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| Type | Watts | Life (hrs) | Cost | $/Year* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incandescent | 60W | 1,000 | $1 | $14.96 |
| Halogen | 43W | 2,000 | $3 | $12.15 |
| CFL | 13W | 8,000 | $3 | $3.53 |
| LED | 9W | 25,000 | $5 | $2.34 |
*Based on 5 hours/day, $0.12/kWh
| Type | Watts | Life (hrs) | Cost | $/Year* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incandescent | 60W | 1,000 | $1 | $14.96 |
| Halogen | 43W | 2,000 | $3 | $12.15 |
| CFL | 13W | 8,000 | $3 | $3.53 |
| LED | 9W | 25,000 | $5 | $2.34 |
*Based on 5 hours/day, $0.12/kWh
A lighting energy cost calculator helps you determine the true cost of illuminating your home or business by factoring in bulb wattage, daily usage hours, electricity rate, and bulb replacement costs over time. Lighting accounts for approximately 15% of a typical household's electricity bill, making it one of the easiest areas to reduce energy spending. By comparing different bulb technologies -- incandescent, halogen, compact fluorescent (CFL), and LED -- you can quantify annual savings, calculate payback periods for upgrading to efficient lighting, and make informed purchasing decisions that reduce both your electricity bill and environmental footprint.
Check the wattage printed on each bulb or its packaging. Count how many bulbs of each type you use. For example, ten 60 W incandescent bulbs or ten equivalent 9 W LED bulbs. Remember that equivalent brightness (lumens) matters more than wattage when comparing technologies.
Track how many hours each light is on per day. Kitchen lights might run 4-6 hours, living room 5-8 hours, and outdoor lights 8-12 hours. Be realistic -- overestimating usage inflates projected savings, while underestimating masks the true cost of inefficient bulbs.
Multiply wattage by daily hours, then by 365 days, and divide by 1,000 to convert to kWh. Formula: Annual kWh = (Watts × Hours/day × 365) / 1,000. A 60 W bulb running 5 hours daily uses (60 × 5 × 365) / 1,000 = 109.5 kWh per year.
Find your rate on your utility bill (typically $0.10-$0.30/kWh in the US). Multiply annual kWh by the rate. At $0.12/kWh, that 60 W incandescent costs $13.14/year. An equivalent 9 W LED costs just $1.97/year -- a savings of $11.17 per bulb annually.
Switching from incandescent to LED bulbs can reduce lighting electricity costs by 75-85%. For a home with 30 bulbs, this translates to $200-$400 in annual savings. Commercial buildings with hundreds of fixtures see even more dramatic reductions, often with payback periods under two years.
Reduced energy consumption directly lowers carbon emissions from power generation. Each kWh saved prevents roughly 0.4 kg of CO2 emissions (US average). A household switching 30 bulbs from incandescent to LED prevents approximately 1,000 kg of CO2 annually -- equivalent to driving 2,500 fewer miles.
While LED bulbs cost more upfront, total cost of ownership (purchase price plus energy costs over the bulb's lifetime) is far lower. A $5 LED bulb lasting 25,000 hours saves over $100 in electricity compared to the incandescent bulbs it replaces, making it the clear economic choice.
| Feature | Incandescent | Halogen | CFL | LED |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watts (for 800 lumens) | 60 W | 43 W | 13 W | 9 W |
| Efficacy (lumens/watt) | 13 | 19 | 62 | 89 |
| Rated Lifespan | 1,000 hrs | 2,000 hrs | 8,000 hrs | 25,000 hrs |
| Bulb Cost | $1.00 | $3.00 | $3.00 | $2-5 |
| Annual Energy Cost* | $13.14 | $9.42 | $2.85 | $1.97 |
| Bulb Replacements / 25k hrs | 25 | 12.5 | 3.1 | 1 |
| Total Cost over 25,000 hrs | $134.40 | $96.25 | $32.55 | $21.37 |
| Heat Output | 90% heat | 80% heat | 30% heat | 10% heat |
| Contains Mercury | No | No | Yes | No |
| Instant On | Yes | Yes | No (warm-up) | Yes |
*Based on 5 hours/day usage at $0.12/kWh electricity rate
A single 60 W incandescent bulb replaced by a 9 W LED saves about $11 per year at average US electricity rates (5 hours/day, $0.12/kWh). For a home with 30 light fixtures, that is approximately $330 annually. LED bulbs also last 25 times longer, eliminating frequent replacement costs.
LED prices have dropped significantly, making them the better choice over CFLs in almost all scenarios. LEDs are more efficient (89 vs 62 lumens/watt), last 3 times longer, contain no mercury, turn on instantly, and are now price-competitive. CFLs made sense a decade ago, but modern LEDs outperform them on every metric.
Lumens measure the total amount of visible light emitted by a bulb. Higher lumens means brighter light. A traditional 60 W incandescent produces about 800 lumens. When comparing bulb types, always compare lumens (brightness), not watts (energy consumption). An 800-lumen LED uses only 9 W compared to 60 W for an incandescent.
Quality LED bulbs from reputable manufacturers typically do reach their rated lifespan. At 5 hours per day, 25,000 hours translates to about 13.7 years. However, cheap LEDs may use inferior drivers that fail prematurely. Look for bulbs with good warranties (3-5 years) and certifications like ENERGY STAR for reliable longevity.
Smart LED bulbs consume an extra 0.5-1 W in standby mode to maintain their Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection, adding about $0.50-$1.00 per year per bulb. However, smart scheduling, dimming, and motion-based automation typically save more energy than the standby cost by ensuring lights are off when not needed.
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