LED lamps more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs: study

LED (light emitting diode) bulbs are not only trendy, they also stay cool and are smart on energy use, unlike incandescent bulbs that produce more heat and less light per unit of energy they consume, according to a study. The study undertaken by the German lighting company Osram has finally provided clear evidence that LED beats incandescent hands down on all counts.

That LED lamps use only a fraction of the electricity that regular lamps use was never in doubt, but what was not clear was whether the energy used over the entire lifecycle of the LED bulb from manufacturing, distribution exceeded that of the incandescent lamp on the same considerations.

The study provides evidence that clinches the issue and shows that over the entire lifecycle of the bulb from manufacturing to disposal, the energy used for incandescent bulbs is almost five times that used for compact fluorescent lamps and LED lamps.

The energy used in the manufacturing phase of all lamps is just a fraction of the total, less than 2 per cent of the total. However, the study reveals that both compact fluorescents and LEDs use about 20 per cent of the electricity for creating the same amount of light as a standard incandescent.
 
According to Kaj den Daas, chief executive of Philips Lighting North America, the study 'provides facts where we often have only emotional evidence. Not surprisingly, therefore, Philips is the first entrant to the US Energy Department's L Prize, - the race to develop the first 60-watt LED equivalent of a standard light bulb.

The Life Cycle Assessment study of LED lamp, compared almost all aspects of the manufacturing process right from the energy used in manufacturing the lamps in Asia and Europe to their transport to Germany where they were finally sold. The study also factored in the emissions involved at each stage and the effect of six different global warming indexes.

According to Dr Matthias Finkbeiner of Berlin's Technical University and chairman of the study review committee, the difference in energy use between incandescents, fluorescents and LEDs is definintely significant.