LED Life Cycle Study Released

By Hannah Munger of Encore Redevelopment, December 2009

A recent article published in the New York Times discusses the conclusions from a German study that lends support to the theory that LED bulbs are even “greener” than we initially believed. The article, written by Eric Taub, called LED Bulbs Save Substantial Energy, a Study Finds, outlines the extensive study that focused on the question of whether or not the overall production -- specifically the manufacturing and distribution processes -- of LED lamps consumed more energy than that of standard incandescent bulbs.

Although it is common knowledge that LED lamps use significantly less energy than their incandescent counterparts to actually burn, significant debate has focused on whether or not their respective lifespans were equally inefficient due to the manufacturing of LED lamps. Moreover, the lighting industry (and the eco-conscious collective) feared that the initial production phases of LED lamps were more energy demanding than standard incandescent bulbs. A German lighting company by the name of Osram has produced recent findings that show, “that over the entire life of the bulb -- from manufacturing to disposal -- the energy used for incandescent bulbs is almost five times that used for compact fluorescents and LED lamps.”

The study scrutinized the life cycle of LED lamps, focusing on the levels of greenhouse gas emissions and the amount of electricity involved at each stage. LED lamps were significantly more efficient at each phase in comparison to other incandescent bulbs. In conclusion, as science advances, LED technology is expected to become even more efficient and therefore more ubiquitous.

Click here to be directed to the article that appeared in the New York Times on November 29, 2009.

Click here to be directed to the Osram report.