Basement
Basement LED savings: incandescent vs LED
Switching the 8 bulbs in a basement from 100W incandescent to 14W LED cuts each bulb draw by 86%. Running them 4 hours a day, that saves about 826 kWh and roughly $157/year at the 2026 US-average rate of 19 cents per kWh, or about $1,570 over 10 years.
Incandescent vs LED for a basement
| Metric | Incandescent | LED |
|---|---|---|
| Watts per bulb | 100 W | 14 W |
| Total wattage (8 bulbs) | 800 W | 112 W |
| Energy per year | 960 kWh | 134 kWh |
| Cost per year | $182 | $25 |
How the savings are calculated
Energy use is bulbs x watts x hours per day x days per year, divided by 1000 for kWh. For this basement: 8 x 100W x 4h x 300 days is 960 kWh/year with incandescent, versus 134 kWh/year with LED. The 826 kWh difference times $0.16 is the annual saving. At about $32 for 8 quality LED bulbs, they pay for themselves in roughly 2 months.
Bulb life and replacement savings
A typical LED lasts about 25,000 hours versus roughly 1,000 hours for an incandescent, so one LED outlasts around 25 old bulbs. At 4 hours a day, the LEDs in this basement should last well over a decade before replacement, on top of the energy savings above. LEDs also run cool, which slightly reduces summer cooling load.
Frequently asked questions
How much do LED bulbs save in a basement?
Switching 8 bulbs from 100W to 14W LED saves about 826 kWh and $157 per year at 16 cents/kWh, based on 4 hours of use per day.
Are LED bulbs worth it for a basement?
Yes. The 8 LED bulbs cost about $32 and pay for themselves in roughly 2 months, then keep saving $157 a year while lasting far longer than incandescent bulbs.
How much electricity do the lights in a basement use?
With incandescent bulbs, about 960 kWh per year ($182). With LEDs, about 134 kWh per year ($25).
Disclaimer: For reference only. Consult a licensed professional.