Why is it unfortunate? You'd be the first one that cut their bill by 40% changing to LED's. I've done it, my friends have done it and the bill didn't change one bit, or if it did, not enough to notice. 40% is cutting your bill in half, the only way I can see it being done is if you left every light on in the house 24 hours a day.
Either way, glad it worked out for you.
Do you have kids? Yes the lights stay on 90% of the time no matter what you do!
I am a sustainability professional and it is not BS.
If you change from CFL's the difference will not be this dramatic.
However, CFL's use 70% less energy than incandescent's and LED's use 85% less than incandescent's.
The greatest difference in the long run between LED and CFL's are the lifetime of the bulb.
Another great thing about LED bulbs is spectrum availability. Use daylight spectrum and you will see true color!
My bulbs by the way are 4 years old or so.
I recommend getting them at the hardware store when the power company is doing their mandatory subsidization. I got my bulbs for around $3 each Regular $7-$9.
I am all for going to DC lighting throughout the house.
Both CFL's and LED's can operate on DC more efficiently than AC.
This would create an even greater reduction in energy consumption due to lack of conversion, or more correctly stated rectification.
So far as Automotive bulbs goes the design of the vehicle limits greatly the benefit to using LED.
For our VW's, LED headlights are not compatible with the bulb housing.
LED bulbs are only really viable in sockets inside the vehicle and exterior for markers, backup lights (which correct ones would be great), and the license plate lamp.
Power consumption will not be that greatly reduced and the main benefits would be greater illumination and a longer lifetime if you get good quality bulbs.
Just as with any other part on our cars, CHEAP is WORTHLESS!
Use Quality LED bulbs in the right spot and never replace them.
You can use LED with resistors built in if they are quality and they will not negatively affect the experience of driving, however, longer life is the sole benefit!
You will never save enough energy with automotive bulbs to pay for them, however, you may go through few enough bulbs to pay for them.