Nov 22, 2018

LED 48 inch fluorescent vs LED bulbs

18.11.22: How do the new LED 4 foot tubes compare to established fluorescent tubes? 

I have included this chart indication local information on both types of 4ft tubes.
 

My question, before getting into this analysis, was the ROI ... what is the payback period?


Suppliers are smart enough to bypass the need to change/remove existing ballasts which means simple remove/replace works. 

We do lag behind the USA in cost and variety but the variety of LEDS is growing and prices will reduce.

It was difficult to find a true comparison of fluorescent vs LED for Canada but BC Hydro has something I can come close to agreeing with (check the bottom line of the chart).
It indicates annual energy cost of LEDs is about a third of fluorescents.
At BC Hydro rates, a home owner might save between $12 and $20 per year for each LED used.

When you consider the cost of the 4ft LEDs tubes are $12 to $16 (see chart - Home Depot), it is quickly apparent LEDs can pay for themselves in as short a time a one year

I had been thinking it might be best to use up my 28 fluorescents before switching to LEDs but, if this analysis holds up,  I should start the replacement now (even if the payback is 2 years)!

One concern about using the existing fluorescent fixtures is the ballasts are necessary with the replacement LEDs. I can live with this (although there is a hum in some of mine) but would prefer LEDs that bypass the existing ballast. They have them in the USA so they may be coming here soon.
My lesser concern about LEDs is will they last the stated timeframe and how easy is it to get replacements if they don't?

Is there something I have missed? 
Do you have comments and/or suggestions?

Do you have other references that may increase the accuracy of a 4ft LED/fluorescent tube comparison?

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