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LED vs Incandescent Savings Calculator

Calculate exactly how much you save switching to LED bulbs — energy costs, bulb replacements, payback period, and 10-year totals.

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How LED Savings Are Calculated

Energy savings come from the difference in wattage between an incandescent and an LED bulb. A standard 60W incandescent replaced by a 9W LED uses 85% less electricity for the same light output, saving roughly 18.6 kWh per bulb per year (at 5 hours/day).

Bulb replacement savings account for the much longer lifespan of LEDs. A typical incandescent lasts ~1,000 hours while a quality LED lasts 25,000+ hours — meaning you'd replace an incandescent about 25 times over an LED's life. Even though LEDs cost more upfront, the replacement savings usually far outweigh the price premium.

Payback period is how many months it takes for the energy and bulb savings to cover the extra upfront cost of LED bulbs. Most LED investments pay back within 6–18 months.

CO2 reduction uses the US EPA average grid emissions factor of 0.92 lbs CO2 per kWh of electricity consumed.