Making the switch to LED

Feature Blog Post by Carol Obando-Derstine, regional affairs director, PPL Electric Utilities

It’s been a long, hot, rainy summer. But autumn is almost here, and it’s time to get ready.
 
For instance, you might have noticed that you’re turning on the lights earlier and earlier each night. The days, which seemed to last forever just a few weeks ago, are getting shorter.
 
That means it’s a great time to look into installing LED bulbs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, LEDs use up to 75 percent less energy, and last up to 15 times longer, than incandescent lighting.
 
A single LED bulb can save you $55 in energy costs over its lifetime. And, if everyone in the U.S. replaced a single light bulb with an ENERGY STAR-certified LED, we would prevent nearly 7 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to the emissions from 650,000 cars. (That’s according to ENERGY STAR.)
 
LEDs might seem unfamiliar if you’ve never used one. But making the switch isn’t hard once you know a few things:
 

• LEDs use much less power to produce the same amount of light as incandescent bulbs. So, instead of a 60-watt incandescent, you might buy a 12-watt LED. Don’t be surprised or put off by the lower wattage on the LED.
  
  
• You might also see LEDs measured in lumens, instead of watts. Lumens are a measure of how much light a bulb produces. About 800 lumens is what you’d get from a 60-watt incandescent, for example, while a 100-watt incandescent produces about 1,600 lumens.

 

• Finally, LED bulbs offer a broad range of color temperatures, which are measured in a unit called kelvins. Lower kelvins mean the bulb’s light will be soft and warm, while higher kelvins mean the light will be bright and cool.

 
An LED bulb’s packaging has detailed information on lumens, lifespan, light appearance and estimated energy cost. Just a few seconds looking at the package, and you’ll be ready to go with the bulb you want.
 
To help you make the switch, PPL Electric Utilities subsidizes part of the cost of LED bulbs. That means instant discounts on the bulbs are available at some participating retailers – no coupons or forms needed. To find a retailer near you, visit pplelectricsavings.com and click Lighting.
 
How else can you save energy and money this time of year?
 
If you have a child returning to school, they may spend more time on a computer doing schoolwork. Make sure the computer’s sleep mode is enabled, which will switch automatically to an energy-saving mode when they’re away. And, of course, teach your kids to turn off the computer when they’re done using it.
 
You can also save in the kitchen – and out of it. Don’t put your grill away until it really starts to get cold, and you can save energy by leaving your oven off. Once the weather does start to chill out, bring your slow cooker out of storage, for another efficient alternative to the oven.
 
 Finally, now’s a good time to get your heating system inspected, so it runs as efficiently as possible during the colder months. Sealing cracks near doors and windows with weatherstripping or caulk will also keep warm air inside, where you want it.
 
Saving electricity and money doesn’t take a big investment. You can get there one bulb, one homework assignment, one dinner, or one tube of caulk at a time. And when you’re done, you’ll have plenty of time for the pleasures of the season.