The perception of LEDs is they are very expensive. This is true, as the initial investment in an LED bulb today is far greater than for an incandescent. A 75-watt incandescent light bulb costs approximately $1.00. A comparable CFL can be purchased for $2.50, and an equivalent set of LEDs would cost more than $50, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. However, the cost of running the light encompasses the total cost of ownership over its lifetime, including the energy cost to run the light and replacement costs.

When LEDs are perfected, it should take about 50 incandescent bulbs, or eight to ten CFLs, to equal the life of one LED bulb. LEDs also are expected to be about 20 times more efficient than incandescent bulbs. So when you compare the lifecycle cost of a light source, the question is: which would you rather pay -- $550 to use an incandescent bulb, or $154 to use an LED?

The message of “buyer beware” is crucial when speaking of LED lamps. Poor quality LED products are flooding the marketplace and are easily purchased on several well-known Web sites and through big box retailers. Two key indicators of a quality LED are price and the presence of an SSL Quality Advocate label. With LED lamps, you get what you pay for. A product that costs $15 is likely to provide less light and have a shorter life than one that costs $50. Even high-quality LED lamps are in a relatively early stage of development and few have undergone rigorous testing in real-life settings.

The Department of Energy (DOE) advocates for quality and is establishing Energy Star standards around LEDs. Until this happens, the DOE encourages consumers to become educated before investing in LEDs, and asks consumers to look for the SSL Quality Advocate label, which displays several important LED product features, such as light color and energy consumption. However, the presence of the label doesn’t guarantee the product is high in quality. It simply indicates it might be better than a product without the label.

LED lighting holds a great deal of promise. However, the gap between promise and the delivery of products consumers want is wide. Most ready-for-prime-time LED products are in a few niche applications, such as task and display case lighting. General illumination lights are, for the most part, still a work in progress. It is advisable to do a little homework before purchasing LED lights.

Over time the quality of the products will increase and consumers will be able to buy with confidence. Electric cooperatives are at the forefront of those working to make this revolution in lighting truly deliver on the promise of quality and efficiency.