At first, glance choosing a light bulb may seem like a simple choice of just matching the wattage to your fixture and buying whichever bulb is the cheapest. However, there are many factors to consider when choosing a light bulb for your business needs. Even though buying LED tubes may seem like the more expensive option at first glance, in the long run, they average out to be much cheaper than any other light bulb type on the market.

1: LED Bulbs Last Longer

The average 10-watt LED bulb has a run time of 25,000 hours, roughly 3 years if left on for 18 hours per day. It takes roughly 21 incandescent light bulbs to achieve the same lifespan, considering the average 60-watt incandescent bulb has a lifespan of roughly 1200 hours or 66 days when used for the same amount of time per day. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) have an average lifespan of 8000 hours, meaning you will be replacing each bulb three times before you would have had to replace an LED bulb once.

2: LED Bulbs Save Money on Utility Bills

It is common knowledge that LED bulbs are more power efficient than any other bulb type. It costs $83.30 every year for each 60-watt incandescent light bulb used, as opposed to a mere $7.88 for the LED bulb. A savings of $75 every year for each light. CFL bulbs while more efficient than a traditional incandescent light are still not as efficient as an LED bulb. Common CFL bulbs cost an average of $11.03 to run.

3: Reduced Environmental Impact

By now it’s fairly obvious that LED bulbs are more efficient than other light bulbs. However, they are also less difficult to dispose of. Common CFL light bulbs contain trace amounts of mercury which require special disposal aside from regular waste generated by your business. CFL bulbs must be taken to a designated recycling center equipped to handle the mercury.

4: LED Bulbs are Safer for Workers

A 2011 study showed that CFL light bulbs can produce harmful UV radiation. When above a color temperature of 4000k these bulbs produce UV radiation that may damage the ocular tissue of those working under the light. Studies have shown that bright “Daylight” CFL bulbs with a color temperature of 6000k are particularly damaging and may cause permanent damage to the retina. UV radiation has been shown to cause cataracts, pterygia and degenerative eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In Canada, it was reported that AMD is the most common cause of blindness. The increased use of CFL and fluorescent lights may lead to a 12 percent increase in UV light related eye diseases.

5: LED bulbs are better for Industrial use

It’s common knowledge that light bulbs get hot as they are left on. Anyone who remembers grade school physics will remember that heat is lost energy. Not only are LED bulbs cheaper but safer as well due to a large reduction in the amount of heat they release. Testing shows that LED bulbs burn at around 87.2°F while incandescent and CFL bulbs burn at 335.4°F and 172.9°F respectively.

Despite many light bulb types being on the market today, after reading this article the choice should be a much simpler and well-informed one now. LED bulbs are cheaper, safer and better for the environment as a whole. All those things are good for business, and advancements in LED technology are being made every day to make them brighter and more efficient.