LED lighting has revolutionized the market for lighting fixtures over the past few years, and LED bulbs have begun to dominate general purpose lighting as well. More and more manufacturers have taken to integrating LEDs directly into their products – but is that good news for the consumer?
Here, courtesy of Superior Lighting, is a quick breakdown of the pros and cons of integrated LED lighting fixtures:It is, of course, more difficult to replace an integrated light (LED or otherwise) than a screw-in bulb, but given the extensive lifetime of an LED bulb, is that really an issue? What, if any, other concerns should a consumer be considering when deciding to purchase integrated LED Lighting Fixtures?
Integrated LED Lighting Fixtures: Pros
- Longer lifetime rating than fluorescent or incandescent bulbs
- Longer lifetime rating than screw-in LED bulbs
- More control over light output and appearance
- Easier to control in terms of dimming
- Because of the way they are installed, integrated LED bulbs have an even longer lifetime rating than screw-in LED bulbs. They are also more visually appealing, and much more energy-efficient.
Integrated LED Lighting Fixtures: Cons
- Installation is more complicated than a screw-in bulb
- Up-front cost is higher
- Difficulty in upgrading
- The initial outlay for an integrated LED lighting fixture may be higher, but over the course of its lifetime an LED bulb will pay for itself in terms of cost savings many times over. Additionally, as the lifespan of many LED bulbs is over twenty years, the cost of installation can largely be disregarded.
