Whole House (30 bulbs)
Whole House (30 bulbs) LED savings: incandescent vs LED
Switching the 30 bulbs in a whole house (30 bulbs) from 65W incandescent to 10W LED cuts each bulb draw by 85%. Running them 5 hours a day, that saves about 3,011 kWh and roughly $572/year at the 2026 US-average rate of 19 cents per kWh, or about $5,720 over 10 years.
Incandescent vs LED for a whole house (30 bulbs)
| Metric | Incandescent | LED |
|---|---|---|
| Watts per bulb | 65 W | 10 W |
| Total wattage (30 bulbs) | 1950 W | 300 W |
| Energy per year | 3,559 kWh | 548 kWh |
| Cost per year | $676 | $104 |
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 whole house (30 bulbs): 30 x 65W x 5h x 365 days is 3,559 kWh/year with incandescent, versus 548 kWh/year with LED. The 3,011 kWh difference times $0.16 is the annual saving. At about $120 for 30 quality LED bulbs, they pay for themselves in roughly 3 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 5 hours a day, the LEDs in this whole house (30 bulbs) 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 whole house (30 bulbs)?
Switching 30 bulbs from 65W to 10W LED saves about 3,011 kWh and $572 per year at 16 cents/kWh, based on 5 hours of use per day.
Are LED bulbs worth it for a whole house (30 bulbs)?
Yes. The 30 LED bulbs cost about $120 and pay for themselves in roughly 3 months, then keep saving $572 a year while lasting far longer than incandescent bulbs.
How much electricity do the lights in a whole house (30 bulbs) use?
With incandescent bulbs, about 3,559 kWh per year ($676). With LEDs, about 548 kWh per year ($104).
Disclaimer: For reference only. Consult a licensed professional.