people about LED lighting? They can save 78 percent of the energy used for conventional light bulbs. The technology developed by CREE in Durham is on the leading edge.
Bob Walters
Member of Carteret-Craven and Blue Ridge electric cooperatives
A: Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are being hailed as the next great innovation in lighting, promising long life, great light quality and super efficiency. However, the ultimate promise of LED technology has yet to be reflected in the current reality.
The Cooperative Research Network, an arm of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, partnered with several electric cooperatives throughout the U.S. to test a variety of LED lamps as alternatives to conventional lighting and CFLs. CRN and many electric co-ops are cautiously optimistic about LED technology because of the following benefits:
- LEDs last longer, perhaps for decades
- The energy to use LEDs could be substantially less than that of CFLs or other fluorescents
- With no mercury content, LEDs are more environmentally friendly
- The products are rugged and more resistant to breakage
- LEDs perform well in cold climates, especially outdoor applications
- LEDs can be dimmed and produce a more pleasing light
However, as promising as the technology appears, CRN says the path to seeing store shelves stocked with reliable and affordable LEDs may be a long one. Obstacles such as limited light output and high initial prices are barriers to widespread LED use. In the current economy, CRN says, research indicates consumers will not purchase LED lighting until manufacturers bring down costs significantly.
The cost of an LED
LEDs are perceived as expensive. Indeed, an initial investment in an LED fixture today is far greater than for an incandescent bulb—sometimes as much as 100 times more expensive when compared to an Edison light 100-watt bulb priced at $1. However, the cost of running the light encompasses the total cost of ownership over its lifetime.
When LEDs are perfected, it should take about 50 incandescent bulbs, or eight to 10 CFLs, to equal the life of one LED lamp. LEDs also are expected to be about 20 times more efficient than an incandescent bulb. So when you compare the lifecycle cost of a light source, the question is: which would you rather pay—$550 to use an incandescent bulb, or $154 to use an LED?
Look for the SSL quality label
Poor quality LED products are flooding the marketplace through big box retailers. Many products promising to be “good for the planet” are not as environmentally friendly as claimed. Several of these products are manufactured outside of the U.S. with components that produce low light levels, don’t stand up on long service life, or have exaggerated energy saving claims.
Two positive indicators are price and the presence of an SSL Quality Advocate label. With LED lamps, you get what you pay for. A product that costs $15 is likely to provide less light and have a shorter life than one that costs $50. Even high-quality LED lamps are in a relatively early stage of development and few have undergone rigorous testing in real-life settings.
The Department of Energy is working to establish Energy Star standards around LEDs. Until this happens, DOE also asks consumers to look for the SSL Quality Advocate label, similar to the one used by the FDA for food labeling.
—Cooperative Research Network