Light Bulbs: Do LEDs make a difference?
Description
Lighting accounts for 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which is no surprise when you learn that standard incandescent light bulbs waste a whopping 90% of incoming electricity as heat! LEDs (light emitting diodes) have been advertised as an eco- and budget-friendly lighting alternative, but are they really "green"?
Find out in this episode, where Greenscore co-host and temporary light bulb expert Taylor Uekert explains how different types of light bulbs are made and their environmental impacts, as well as how switching to LEDs is a simple change with a huge effect on your household carbon footprint.
Further reading:
- History and structure of light bulbs - https://www.energy.gov/articles/history-light-bulb
- Environmental impact of incandescent, LEDs, and other types of light bulbs - https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/ssl/lca_factsheet_apr2013.pdf
- Cost and emissions savings from switching to LEDs - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-us-is-phasing-out-incandescent-light-bulbs-180979992/
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