Ditch This Type Of Light Bulb To Keep Your Home Cool This Summer

When we think of cooling our homes during the summer months, our minds often turn to closing our curtains and cranking up the air conditioning. In fact, air conditioning is the go-to option for up to 88% of U.S. households, according to the Energy Information Administration, reflecting just how prevalent it is. However, we don't often think of our light bulbs, more specifically, the type of light bulb we use, when it comes to temperature reduction.

Switching out your incandescent light bulb for an LED can help keep your room at a more tolerable temperature – even if just slightly. This simple switch not only provides a cooler room but can also help save you money. As a result, it's an extremely cost-effective and attractive option. You can make this change in one or several rooms, depending on how much you use the corresponding lights. But how exactly do LED light bulbs work to keep your rooms cooler? As you may guess, it all comes down to technology and design.

An LED bulb emits light at a certain angle, and also channels heat out through the bottom of the bulb. This technology is unique to LED bulbs and is part of what makes them superior to regular bulbs, as they produce less heat, expending reduced energy as a result. In contrast, the light of an incandescent bulb expands around the whole bulb, creating more heat as it accumulates. This is why a room will likely feel warmer faster if you use an incandescent bulb compared to an LED bulb. It's surprising to think that such a small yet significant technological difference can have such a big impact.

It may be better to turn off your light bulbs altogether once they reach a certain temperature threshold. This is usually when temperatures start to rise to higher levels, such as during heatwaves. Thankfully, this should be easy to do, as the sunnier summer months tend to stay lighter for longer. This way, you won't have to worry about sitting in the dark. You can also use this swap in conjunction with other home cooling tricks you may already use, such as closing curtains to shut out the sun or opening windows at night. Just remember to dispose of your light bulbs correctly when you switch from incandescent to LED.