Incandescent bulbs have the lowest efficiency of all conventional lighting sources because a major portion of its radiation (emitted energy) appears in the infra-red (IR) region of the spectrum.
By contrast, almost all of the energy in an LED radiates within the visible spectrum, therefore LEDs can produce far more light per watt.
Savings due to reduced maintenance are significant, and can be a leader in cost savings when replacement is difficult or expensive.
Canada Place in Vancouver saves 300,000 kWh each year by utilizing illumivision Light Wave LX RGB fixtures showcasing color changing shows for eight hours a night. Conversely, they can save 100,000 kWh each year by running white for the same amount of time per night.
Looking for a way to educate clients, or yourself, about the benefit of LEDs? The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has a great collection of technology fact sheets on solid-state lighting (SSL) topics. For more information, check out the DOE publication page.