5 LED Myths You Need to Stop Believing Today

Light-emitting diode light bulbs, or LEDs as we know them, have changed the world of home and general-purpose lighting since hitting the market a few years ago. Although they have been proven time and time again to be the most energy efficient form of artificial lighting, many people are still reluctant to finally make the switch from incandescent and compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs.

Much of this hesitation stems from skepticism caused by misinformation and prevalence of myths surrounding LED lighting. If you’re having thoughts about using LEDs in your [city] home, below are a few of the most common LED myths, together with explanations on the truth behind them.

Myth 1: LEDs Are Too Expensive

While it’s true that LEDs are more expensive than their incandescent and CFL counterparts, the price difference continues to grow narrower with each passing year. Thanks to manufacturers like Philips and GE, who have made great strides to make LED bulbs more affordable, the cost of LEDs has dropped from as much as $25 to $30 some five years ago, to less than $10 today.

Of course, that’s still more expensive than an incandescent light bulb. But the initial cost of LEDs can be recouped over the long term due to their energy efficiency. A 60-watt incandescent light bulb for example, would have the LED equivalent of a 10-watt bulb, sometimes even less depending on the manufacturer. Given time, your investment should pay for itself.

Moreover, an LED with a lifespan of 25,000 hours used on an average of 3 hours a day would last well over two decades before needing replacement.

Myth 2: LED Light Bulbs Are Dim

In the past, LED light bulbs have had a few problems with light quality. That issue has since been fixed today, with LEDs from different brands capable of generating different levels of brightness, all while using much less energy.

Today’s crop of LED light bulbs on the market are designed not just for home lighting, but a wide range of specialized lighting applications, such as street lighting, outdoor lighting, landscape lighting, car lighting, and much more.

When gauging an LED’s brightness, check the lumens not wattage. The wattage rating only tells you how much electricity the bulb uses, while the lumen rating tells you precisely how bright it is.

Myth 3: LED Light Bulbs Need a Few Seconds to Produce their Full Brightness

Incandescent light bulbs and CFL bulbs need time to generate their full light, but LEDs do not. In fact, LEDs are prized for their “instant on” technology, which means they immediately shine their full lighting output upon being switched on.

Myth 4: LED Light Bulbs are Not Dimmable

Quite the opposite, in fact. Unlike most CFL bulbs, which are incompatible with dimming controllers, many LEDs can be dimmed to create any lighting effect you wish—full brightness for parties, low light for intimate settings.

Myth 5: LED Light Bulbs Generate a Blue Glow

This used to be true in the early days of LED lighting. But LED manufacturers have done a terrific job of improving LED technology, and now LEDs generate just about any color and color temperature you can think of. In fact, bulbs like the Philips Hue can generate more than 16 million colors of light.

Now that you know the real score behind these myths, it should be easier to make an informed decision about switching to LED light bulbs in your [city] home. Bottom line? LEDs can be installed like any other bulb, but they bring with them unparalleled savings in your energy bill, all while creating a desirable lighting effect in your home.