Many growers still use traditional bulb-based lights such as HPS, metal halide, ceramic metal halide, or even fluorescent lights. These fixtures are inexpensive and simple to use, but they have significant drawbacks that make upgrading to LEDs worthwhile. LEDs provide much more light for less electricity compared to bulb-based systems. Additionally, LEDs offer a better spectrum that plants absorb more effectively. Bulb technologies rely on a fixed spectrum that is not necessarily optimal for plant growth. From both an energy efficiency and yield perspective, moving from any bulb-based technology to LEDs is highly recommended.
While LED fixtures may more than inexpensive bulb-based options, the energy savings and increased yields will quickly offset the initial investment. Anyone serious about improving their growing results should consider upgrading to LEDs.
For those already using LEDs, the decision to upgrade to newer generation LEDs depends on several factors. Many older, inexpensive, and inefficient LEDs, particularly those from less reputable manufacturers, make exaggerated claims about performance that don't hold up in practice. These lights often consume more power than they should and fail to provide adequate light for high-light plants like cannabis. If you're using such lights, even if they still appear bright, their efficiency and yield may be suboptimal.
High-quality LEDs, including those made in the US, can last 50,000 to 100,000 hours, providing long-term use. However, like most electronics, LED technology has advanced, becoming more efficient and less expensive. Modern LEDs typically offer twice the amount of light for the same cost and electricity consumption as those sold five to seven years ago. Therefore, even though LEDs have a long lifespan, the efficiency gains of newer models may justify upgrading to a newer generation LED.