LED lights are well known for being energy efficient, but have you ever calculated the cost of using LED lights? Do you really understand how efficient LED lights are? Either you operate LED light at home or office, LED light definitely saves your electricity bills. In this article, we are going to explore how much energy do LED lights consume, comparing LED lights to non LED light bulbs, and the tips to select LEDs for your lighting needs.
Understanding LED Energy Consumption
What is an LED light?
LED stands for Light-emitting diode, this is a semiconductor device where lights can emit when current flow.This process is also called electroluminescence, during this process, energy is released as photons by the recombination of electrons with the electron holes. In comparison to traditional incandescent bulbs where energy is released as heat, LED lights are directional, meaning that no extra heats are produced, and maximize the energy efficiency. However, some factors may affect the energy use of LED light even though they are said to consume less energy. The following factors are major considerations to the variation of LED light energy consumption.
Factors Influencing Energy Use
1.1 Wattage variations
LED wattage influences energy consumption is controlled by the amount of power passed through the semiconductor chip, where light is directly converted from electricity. A higher wattage aids more release of current and photons, gives brighter light and sustainable energy use. Yet, since LED lights employ an efficient material, gallium nitride (GaN), which minimizes heat loss, and thus, generates the same brightness as traditional lightbulbs with lower power consumption. The maintenance of efficiency, especially at higher wattages, can also be controlled by a valuable design and thermal management.
1.2 Usage patterns
The longer the LED light stays on, the more electricity it takes over time. For instance, a 10W LED running for 2 hours takes an energy of 0.02 kWh, but if it runs for 10 hours, it takes an energy of 0.1 kWh, which is five times more energy consumption. In addition, waste energy increases from the frequency of unnecessary lighting left, whether in unused rooms or during daylight.
1.3 Efficiency ratings
Efficiency rating determines the effects of LED energy consumption directly, it illuminates the amount of light a bulb could contribute per unit of electricity used. This is usually measured in lumens per watt (lm/W). That means, the greater the efficiency rating, the more lights you get for less power. For example, one 10W LED rated at 100 lm/W emanate 1,000lumens, while another 10W LED at 80 lm/W only produce 800 lumens, which means the lower rated bulb wastes greater energy. To reduce your energy bills and environmental impact effectively, LED lights with higher efficiency ratings are recommended since they consume less electricity to achieve the same brightness.
Calculating 24-Hour Energy Consumption - How Much Electricity Does LED Light Use?
2.1 Understanding the Energy Consumption Formula
To understand the concept of energy consumption, the first thing we need to learn is to determine the amount of energy consumption an LED light takes over a 24 hour period. The following formula is set to determine energy consumption:
Energy Consumption (kWh) = Power (Watts) × Time (Hours) ÷ 1000
*Watts is the units of power, it is used to quantify the rate of energy transfer
This formula converts the energy usage into kilowatt-hours (kWh), which is also the standard unit for electricity billing.
2.2 Example Calculations for Common LED Wattages
Now, we assume that the following LED lights with various wattages are running 24 hours. Let’s do some specific calculations:
a) For a 5W LED Bulb
Energy Consumption = 5W × 24h ÷ 1000 = 0.12 kWh
b) For a 10W LED Bulb
Energy Consumption = 10W × 24h ÷ 1000 = 0.24 kWh
c) For a 15W LED Bulb
Energy Consumption = 15W × 24h ÷ 1000 = 0.36 kWh
As the result demonstrated, with the same running time, the higher the power of the lightbulb, the greater the energy it consumed.
2.3 Estimating the Operating Cost
To estimate the cost of your electricity, the first thing you need to do is to check for the average residential electricity rate. The average electricity rate for January, 2025 is approximately 15.95 cents ($0.1595) per kWh. Then, multiply the electricity rate with the energy consumption we just got previously:
a) For a 5W LED Bulb
Cost = 0.12 kWh × $0.1595 = $0.0191
b) For a 10W LED Bulb
Cost = 0.24 kWh × $0.1595 = $0.0383
c) For a 15W LED Bulb
Cost = 0.36 kWh × $0.1595 = $0.0574
In results, different wattages of LEDs vary on electricity cost. The lower the wattage an LED has, the less electricity cost you need to pay for.
Comparing LED Costs to Other Lighting Options
The cost of LED light to others, for example incandescent bulbs and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) can vary due to different energy uses.
3.1 Incandescent Bulbs Energy Cost
Incandescent light bulbs are considered to consume more energy than LED lights since they release energy as heats. With expressing the equal lumens of lights, incandescent lightbulbs needs higher wattage to operates, and thus causing higher energy usage and increases your electricity bill.
3.2 Compact Fluorescent Lamps Energy Cost
Compact fluorescent lamps are designed to be an alternative option to traditional incandescent bulbs, they use far less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. For example, with expressing the same lumens of lights, wattage to operate the light for incandescent bulbs is up to 60 Watts, while CFLs only takes 14 Watts to operate the light, the energy consumption between these two are more than 4 times.
3.3 LED lights Energy Cost
LED lights are the most energy efficient lighting options today with no doubt. In comparison the cost of LED light to other options we just mentioned, the following chart provides a clear visual aid, helping to distinguish the cost of employing each light option:
| Types | Wattage | Energy Used (kWh) | Cost per 24 Hours |
| LED Light | 10W | 0.24 | $0.0383 |
| Compact Fluorescent Lamps | 14W | 0.34 | $0.0536 |
| Incandescent Bulbs | 60W | 1.44 | $0.2297 |
As the table has shown, although CFLs are a better alternative option to incandescent bulbs, LED lights are the best choice so far today if you want to save more energy, and receive a lower cost electricity bill.
Long-Term Savings and Environmental Impact
Cost Savings Over Time
According to the result above, we can estimate the annual savings of switching traditional incandescent lightbulbs to LED bulbs. For example, if we use lights for 5 hours per day, a daily cost for one 60W incandescent bulb will be 0.3 kWh, and the annual cost of the bulb will be 109.5 kWh. Thus, by multiplying the average electricity rate by $0.1595, the annual cost of one incandescent lightbulb will be $17.47. On the other hand, for a same daily lighting running period, one 10W led bulb only takes 0.05 kWh, and the annual energy consumption will be 18.25 kWh. Thus, the annual cost for one LED bulb is estimated as $2.91, and the annual savings per one bulb is $14.56. If we assume a home with 20 bulbs, the estimated annual savings for a household will be $291.20 if you use LED bulbs as your lighting needs.
Environmental Benefits
Along with long-term savings of LEDs, the following environmental benefits are also crucial.
4.1 Reduced Carbon Emissions
LED lights consume less energy than incandescent and CFL bulbs, this advance the environment by effectively producing less greenhouse gases. As documented by the U.S. Department of Energy, transitioning to LED lighting could reduce carbon emissions by 222 million metric tons over the next 30 years.
4.2 Energy Efficient
LED lights significantly save approximately 80% more energy than incandescent bulbs, and 40% more energy than CFLs, as we mentioned, it requires far less energy electricity to produce the same amount of light, meaning that the demand of power plants will decrease, and gradually decrease the environmental impacts.
4.3 Longer Lifespan and Reduced Waste
The lifespan of incandescent bulbs is relatively short, approximately 1,000 hours; meanwhile, CFL bulbs have approximately 6,000 to 15,000 hours. However, LED bulbs have an impressive lifespan, usually lasting 25,000 to 50,000 hours. The longevity reduces the frequency of bulb replacements meaning that less manufacturing, packaging, and transportation are required, and ultimately, reduced waste in landfills.
4.4 No Toxic Materials
As individuals may not know, although CFLs are developed to be alternatives to incandescent bulbs with lower wattage, they are made by trace amount mercury, which is a hazardous substance that requires careful disposal. Yet, LED lights are toxic free, they are designed to simply dispose, minimizing contaminations to water and soil. They are both safe for the environment and human health.
4.5 Recyclability
We just mentioned that LED lights are zero toxicity, but along with that, they are also recyclable. LED bulbs are made by aluminum heat sinks and circuit boards, these are considered as recyclable materials. Proper recycling LED lights effectively benefits the environment footprint since it requires less raw material extraction.
Thus, by adopting LED lights, it is not only lowering your utility bills, but also benefiting the environmental footprint, contributing to a healthier planet, since LED lights are hazard-free, recyclable, and are designed to waste less more than traditional bulbs.
Choosing the Right LED Products
There are some crucial factors you have to consider before choosing your home LED lighting products, understanding these factors helps you in finding the ambient vibe that fits your home.
5.1 Lumens vs. wattage
The wattage of a lightbulb is the most important thing you need to consider before purchasing a light. As we mentioned, lower wattage gives lower electricity costs. Meanwhile, the lumens of a light is also important. You should choose one that gives higher lumen, meaning it gives brighter lighting. For LED bulbs, you can choose the one that delivers greater lumen but in lower wattage, that will be the most beneficial choice for your home lighting.
5.2 Color Temperature
Color temperature is measured in Kelvins (K), it determines the hue and tone of the light emitted, Different color temperatures of lighting deliver different vibes to the rooms. For instance, a warm white temperature light (2700K – 3000K), delivers a soft, yellowish light, ideal for cozy settings like living rooms and bedrooms, and gives off a relaxing night vibe. Neutral white light (3500K – 4100K), on the other hand, emits a balanced and white light that is perfect for kitchens and workspaces. And the Cool White/Daylight (5000K – 6500K), in comparison to the other two, offers a bright, bluish light, suitable for areas requiring high visibility like garages and offices.
5.3 Dimmability
Technology today is impressive, LED lights are designed to have dimmable features. This feature allows you to adjust the intensity of light, offers flexibility that you can switch your lighting modes to suit any situation and activities.
Product Recommendations
There are a lot of LED lighting options on the markets, however, you should pay attention to the certifications they earned. CycevSun is a reliable lighting supplier, we offer qualified and certified LED lights, and offers LED recessed lighting with night light consisting of all these beneficial factors we mentioned previously. Other options like 5cct LED recessed lighting are also popular, where 5cct means there are 5 color temperatures for you to select, and they even offer smart LED lights that you can controll your lights over the phone or using a remote. Other LED lighting options for offices, like LED panel lights, can also be found in CycevSun. If you are looking for LED lighting needs, go for CycevSun, it will surprise you!
Conclusion
In conclusion, the cost of LED lights has a positive relation to the usage of power and time, as the usage of power and time increases, the cost of electricity increases. For long-term usage, LED lighting is the best choice for both cost savings and our planet. Thus, selecting an efficient product is curitial, before you purchase your lighting needs, consider the factors we just discussed, these will directly help you in saving money on utilities.
