For most people, probably, the biggest single factor against low energy GU10 LED lighting as a substitute for the soon-to-be-phased-out regular incandescent light bulb is the cost differential. There is no doubt that a LED equivalent light bulb (for example, a 6w GU10 LED spotlight as a direct replacement for a 35w GU10 halogen lamp) is significantly more expensive than either the original or a CFL alternative.

There are, however, three important points to bear in mind about the higher price for low energy LEDs as compared to incandescent and energy saving CFL light bulbs.

First, the price difference reflects the reality that the general as well as domestic usage of LED lighting is still quite novel, despite the fact that there is an increase of manufacturing levels and consumer take-up that will drive the price down dramatically once both come fully on stream over the coming months.

Next, and also somewhat correlated with the observation previously mentioned, is the fact that the price of LEDs falls by a factor of twenty during the period of every single ten years. This particular quality is dependably estimated by Haitz’s Law (nearly the same as Moore’s Law for personal computer microchips and also for same reasons, quite simply because LEDs are, exactly like personal computer chips, 100% pure digital products). Haitz as well says that LED overall performance (amount of illumination for every wattage of electric power) boosts tenfold over the same exact decade.

Finally as well as perhaps most fascinating is the condition that as long as the charges for home illuminating is concerned, the expense of bulbs is generally insignificant. It is an impressive yet easily verifiable truth that although ordinary bulbs were at no charge and even LED lights charge, let’s say something excessive like $80 each, it will always be very much more cost efficient to invest GU10 LED low power light bulbs.

The reason for this is simple: the cost of electrical lighting is the cost of the energy. It matters not one jot what the actual light bulbs cost; it’s what it costs to run them that really counts. Also, since LEDs last for tens of thousands of hours (in practice, decades of use) you only need to pay the purchase price once, unlike regular bulbs which last only up to two thousand hours or just over one year.

The second biggest gripe about low energy GU10 LED lighting is light levels and quality, or in technical parlance luminosity and light color.

The concern about luminosity stems largely from historical notions of GU10 LED lighting applications such as LED Christmas lights and pocket torches which are clearly not capable of providing anything close to usable domestic lighting. However, you could right now purchase one of the latest Green Supply GU10 LED series of light bulbs which is rated at 80 lumens per watt (measure of luminosity).

To understand what this means, consider that a standard 40w incandescent bulb delivers about 360 lumens and a 60w bulb about 540 lumens, which gives a ratio of 9 lumens per watt. Anything that offers greater than 25 lumens per watt can be classed as an energy saving light bulb. Green Supply GU10 LED light bulbs consume 6.7 watts and thus produce 6.7 * 80 lumens per watt which is 536 lumens, on a par with the standard 60w incandescent light bulb.

So you could, right now, replace all your 60w light bulbs with Green Supply GU10 LED light bulbs rated at 6.7 watts and consume 1/10th (or 90% less) electricity. And remember Haitz’s Law? Because of performance improvements, eighteen months from now you should be able to obtain the same 60w worth of lighting from just 3 watts.

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