Every energy using device we have has 3 price tags: first cost, cost to operate and time to replacement.
Why it matters: We have been conditioned to focus on first cost without thinking enough about total cost.
🖼️ The big picture: On a 6 bulb chandelier, total cost for incandescent bulbs is 7x higher than LEDs.
- $331.50 for incandescent vs. $46.98 for LED 😱
🧮 By the numbers: Start with the first cost.
- The incandescent bulb is $2.05/bulb.
- The LED bulb is $3.33.
👉 First cost for incandescent is cheaper, BUT … the LED uses 90% LESS electricity (cost to operate)
- And lasts 5x as long! (time to replacement)
If you want see the math, scroll down.
✅ For your Smart Homeowner list
- Start focusing on total cost for your energy using items.
- Find the watt rating for the device and multiply that times the number of hours of use for a year. Divide that number by 1000 to get your annual kWhs.
- The kWhs x your electricity rate = annual cost. (Ex. 300kWh x 12 cents = $36/year)
Best,
Travis
P.S. For the numbers lovers … here are my calculations:
25W Equivalent LED Chandelier Bulbs
2.5 Watt
15,000 hours
200 Lumens
$3.33/bulb
37.5 kWh over its lifetime ($4.50)
Bulb + electricity = $7.83
6 bulb chandelier = $46.98
25W Incandescent Chandelier Bulbs
25 Watt
3000 hours
150 Lumens (only 75% of the LED’s brightness)
$2.05/bulb
75 kWh over its lifetime ($9)
Bulb + electricity = $11.05
5 incandescent bulbs in the time of 1 LED = $55.25
6 bulb chandelier = $331.50