How much can you save by switching to LED tubes?

Replacing a fluorescent tube with an LED reduces electricity consumption by between 40% and 60%, maintaining the same lighting level. In installations with many hours of use, the reduction in energy costs can be even greater, especially if reactance is eliminated. Below, you will see how much you can actually save and what factors it depends on.

How much energy consumption is reduced by using LED tubes

The numbers are clear: switching to LED lighting drastically reduces electricity costs. In real conditions:

• Direct replacement → minimum reduction of 40%.
• Installation with bypass → more than 50% reduction in consumption.
• Elimination of reactance → avoids 3–8 W extra per light point. 

This decrease in electrical spending is particularly noticeable in offices, garages, and businesses.

A T8 fluorescent tube of 36 W can be replaced by an LED tube of 18–22 W, providing the same lighting with a reduction in consumption of up to 50%.

Which consumes more light, LED or compact fluorescent?

To get the same amount of light, each technology requires a different power. In this case, LED allows for a reduction in consumption of up to 6 times compared to traditional ones.

Source: GreenIce savings calculator

An LED uses up to 83% less than an incandescent bulb and 40% less than a T8 fluorescent tube.

How much does a fluorescent tube consume in LED?

Not all tubes are the same. The most common equivalence is by length. These are the standard powers and their LED equivalents according to data from Institute for Diversification and Saving of Energy (IDAE).

Source:  IDAE

The minimum guaranteed saving is 40% with a direct replacement (just change the tube and starter). If you eliminate the reactance (installation with bypass), the saving can exceed 50%.

How to calculate energy savings and cost in euros

Imagine you have 20 fluorescent tubes of 120 cm (36 W) in your office or business. You use them 8 hours a day, 365 days a year. With an electricity price of 0.18 €/kWh (the average in Spain according to the CNMC), we apply the formula.

• Current consumption: 20 × 36W × 8h × 365 days ÷ 1,000 = 2,102 kWh/year → 378.36€
• Consumption with LED (22W): 20 × 22W × 8h × 365 days ÷ 1,000 = 1,285 kWh/year → 231.30€

Annual saving: 147.06€ just in electricity consumption. 

If you also eliminate the reactance (phantom consumption of 3-8 W per tube), the savings exceed 200€ a year. In five years, that difference becomes more than 1,000€ in net profit.

Is it worth switching to LED tubes?: calculate for yourself

GreenIce offers you a energy savings calculator that allows you to know your exact savings in less than a minute.

Enter your data (light points, technology, power, hours of use, kWh price, cost of fixtures) and the tool gives you back: annual savings in euros, CO₂ reduction, payback in months, and accumulated savings over 5 and 10 years.

GreenIce savings calculator

Why switching to LED reduces costs and improves efficiency 

Switching to LED not only impacts your electricity bill. The benefits transform the quality of your lighting, maintenance, and environmental impact.

• Lower costs on the electricity bill, especially in installations with many hours of operation, such as offices, shops, or garages.
• Energy saving of up to 80%: an LED uses up to 83% less than an incandescent bulb and between 40% and 60% less than a fluorescent.
• Lifetime of 25,000 to 50,000 hours: with 5 hours a day, an LED lasts between 13 and 27 years. A fluorescent would need between 2 and 5 replacements.
• No mercury or toxic materials: fluorescents contain mercury; LEDs are free from these materials and are safer.
• Less waste and a smaller carbon footprint: an LED replaces up to 50 incandescent bulbs. Each kWh saved avoids 0.233 kg of CO₂.
• Instant on without flickering: immediate and stable light, unlike fluorescents that take time to light up and flicker.
• Low maintenance: no starters or ballasts required. Eliminates phantom consumption and reduces technical visits.
• Greater brightness with less power: an 18W LED provides more usable light than a 36 W fluorescent. More focused and uniform light.

What energy-saving in LED lighting depends on

Not everyone saves the same amount when switching to LED. Knowing these factors helps you make better decisions and optimize your installation.

• Hours of use and kWh price: more hours of use = greater savings. The price of electricity (~0.18 €/kWh in Spain according to the CNMC) directly multiplies the savings.
• Quick option vs efficient option: with a tube compatible with starter, the ballast still consumes (3-8 W extra). With bypass (direct connection), you eliminate that consumption and increase savings by up to an additional 15%.
• Phantom consumption of the reactance: the reactance continues to consume even when the fluorescent is on. It's an invisible cost of 3 to 8 W per tube that disappears with bypass.
• Power of the chosen LED tube: a high-efficiency tube (up to 160 lm/W) consumes less power for the same light. In GreenIce, you will find options of up to 160 lm/W in glass LED tubes.
• Type of installation and fixture: if you keep the existing fixture, savings depend on wiring and whether you eliminate reactance. If you opt for a new fixture (sealed fixtures or LED strips), you can optimize the system from the design.

Illuminate your space with maximum savings

Switching to LED tubes is not just an aesthetic improvement. It is a decision that reduces your electricity bill by between 40% and 60%, eliminates maintenance costs, avoids constant replacements, and reduces your carbon footprint. Moreover, since they do not contain mercury, LED tubes are safer for your family and the environment.

We have a wide selection of LED T8, T5, glass tubes, with presence sensors and for direct power supply, all with a minimum 3-year warranty and 24-hour shipping in mainland Spain. Whether you need the quick option with an LED starter or the efficient installation with bypass, we have the perfect solution for your project.

Explore our selection of LED tubes and start saving today.