LEDs save a lot of electricity. But are they really as sustainable as previously thought? Eco-checker Katharina finds out how environmentally friendly the alternative to light bulbs actually is.

Advantages of LEDs

LEDs consume up to 90 percent less electricity than conventional light bulbs with the same output. A lot - and that's exactly why light bulbs have been banned by an EU regulation since 2009.

Another advantage is that, unlike energy-saving lamps, they do not contain any toxic pollutants. Instead, electronic chips generate the light. The brightness of the LEDs is given in lumens.

Confused about switching from watts to lumens? To help you, the rule of thumb applies: the conventional 60 watt light bulb corresponds to 810 lumens. In addition to the brightness value lumen, the color temperature is specified using the Kelvin unit.

The following applies here: the lower the value, the warmer the light. And LEDs can also score points when it comes to saving money: after about a year, the higher price of an LED lamp is offset by the lower power consumption.

Disadvantages of LEDs

LEDs are often advertised as having a very long lifespan of up to 50,000 hours. However, this service life does not apply to the ballast of an LED. The ballast is permanently installed. Its job is to convert the alternating current from the socket into direct current and thus reduce the voltage.

The LED cannot be operated without the ballast. Repairing a ballast usually proves to be complicated because it is permanently installed and individual spare parts are rarely available. Repairs are therefore not always possible.

What about sustainability?

In principle, converting is worthwhile because their energy efficiency is significantly lower compared to energy-saving lamps, incandescent lamps and halogen lamps. However, the efficiency of LEDs varies between manufacturers. The so-called energy label is helpful here. The label shows different levels of how efficient each LED is: from the most efficient Class A to the most wasteful Class G.

When it comes to disposal, you can do something good for the environment by taking it to a recycling center or retailer. When it comes to sustainability, production also plays an important role: LEDs are more complex to produce than conventional light bulbs, but they consume much less electricity to use.

It always makes sense to turn off the lights when you leave the room, even if it is only for a short period of time, and to only install as much light in the house or apartment as you really need. When buying, you should definitely make sure that they are replaceable. This saves you high repair costs and avoids waste and resource consumption.

Further links

Conversion tool
• Stiftung Warentest (2021): L ED lamps in the test. The best light for you.
• Ökotest (2022): Replacing light bulbs: This saves up to 90 percent of energy on the lights.
• NDR (2019): Ten years of the light bulb ban: What did it achieve?

Source and author: SWR-Marktcheck / Hanna Meßmann

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