What the Big Box Stores Won’t Tell You About LEDs - The Lightbulb Co. UK (2024)

FAQs

Why are LED bulbs illegal? ›

You are not allowed to retrofit LED bulbs onto your car, because there is different technology within the headlight unit itself that is required to make an LED headlight safe and effective. Halogen bulbs use a specific type of reflector to shine the light they produce in the right direction.

Children have a higher sensitivity to blue light and although emissions may not be harmful, light from blue-emitting LEDs may be very dazzling for young children. Some LED emission spectra may cause light-induced retina damage, which is a concern especially for children below about three years of age.

Look for State Incentives

DSIRE will let you look up local incentives, state programs, and federal programs as well as find loans or grants that let you make home improvements while conserving money. You'll find incentives for LED lighting, solar power, and other energy efficient upgrades.

LED lighting can be complicated due to the often complex and detailed electrical wiring involved. If a system has not been set up correctly, it can cause all sorts of issues such as flickering lights, dimming and frequent power outages. Additionally, there's a higher chance that panel overloads can occur.

Most LED bulbs are designed to disperse this heat into the air around them. An enclosed fixture makes this difficult and can lead to overheating. An LED bulb operating above its rated operating temperature will have a much shorter lifespan, which can increase your costs by having to replace them prematurely.

The reflector housing in a halogen headlight surround is made to direct the light from the globe where it needs to be – but the design of a LED could mean that it could see the light scattered incorrectly, and may cause undue stress to other road users.

We suggest using incandescent or halogen bulbs throughout the day + night if you're after a greater sense of well-being. Also - unlike most harshly flickering LED or fluorescent bulbs - incandescents (and color-correct halogens like Chromalux®) will also be the healthiest type of light for your eyes!

Our retina is the part of the eye that absorbs light from our surroundings and allows us to see. According to their report, exposure to powerful LEDs is 'photo-toxic and can lead to irreversible loss of retinal cells. Over time, this may lead to a loss in vision sharpness.

Blue Light Hazard in LED Lights. LED bulbs do not emit any ultraviolet light, but in recent years, "blue light" has been one of the most commonly discussed dangers and risks that surround LED lights and display screens that use LED backlights (smartphones, tablets, TVs, etc).

Do LED lights run up your light bill? ›

LEDs (Light-emitting diodes) are the most energy-efficient and advanced lighting technology on the market today. Not only do they require much less electricity to run than incandescent bulbs, but they also can last up to 50x longer. As a result, the cost of running an individual lightbulb is quite low.

As of August 2023, those “normal” lightbulbs are really, truly banned from sale in the United States. You can still install and use those bulbs, but you won't find them on shelves legally. You'll find far more efficient LED or fluorescent bulbs instead.

One of the most common reasons that LED bulbs burn out quickly is when they're used in incompatible dimming circuits. Firstly, remember that LED bulbs aren't dimmable by default. While you can use dimmable LED bulbs in non-dimmable circuits, the reverse is not true, so check before you install a new bulb.

Unlike incandescent light bulbs, LEDs don't produce light using heat. This is part of what makes them so energy efficient. The downside is that their components can be sensitive to overheating, which can cause them to burn out prematurely.

A French ANSES report suggests that intense exposure to blue light in LEDs causes eye damage. LEDs are also a contributing factor to the onset of migraines— a major cause of photophobia. Since LED lights are found almost everywhere, most people are prone to sensitivity after prolonged exposure.

Despite their energy efficiency, long lifespan, and bright illumination, LED headlight bulbs can also produce harsh lighting that can dazzle other drivers and pedestrians, making them illegal and dangerous to use on the road. Here are three main features of illegal LED headlight bulbs.

LeRoy Angeles, Senior Compliance Engineer at NHTSA, wrote a letter in 2021 explaining that not a single aftermarket LED bulb has ever been approved by NHTSA. This means that every single aftermarket LED replacement bulb on the road is illegal, and yet no government agency is doing anything about it.

Aftermarket headlights – those that you purchase separately for your vehicle – are legal in California. LED headlights are also legal as long as they are white, have amber turn signals, and are within the 2,513-lumen limit.

Why certain light bulbs are now banned. General service lamps, or lightbulbs, are now being regulated to conserve energy and help consumers save on their energy bills, according to the Department of Energy. New technology, such as LED lights, are proving to be much more efficient at lighting homes.