Homemakers Clubs in the Pennyrile Extension Area requested a lesson on LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting for this program year; and Todd County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent Jill Harris was assigned to teach the lesson.  Because there is not a lot of readily available, in-depth information on LED bulbs, Ms. Harris decided to utilize a set of LED educational materials that I had developed for a local LED lighting class in 2017.  In preparation for Ms. Harris’s classes, I reworked the PowerPoint presentation to include the latest technical information and current bulb prices, and worked with her to create handout materials appropriate for the Homemaker audiences.  

These lesson materials were designed to help homeowners understand the benefits of LEDs (long life, energy efficiency, instant full brightness, contain no mercury, available in many sizes, shapes, & colors, etc.) as well as their disadvantages (extreme directionality, sensitivity to heat, higher purchase prices (particularly for the 75 and 100 “watt-equivalent” bulbs), and higher short-term failure rates compared to incandescent and CFL bulbs).  Participants (particularly older clients) were also encouraged to explore bulbs with light temperatures (or “colors”) other than “soft white” for some of the living spaces in their homes.  Bright white and daylight-color bulbs can enhance clarity of vision, which can be especially helpful for people who are experiencing age-related vision deterioration.

Lighting affects everyone in the household, from young children to elderly.  Home lighting impacts the economics of the household as well comfort, aesthetics, and safety.  Since LEDs are the newest type of lighting in the consumer market, Ms. Harris' teaching this lesson to Extension Homemakers in the nine-county Pennyrile Area was a wonderful educational opportunity.  Her initial, intermediate and long-term goals/outcomes of the LED lighting class anticipate that participants will:

• gain knowledge about the advantages and disadvantages of LED bulbs;
• learn skills to help them choose light bulbs for their home;
• purchase light bulbs appropriate for the different tasks and rooms in their home;
• save money by purchasing more energy efficient light bulbs for their home. 

Ms. Harris administered end-of-training evaluations to everyone who attended the program; with surveys being completed by 53 people.  The evaluation measured initial outcomes of participants.

Eighty-six percent of respondents reported they currently use LEDs in their homes, with approximately 50% of the light bulbs they use being LEDs.  They reported currently using a combination of incandescent, CFL, and LED bulbs.  Additional survey results revealed:

• 100% said their next light bulb purchase would be a LED; 
• 100% said this lesson helped them understand the heat sensitivity of LED bulbs; 
• 100% reported the lesson helped them understand the directionality issues of LED bulbs;
• 100% said the lesson helped them understand the difference between “soft white” and other colors of artificial light such as “bright white” and “daylight;”
• 100% understood how to select light bulbs based on lumen output;
• 100% understood that light bulb packages are now required to have a standard label listing light output, color, expected life and energy use;
• And 100% understood that LEDs are the most energy efficient and practical bulbs available for most traditional home uses.

A follow-up evaluation is planned for 3-6 months after the program.