We live and breathe LEDs and energy efficiency – we love ’em – LEDs that is. We love them and we want everyone to love them. They’re the lighting technology that we deserve.
Not only do LEDs reduce energy consumption by up to 95% (you read that right – dependent on the globe you’re upgrading), but they can last decades longer than halogens and Edison globes AND they produce a more even, higher quality of light. They’re the best.
It can sometimes be a bit complicated or boring to explain why LEDs are superior to their competitors so we thought we’d remind you why LEDs are so much cheaper to run than alternatives like halogens by breaking it down for you in a novel way.
Energy upgrades Commercial LED upgrades
How much does it cost to leave a light on for an hour?
It depends on the globe of course!
We’ll use downlights to work out the math: LED light vs a halogen light
Based on the average home energy rate we’ll assume an energy tariff of 30c/kwh. To run a 50w halogen for 1 hour will consume 50/1000 = 0.05 kwh. At 30c/kwh this will cost 0.05 x 30 = $0.015 per hour.
In comparison to run a 4.8w LED downlight for 1 hour will consume 4.8/1000 = 0.0048 kwh. At 30c/kwh this will cost 0.0048 x 30 = $0.0014 per hour.
So, there’s a 971% difference in the cost. But, it’s a small number right, so who cares? It doesn’t sound like much, so how about another figure…
How much does it cost to leave a light on for a week?
Whilst there are 168 hours in a week, the average home typically has the lights on for around 8 hours per day we can just multiply the hourly cost:
A halogen downlight will cost you $0.12 per day
An LED downlight will cost you $0.012 per day
A halogen downlight will cost you $0.84 per week
An LED downlight will cost you $0.08 per week
A halogen downlight will cost you $3.60 per month
An LED downlight will cost you $0.35 per month
Still not helpful enough?
How much does it cost to leave a light on for a year?
If there are 12 months in a year
A halogen downlight will cost you $43.20 per year
An LED downlight will cost you $4.15 per year
This is a whopping difference of 940%!
If your home has 20 downlights throughout and you upgrade from halogen to LED you could literally save yourself close to $800 a year
We have worked out a breakdown of just how much it costs to run a light for an hour, but, the tiny figure isn’t too helpful to understand the benefits of switching to LED, I mean, who worries about spending $0.015 an hour? But, break the figures down yearly and by upgrading a single light fitting (if it was run all year round) you could save yourself $hundreds! Apply this to all of the lights in your house and the mind boggles at the extortionate costs old lights are creating!
Get the same brightness of light in your home for a fraction of the energy costs, with a completely FREE upgrade thanks for the VEU program.
If you’re interested in upgrading your home or business to LEDs we can help. In most circumstances, the upgrades are either free or heavily subsidised and you’ll save significantly on your energy consumption and energy bills. With these uncertain times, there’s never been a better time to save.
Please note: As of 1st February 2023, FREE Lighting upgrades are no longer available for Victorian homes. This is in accordance with the Victorian Energy Upgrades program (VEU).
Residential LED upgrades Commercial LED upgrades
How much does it cost to leave a light on for an hour?
An LED downlight left on for 1 hour will cost around $0.0014 per hour
How much does it cost to leave a light on for a week?
An LED downlight left on for 1 week will cost around $0.08 per week.
How much does it cost to leave a light on for a year?
An LED downlight left on for 1 year will cost around $4.15 per year.
