The Best Things About LED Lighting

The light emitting diode (LED) is a revolutionary, power efficient light source that first came to fruition in the 1960’s. It had mostly been used in electronics for indicator lights and other applications that only need a tiny, low-powered light source. LED light bulbs have been getting better in recent years and it is a viable alternative to power-hungry incandescent or CFL lights.

A Tiny Electric Footprint

LED bulbs are especially popular among those that want to reduce their electric bill or those that are environmentally conscious. An incandescent bulb may use 60 watts while an LED bulb of similar lighting quality will only need 10 watts. CFL bulbs are the next best thing with 14 watts being typical but the lifespan is much lower than an LED light. With a sacrifice to the lighting, LED bulbs with all their merits, may be found in varieties much lower than 10 watts as well.

LED Bulbs Are Getting Cheaper

Perhaps over a decade ago, LED light bulbs were a novel idea and had price tags up to $100. Nowadays, you will find deals on bulbs that are priced well under $10. Since a typical CFL bulb may cost around $2, LED lights no longer have a scary up-front cost like it’s been stereotyped. Also considering the average lifespan of an LED Bulb is 50,000 hours while a CFL bulb is 10,000, LED is obviously the better deal.

LED is Mercury Free!

Unlike the older generations of light bulbs, the production of LED light bulbs are much more environmentally friendly and do not contain any mercury. An extensive study was funded by the Department of Energy and they determined that LED bulbs were shockingly cleaner than the industry behind incandescent and CFL bulbs. Also taking into consideration that LED bulbs are infrequently replaced, it reduces the demand for production and the footprint this industry has on our Earth.

LED Lights Are Also Viable in Outdoor Applications

Your typical porch light will likely have a CFL or incandescent bulb that emits UV rays, thus attracting large amounts of insects. Homeowners overwhelmed by bugs may also buy bug zappers to control night time insects, which wastes even more electricity. Since LED lights do not emit the same UV rays, you will have the same lighting without the bug problem or electrical waste.

LED lights also come in different form factors that make it suitable for outdoor environments. There are even LED flood lights that are replacing inefficient halogen floodlights. The lights are also less harsh on both human eyes and security cameras so that one may vigilante the building’s surroundings with ease. With a higher color temperature, it also maximizes visibility at night time and it is easier to spot things within one’s peripheral vision. LED flood lights are even capable of outputting more light than halogen lights, so there is no contest between the two.

Avoid Overheating

A refreshing aspect of the LED light bulb is that it is relatively cool to the touch, even if it is currently switched on. Incandescent bulbs and even CFL bulbs output a great amount of heat in the form of infrared radiation. This means that LED lights may be used in temperature-sensitive locations that CFL or incandescent lights could not. Keep in mind that LED bulbs shouldn’t be kept in fully enclosed fixtures. That's due to the manner that its heat is dispersed differently than that of traditional light bulbs.

For example, a supermarket could place LED lights in certain food displays without any spoilage of the products. In textile production, it may be used as illumination without the risk of causing damage to fabrics.

Form Factor Compatability

It is very fortunate that LED light bulbs are manufactured to replace incandescent bulbs without replacing the fixture. This means that you should be able to screw out your old bulb (which is known as an E27 fitting) and screw in your new LED replacement without issues. GU10 is another common filament bulb that has plenty of LED equivalents available.

LED Lights Suitable for Horticulture

There are some spectrum’s of LED lights produced that enable photosynthesis in plants. 450nm, 660nm, and 730nm profiles will carry plants through multiple stages of their lifespan until they are flowering. Since they have lower thermal output and lower electricity usage, they are much more efficient than other types of bulbs used in horticulture. They can open up opportunities for urban farming, algae growth, and other growing projects that lack natural daylight.

Antibacterial Lights

Blue LED light bulbs have been developed recently and they keep bacteria at bay. Since they are able to kill major food borne pathogens, they are being implemented in refrigeration and other applications within the food industry. Specifically, it is the 470-nanometer blue light that kills unwanted bacteria. A study from the Southern Regional Research Center showed that it had a significant effect against the strains filamentous fungi, Penicillium Digitatum and Fusarium Graminearum.

Smart LED Bulbs

Although more expensive than other bulbs, LED bulb manufacturers are creating smart bulbs that are just in time for the IoT trend. These bulbs may connect directly to Wifi so that they may be remotely managed from smartphones or computers. With your network controlled light, you may see statistics about electricity usage, change brightness settings and even set timers.

Smaller is Better

Since LED requires minimal space to function, it can be made in many compact configurations that are not possible with standard bulbs. With low-profile LED lights, you can conceal them into any corner. Therefore, they make for great additions to display cases, showrooms and reception areas.

As the technology is improving and availability is increasing, LED lights will likely become the standard in every modern home. In fact, over 49 different LED light products were installed in the United States in 2012 to reduce annual energy costs. Even if it isn’t about saving money, at least make the switch to LED to help save our planet!