Cost of Lighting Infographic (Guess Who Wins)

May 25th, 2012 by Zachary Shahan

Sister site sustainablog shared what looks like a great little “True Cost of Lighting” infographic yesterday. I would have done a few things a little differently if I created it, but I still think it’s worth a big share, so here’s a repost from sustainablog:

What’s the Real Cost of Your Lighting Choices? [Infographic] (via sustainablog)

Gotten into an argument about lighting recently? Since the passage of the 2007 energy bill, it’s become an increasingly ideological issue: that law set efficiency standards which current 100 watt incandescent bulbs couldn’t meet. There phase-out has been put on hold by Congress, but it’s coming…

–> Also recommended for you: Energy-efficient Lighting Market in Europe to 2020 – LEDs Emerge as Key Growth Sector due to Price Discounting and Phosphor Shortages Restricting CFL Production

Keep up to date with all the hottest cleantech news by subscribing to our (free) cleantech newsletter, or keep an eye on sector-specific news by getting our (also free) solar energy newsletter, electric vehicle newsletter, or wind energy newsletter.

Tags: CFL, CFLs, cost of CFL, cost of incandescents, cost of LED, cost of lighting, efficient light bulbs, efficient lighting, light bulbs, quickies, true cost of incandescents

About the Author

Zachary Shahan spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as the director/chief editor. Otherwise, he's probably enthusiastically fulfilling his duties as the director/editor of Solar Love, EV Obsession, Planetsave, or Bikocity. Zach is recognized globally as a solar energy, electric car, and wind energy expert. If you would like him to speak at a related conference or event, connect with him via social media. You can connect with Zach on any popular social networking site you like. Links to all of his main social media profiles are on ZacharyShahan.com.

Dcard88

Just checked HD price. 75w Incan – $1.25, 16w CFL – $2, 13w LED $25
all are ~ 800 lumens.
LED last 25K hours, CFL last 6K hours, Incan last .75K hours.

at 5 hours per day, CFL pays for itself in 10 months, LED in 8 years —-

NOT COUNTING electricity usage savings !!!!!

In CA we pay around 20 cents / kW (or more) which suggest $.20 per day and/or $70 per year for the incandescent elec hog.

Any argument against replacing incandescent bulbs is ludicrous.
Vince

That diagram is a joke. Its a nice advertisement to sell expensive bulbs. At $22 I would spend over $625 to put these in my ceiling cans. If I spend $6 on a CFL, I would spend $120. Now say I had to replace the CLF 3 times over the next 30 years. At $8 in energy savings using the LEDs, it would take me 33 YEARS TO BREAK EVEN ON COST against the CFL.

I work in an industry (hi-tech) where companies don’t buy new technology unless it returns on its investment in 3 years or less, and many want to see it breakeven in 12 months. If the rest of the country ran by the metrics in the diagram, commerce would slow to a crawl.
- Bob_Wallace
  
  I wouldn’t suggest you put CFLs in ceiling cans. The trapped heat seems to significantly shorten their life.
  
  Aside from that, I sort of agree. LEDs still priced significantly higher than CFLs. If you’re picking a bulb for a place where it will be allowed to “breath” you’re ahead, financially, with CFLs. I’m sticking with CFSs for now. When I can purchase a LED for a lot better price I’ll start to shift.
  
  As for the diagram. The joke is on you. There’s enough information to allow one to pick between incandescents, CFLs, and LEDs.
Jim

There seems to be this myth of ultra expensive LED. I picked up a full set of warm white LEDs from Loewe’s for about $11 a bulb. That was about 9 months ago, and they’re still running and the price has since dropped to about $8.

Phillips’ $50 bulb is not the only LED on the market.
- http://cleantechnica.com/ Zachary Shahan
  
  good point. we’ve actually written about one that is under $5: http://cleantechnica.com/2012/02/15/cheap-led-light-bulbs-under-5/
jb

Philips is spelled with 1 L
- http://cleantechnica.com/ Zachary Shahan
  
  it certainly is. where are you seeing it with 2?