A Jevon’s Paradox Case: LED Lights Might Cause Higher Energy Use!
Jevon’s Paradox is the observation that improved energy efficiency can increase the overall consumption of energy by making an activity cheaper and thus more scalable and accessible. It is sometimes used to argue that energy conservation efforts are futile, for example, that more efficient use of oil will lead to increased demand, and will not slow the arrival or the effects of peak oil.
Apart from the classical example of oil consumption, Jevon’s Paradox could be applied into many fields, and one of them is about a case of energy-efficient light bulbs. In the past incandescent light bulbs were a comparatively poor form of illumination that cost a lot of heat energy and generated. People can now get the same quantity of light with a much less electricity because of the creation of energy-efficient LED bulbs.
However, because the LED bulbs are more energy-efficient and cost less to use, people tend to leave their lights on for longer periods, use more lights overall, and even add more light fixtures to their homes. No need to search for more data, a lot of students living on campus purchase and use LED light strips in their dorms. As a result, the total amount of energy consumed for lighting can actually increase, despite the more efficient technology.
In this case, the development of more efficient light bulbs has not led to a reduction in energy consumption but rather an increase in overall energy use, which is an example of Jevon’s Paradox in action. Personally I think it is totally avoidable but not easy for people to realize. When I was young, my parents always asked me to remember to shut the lights for saving energy and electricity fees. We were aware at that time because we knew it was expensive if we didn’t shut the lights. I mentioned it is avoidable because people are exactly able to keep lights off for a longer time and save energy. However, the creation of LED lights and the comparison showing decreasing fees and increasing electronic efficiency blurs people’s realization of light use.
