Are Light Bulbs Like Appliances?

If you’ve thought about buying one of the new cree xsp series led street light but were discouraged by the price, maybe you’re thinking about light bulbs the wrong way. At least that’s how Terry McGowan sees it.

As director of engineering and technology for the American Lighting Association, McGowan stays on top of the “latest and greatest” in technology and lighting trends.


This Ultra LED light bulb by Osram Sylvania (78911) emits the same amount of light as a traditional 75-watt light bulb but only uses 14 watts of energy.
McGowan says although the new LED light bulbs are significantly more expensive than the old-fashioned incandescent light bulb, their energy savings and long life more than make up for the cost in the long run.

“LED light bulbs will pay back that investment over time because they’re energy-efficient,” he says. “So you’ll end up using 75 percent less energy than you’ve been using for light bulbs in the past. So, as time goes on, you’ll save more energy and you’ll pay back the cost of that light bulb.”

This is why he insists that we start thinking about light bulbs as appliances instead of cheap, throwaway items.

“In the past, when you bought a 67-cent light bulb and it burned out after six months, you threw it away and didn’t think much of it,” McGowan says. “But if you invest $25 or $50 into buying one of today’s new cree xsp series led street light, you’re going to want it to last a while. An LED light bulb’s rated life is about 25,000 hours, which means it can last as long as 25 years, depending on how many hours a day you have your lights turned on. Something that lasts for 25 years is more like an appliance than a throwaway item.”

Makes sense, right? It does require a shift in thinking though – not to mention an upfront investment in this new technology.

“Find out if LED light bulbs make sense for your home,” McGowan adds. “I think they will because those energy savings do mount up over time. And, as the cost of energy continues to rise, they become a better and better value.”

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