Climate Change

Save Money, Energy With LED Light Bulbs

BOSTON (WBZ) ― Dan Abenheim was looking for an energy efficient way to add lighting around his house. It also needed to be practical. "We were looking for nightlights that weren't electricity powered, but battery powered, that could be used anywhere in the house."

Dan installed motion sensing LED lights, which are often used in commercial buildings.

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These lights are now finding their way into homes. "They are really the beginning of a wave of new products in lighting," explained Terry McGowan of the American Lighting Association.

LED lights require less power to operate, usually just three watts. They also have a longer life, often lasting up to 50 times longer than a standard bulb.

McGowan also says they can save energy "compared to older types of lights that use incandescent lamps. They would use substantially less, more than half less."

In the past, these lights were often used to light up dark driveways. These motion sensing lights are now being used indoors and run off of AAA batteries for the most part. They can keep their charge for months.

Something like a small bathroom or hallway would be an ideal spot. But keep in mind, LED lights could never illuminate a large room, or give off enough light to read a book.

But in the right situation, they can save you money, perhaps as much as $10 a month.

Another advantage is reliability, particularly in a storm. McGowan said "These might even be used as walk around lighting in a home because they would come on as you walked by in the event of a power failure."

So far, Dan hasn't lost power, but he's ready if that happens. "I'm considering putting another 14 units around every room, every possible nook and cranny."

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