What changed when LEDs replaced incandescent bulbs
Until around 2012, the dominant metric for comparing light bulbs in Poland — as elsewhere in Europe — was wattage. A 60W bulb was understood to give a certain amount of light. EU regulations phased out incandescent bulbs progressively between 2009 and 2012, and then halogen lamps between 2016 and 2018, shifting the residential market almost entirely to LEDs and compact fluorescents (CFLs) by 2020.
LEDs convert around 85% of their electrical input into light. Incandescent bulbs converted roughly 5%. This efficiency gap — roughly 15:1 — is what makes the switch financially significant. A standard LED replacement for a 60W incandescent draws 6–9W and produces equivalent or greater light output.
Reading the label: lumens, watts, and colour temperature
Lumens
Lumens measure the total amount of visible light emitted. Watts measure power consumption. EU packaging regulations require lumen output to be prominently displayed on bulb packaging. The approximate equivalences used by manufacturers are:
- 25W incandescent ≈ 250 lm — LED equivalent: 3–4W
- 40W incandescent ≈ 470 lm — LED equivalent: 4–6W
- 60W incandescent ≈ 800 lm — LED equivalent: 6–9W
- 75W incandescent ≈ 1,050 lm — LED equivalent: 9–13W
- 100W incandescent ≈ 1,520 lm — LED equivalent: 13–18W
Higher lumen outputs per watt — often expressed as luminous efficacy in lm/W — indicate a more efficient product. Mid-range LEDs achieve 80–100 lm/W; premium products exceed 120 lm/W.
Colour temperature
Colour temperature, measured in Kelvin (K), describes the warmth or coolness of the light. Lower values produce warmer, more yellow-white light; higher values produce cooler, bluer light. Common categories:
- 2700–3000K — warm white, similar to incandescent. Suitable for bedrooms, living rooms, and areas where relaxation is the priority.
- 3500–4000K — neutral white. Often preferred in kitchens, bathrooms, and work areas.
- 5000–6500K — cool daylight. Suitable for garages, workshops, and spaces where task visibility is the main concern.
Colour temperature has no direct impact on electricity consumption, but it affects how the space is perceived and can influence wellbeing, particularly with regard to evening use. LEDs emitting above 4000K in the hours before sleep may affect melatonin production according to research published by the European Sleep Research Society (esrs.eu).
CRI — colour rendering index
CRI measures how accurately a light source renders colours compared with natural daylight. A CRI of 100 is the theoretical maximum. Most LED bulbs sold in Polish retail carry a CRI of 80–85; better-quality products achieve 90+. CRI matters most in contexts where accurate colour perception is important — art, cooking, and makeup application.
Which fixtures and fittings are LED-compatible
The great majority of fixtures in Polish homes use standard E27 (large Edison screw) or E14 (small Edison screw) bases, for which LED replacements are universally available. GU10 spotlight fixtures — common in recessed kitchen and bathroom downlights — also have wide LED availability. MR16 low-voltage fixtures (12V, GU5.3 base) require LED replacements designed for low voltage; some older dimmer circuits require replacement for compatibility.
Dimmable LEDs are available but cost more and require a compatible leading-edge or trailing-edge dimmer. Most older rotary dimmers designed for incandescent bulbs will not work correctly with LEDs — they may flicker, buzz, or fail to dim smoothly. Replacement dimmers are widely available in Polish electrical suppliers at 40–120 PLN each.
Calculating what a full LED retrofit saves
Using the 2025 retail electricity tariff for households in Poland (approximately 0.75–0.85 PLN/kWh for G11 tariff), the annual saving per replaced fixture can be estimated as follows:
A 60W incandescent running four hours per day for 365 days consumes 87.6 kWh/year. A 7W LED replacement consumes 10.2 kWh/year. Saving: 77.4 kWh/year. At 0.80 PLN/kWh: approximately 62 PLN per year per bulb.
A house with 20 active fixtures, averaging four hours of daily use, replacing all 60W incandescents with 7W LEDs would save approximately 1,240 PLN per year. The LED bulbs themselves cost 12–25 PLN each at typical Polish retailers. Payback on the bulb cost alone: three to six months.
Quality and lifespan: what to watch for
Rated lifespans for LEDs vary from 10,000 hours for budget products to 25,000+ hours for mid-range and premium bulbs. At four hours daily use, 15,000 hours equates to roughly ten years. Actual lifespan depends heavily on thermal management — LEDs in enclosed fixtures with poor ventilation degrade faster than those in open fittings.
EU energy label regulations (effective from September 2021) require LED packaging to display an energy class (A to G), lumen output, lifetime in hours, and colour rendering. Bulbs in classes A–C are the most efficient currently available in the consumer market.