[HazelNut]

LEDs are very popular in Christmas lighting these days, but can you buy household LED lightbulbs?

[Aalaia]

Are there any reports that LED's cause any health problems, while they are in use?

[Stepper]

HazelNut, I don't know about for regular household use, but my windup flashlight (which I use frequently) and my camping lantern both use LEDs. The lantern is also a windup, but it has a bunch more LEDs, so it takes a lot more winding than the flashlight.

[GreenTomThumb]

Yeah, LED lights are getting better every day. I love them and I use about 10-15 of them in order to light up my annual once-a-year camping trip. They're a great way to shed light everywhere and I am quite impressed with this marvelous piece of technology.

[Timetrvlr]

Originally Posted by ToddF

LED lights are more expensive but make CFs look like energy wasters. People do not notice the same flicker that fluorescents produce. LEDs last forever (practically) and pay for themselves.

That's great but have you seen any for sale yet? The only LED lights I can find are plug-in night lights and strings of Christmas lights. I'd like to find a source of reasonably priced lamps with conventional screw in bases.

In the meantime, I'll continue using my 48 CFL's that use 80% less electricity than standard light bulbs.

[atula]

Originally Posted by workinman

L = light
E = emmiting
D = diode

they are very efficient and long lasting lights.
newer traffic lights and alot of tail lights on vehicles are using them

I have noticed how new traffic lights are using leds...just out of curiosity can we use the same mechanism for our home usage. I mean leds are very small and seems like they will give very less lighting at home but is there some way to increase the lighting and use them at home?

[tater03]

I had no idea that IKEA accepted them either. I just actually found out that the CFL's had mercury in them. I don't have any LED lights yet but I agree that these are going to be the lights of the future and the ones that will be the best ones to get.

[Timetrvlr]

Originally Posted by tater03

I had no idea that IKEA accepted them either. I just actually found out that the CFL's had mercury in them. I don't have any LED lights yet but I agree that these are going to be the lights of the future and the ones that will be the best ones to get.

You are certainly right about that! LED lamps are even more efficient than CFL's and I hope they will show up on the market soon.

However, right now, you can buy LED Christmas lights and save 90% on your holiday lighting costs. The strings aren't expensive either. I couldn't afford to pay the electric bill for Christmas lights before but now I can burn them for 6 hours a day for 30 days for about $.50.

[nyles_cain]

There is a new product that can save you an average of 15% on your utility bills for fluorescent lighting - check out www.enerfume.com.

[angel82]

Just like most "go greeners", I too changed my lightbulbs to CFL's to try and reduce my energy consumption. But recently i stumbled across some pretty scary articles. That made me reconsider this choice.

Here is one of these articles.
FOXNews.com - Junk Science: Light Bulb Lunacy - Opinion

You should really check this out.
You really have to weigh the pros and cons and make sure you are thoroughly informed beore you make your decision.