What's The Future For The LED Light Bulb?

Well, you may or may not know by now but the U.S. Government in it's infinite wisdom will be banning the incandescent light bulb in......wait, hold on (screeetch), they've overturned the ban! Read more about this HERE. OK, well nonetheless, the LED light bulb I believe is here to stay and for many good reasons.

General Electric's lighting division Sylvester is quoted as saying they believe that up to 80% of currently installed light bulbs everywhere (think about that for a moment) will be a Light Emitting Diode bulb in 10 years. Really? I don't know about that but if costs continue to go down, this prediction may just come true. Of course we still have to get past the expiration of the Mayan long count calender on the 21st of Dec, 2012 but that is a whole other article. German based Siemens is expected the LED industry grow to around 13 billion by 2013 and grow another 44% by 2016. Amsterdam Based Phillips says they think the LED market overall will be 45% by fall of 2015. A lot of big players in the lighting market are headed toward this technology even though the front-end costs are much higher than incandescent bulbs.

When industry leaders start saying these glowing predictions about LED lighting lots of very big ears perk up. I would take them on their word and take a serious look at what LED lighting can do for you and your home because gone are the days of bluish, off color light that reminded me more of a morgue than a home. LED lights today mimic almost exactly the warm hues of incandescents give off.

I was walking around a major home improvement store not too long ago and found some LED bulbs for about $25.I suppose it was only a matter of time before the stores started carrying them. I was impressed that they were on the shelves because I had only seen them being sold on the internet. Right now if you are looking to purchase LED bulbs for your home, be prepared to spend a significant amount of money to swap over all at once. However, my plan is that as each incandescent I have blows out, I'll replace that one with a LED. Over time this is what my budget will allow.

Oh, be advised, LED bulbs will outperform anything on the market right now. LED bulbs use only 1/5th to 1/10th the power of incandecent bulbs and around half the power of CFL light bulbs.

Why LEDs? Why not just go out and pick up some CFLs? You know, the ones with the spiral light "swirl". I'll tell ya: Mercury.

According to Snopes.com the amount of mercury found in a common household CFL bulb is significant enough to warrant special handling procedures if and when they should break.

Even though the amount of mercury is low why would you even take a chance? If you knew there was a light bulb on the market and in the stores right now that had no toxic metals, didn't have a "warm up" period, lasted hundreds of hours longer than a CFL and emitted a better looking, warm feeling light, why would you even consider a CFL bulb?

Well I just didn't know the truth about the CFL bulb. Sure, I will have to pay a little more on the front end when its time to replace a bulb but in the long run the new LED bulbs will pay for themselves.

Oh, and I won't have to wear a haz-mat suit if I drop one.