What is the difference between LED and incandescent bulbs?

LED bulbs use significantly less energy and last much longer than incandescent bulbs — making them the clear choice for Ottawa homeowners looking to reduce electricity costs.

Incandescent bulbs work by passing electricity through a thin tungsten filament until it glows. This process is highly inefficient — roughly 90% of the energy consumed is released as heat, not light. A standard 60-watt incandescent produces about 800 lumens of light. An LED producing the same 800 lumens uses only 8-10 watts. That's nearly an 85% reduction in energy consumption for identical light output.

Lifespan is where the difference becomes dramatic. A typical incandescent bulb lasts around 1,000 hours. A quality LED bulb lasts 15,000 to 25,000 hours — sometimes longer. For a bulb used 3 hours per day, that's roughly 1 year for incandescent versus 15-20 years for LED. Over the lifetime of one LED bulb, you'd replace 15-25 incandescent bulbs. The upfront cost of an LED ($5-15) pays for itself quickly through energy savings and fewer replacements.

Light quality has improved dramatically with modern LEDs. Early LEDs had a harsh, cool tone that many homeowners disliked. Today's LEDs are available across the full colour spectrum — from warm 2700K (similar to incandescent) to cool daylight 5000K. They're also fully dimmable when paired with a compatible dimmer switch, which is an important detail. Not all dimmers work with LEDs, and mismatched dimmers can cause flickering or buzzing. If you're upgrading to LEDs and have existing dimmer switches, confirm compatibility or have the dimmers replaced.

From an electrical standpoint, the lower wattage of LEDs also reduces heat load in your fixtures and junction boxes — a genuine safety benefit, especially in older homes with fixtures rated for lower wattage bulbs. Incandescent bulbs in an over-rated fixture are a fire risk; LEDs virtually eliminate that concern.

In Ontario, incandescent bulbs have largely been phased out of retail availability due to federal energy efficiency regulations, so LEDs are now the standard choice regardless. If you're upgrading lighting throughout your home — adding pot lights, installing dimmer switches, or converting to smart lighting — that work does require a licensed electrician and in some cases an ESA permit. Electrical Ottawa can handle any lighting upgrade, from a single dimmer swap to a whole-home LED conversion. Feel free to reach out for a free consultation.