LED Vs Filament Lights – Why LED Wins In The Long Run

Since filament lighting was invented in the late 19th century, it’s been used in houses and businesses worldwide, becoming the most popular lighting solution. At least that was the case until a few years ago, before other lighting solutions became more popular – slowly but surely replacing filament lights. 

There are many reasons why many of our customers prefer LED lighting over filament lights. From considerable savings in electricity to increased safety and reduced heat generation. Here at LEDSAVE, we’re experts in all things LED-related, so if you want to learn more about why LED blows filament lights out of the water, please keep reading. 

Comparing LED Lights vs Filament Lights

Before diving into the specifics to justify why LED lights are better than filament, it’s important to have a clear idea of how each one works. 

Filament Lights

The most common filament lightbulbs consist of a positive and a negative terminal inside the glass casing you’re surely familiar with. One side of the terminal connects with the other through a Tungsten filament. When electricity passes through the terminals, electrons flow between them and across the filament, creating a thermal reaction. 

This reaction causes the Tungsten filament to glow, delivering the bright results we all have become used to. When the Tungsten filament breaks, the lightbulb’s terminals can no longer communicate with each other, thus making the flow of electrons impossible. This is what’s commonly known as a fused bulb. 

LED Lights

LED stands for “light emitting diode” and the way the technology works is rather simple. In a nutshell, electrical current passes through a microchip mounted on a PCB (Printed Circuit Board), which then prompts a diode to emit light. That’s it! 

Advantages Of LED Lights Over Filament Lights

Now that you have a clearer understanding of how each lighting solution works, we can dive into the many advantages that LED lights have over their filament counterparts. 

Lifespan

First, let’s talk about the considerable differences in lifespan between filament lights and LED lights. 

It’s estimated that the average filament light lasts anywhere between 1500–3000 hours, which doesn’t sound too bad. However, if you run the numbers, that’s just under 9 hours per day in one year. This might sound overkill for residential purposes, but for a store that opens from 9 am to 6 pm, that represents one yearly filament light replacement. 

LED lights, like our EcoBrite 10-watt fluorescent tube light replacements, have an estimated lifespan of approximately 35,000 hours, which is almost 12 times longer than what you’d get from filament lights in the best-case scenario. What’s more, we offer a 3-year warranty and a 28-day money-back guarantee, so you can shop with confidence. 

All in all, when it comes to lifespan, you can’t go wrong with LEDs. 

Energy Efficiency

If you’re someone who takes savings and eco-friendliness seriously, then you’ll want to opt for LED lighting. 

LED lights are much more energy-efficient than their filament counterparts, producing the same brightness, if not more, for a fraction of the power. This is mainly due to each lighting solution’s design. 

While LED lights convert more than two-thirds of the power they draw into light, filament alternatives waste a ton of that energy generating heat, which not only results in decreased energy efficiency, but also the unwanted heating of your living spaces. 

A little extra warmth is welcome when you’re freezing on a cold winter night. But when you’re in a small space with several people, the last thing you want is for your lights to generate more heat and turn the place into a sauna. 

So, if you want to save a good amount of money on electricity every month, are not a fan of unwanted heat generation, and wish to decrease your CO2 emissions to help save the planet and reduce global warming, LED should be your go-to.

Cost-Effectiveness

Although LED lights are clearly better than filament lights in almost every regard, they do cost more, which is often reason enough for people to steer clear of them. 

However, when you run the numbers and consider your yearly savings on electricity bills and replacements, LED lights pay for themselves in the long run.

Ease of Maintenance

We’ve already discussed how superior LED lights’ lifespan is compared to that of filament lights; however, there’s more to durability than just replacement costs. Since LED lights last much longer, you won’t have to be constantly climbing a ladder to reach high ceilings and other inconvenient areas where your lights are installed. 

Moreover, while light replacement is just a hassle in most household cases, it can pose a significant risk in industrial applications. Take warehouses, for example. 

Many warehouses have high ceilings that are several metres tall—having an employee try to reach a light for replacement can result in an accident that could have been prevented by using LED lights. 

Versatility

LED lights are also great for decorating spaces, not just lighting. As opposed to their filament counterparts, many LED solutions, like some of our 24–volt Strip Lights, can be customized and set to any colour in the RGB palette, and they come in three different colour temperatures:

• 3000K (Warm White)
• 4000K (Natural White)
• 6000K (Daylight White)

So, if you’re looking for a lighting solution that also works as a decoration, do not hesitate to join the LED team. 

LED Lights Are Just Better!

No matter how you look at it, LED lights are simply superior to filament alternatives. Yes, they do have a higher upfront cost, but considering how much longer they last, their customization capabilities, and the yearly savings in electricity they represent, they’re well worth the investment. 

If you have any questions regarding our products, please do not hesitate to email us at enquiries@ledsave.co.uk, or give us a ring at 01652 638840. We’re open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Please check out our contact page for more information.