NOTE:
LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting is a type of illumination technology that utilizes semiconductors to convert electricity into light. Unlike traditional incandescent or fluorescent lights, LEDs are more energy-efficient and have a longer lifespan. They produce light when an electrical current passes through them, exciting the electrons inside and releasing energy as photons. This process, known as electroluminescence, produces a bright, visible light that is valuable in various applications, from home lighting to commercial installations.
The Benefits of LED Lighting
As noted, LED lighting is one of the latest developments in the lighting industry. Their energy efficiency and considerable lifespan holds all the potential for changing the way organizations brighten their facilities by reducing the cost of electricity and overall energy usage. Because of this, LEDs have swept the conventional lighting marketplace.
By 2030, the experts estimate LED lighting could save 190 terawatt hours of electricity per year. This equates to more than $15 billion. As the price of lamps and fixtures continues to decrease, more and more people will upgrade their lighting systems with LEDs, given their many benefits compared to traditional technologies.
In the following, your local electricians at Five Star Home Services list the eight benefits of LED lighting you should consider:
1): Extended lifespan
Unlike traditional or incandescent lighting, LED lights don’t “burn out” or fail. Instead, they merely dim over time. Quality LEDs have a prolonged lifespan of 30,000 to 50,000 hours or even longer, depending on the quality of the lamp or the fixture. A typical incandescent bulb only lasts 1,000 hours. A comparable compact fluorescent light lasts 8,000 to 10,000 hours. With a longer operational life, LEDs can reduce labor costs of replacing bulb, achieving a lower maintenance lighting system.
2): Energy efficiency
On average, LED lights use roughly 50 percent less electricity than traditional incandescent, fluorescent and halogen lighting options. This can lead to substantial energy cost savings, especially for spaces with lights that are on for extended periods of time. Unlike conventional bulbs, LED lights aim light in one direction, which emit light — in addition to heat — in all directions. LEDs are mounted to flat surfaces. Because of this, they emit light hemispherically rather than spherically. In short, this directional lighting capability reduces wasted light and energy.
3): Durability
Another great thing is that LED doesn’t have filaments or glass enclosures. Because of this, they are breakage-resistant and largely immune to vibrations and other impacts. Traditional lighting, on the other hand, is usually contained in a glass or quartz exterior. This can be susceptible to damage. LEDs, on the other hand, tend not to use any glass. As noted, they are mounted on a circuit board and connected with soldered leads that can be vulnerable to direct impact. However, this isn’t any more so than smartphones and similar small, fragile electronic devices.
4): Cold Temperature Operation
Unlike fluorescent lamps, LEDs love the cold. Higher voltage is necessary to start fluorescent lamps at lower temperatures, and luminous flux (the perceived power or intensity of light) is decreased. LED performance, on the other hand, increases as operating temperatures drop. This makes LEDs a natural fit for refrigerated display cases. They’re also great for freezers, cold storage spaces and outdoor applications like parking lots.
5) Instant Illumination
While most fluorescent and HID lamps fail to provide full brightness the moment they’re switched on, LEDs do not. Other types of lighting require up to three minutes or more to reach maximum light output. However, LEDs come on at 100-percent brightness almost instantly with no re-strike delay. This can be beneficial during a power outage, or anytime employees open a building during the early morning hours when it is still dark outside.
6): Rapid Cycling
Traditional light sources tend to have a shorter lifespan when they are switched on and off a lot. However, LEDs are unaffected by rapid cycling. In addition to flashing light displays, this capability makes them great for use with occupancy or daylight sensors.
7): Controllability
Although it can take extra money to make commercial fluorescent lighting systems dimmable, LEDs are different. They are semiconductor devices, which are inherently compatible with controls. Some LEDs can even be dimmed to 10% of their lighting output while most fluorescent lights only reach about 30% of their full brightness capacity. Additionally, LEDs offer continuous, as opposed to step-level, dimming where the shift from 100-to-10-percent light output is smooth and seamless.
8): No IR or UV Emissions
Did you know that less than 10% of the power used by incandescent lamps is actually converted to visible light? Most of the power is converted into infrared (IR) or radiated heat. This wastes energy. Plus, excessive heat and ultraviolet radiation (UV) present a burn hazard. On the other hand, LEDs emit virtually no IR or UV. In fact, rapid advancements in LED lighting technologies, with more improvements on the horizon, show lowered costs and increased reliability of LEDs. This is great news! Although it might be tempting to assume LEDs are the right choice for all applications because of their energy efficiency, selection should be based on a combination of factors, including light quality and distribution, dimmability, and expected lifetime.
9): Intelligence
Today’s lighting systems can do so much more than brighten our path. They can also lighten our impact on the environment; they make our surroundings more secure or boost the comfort and productivity of any indoor space. Combining LED lighting with intelligent sensors and controls can help build smarter, more sustainable solutions in the long run!
Looking to upgrade to LED? Call Five Star Home Services today!
Explore what’s possible with LED lighting from Five Star Home Services, your preferred local electrical contractor in Greater Columbus, Greater Dayton, Greater Cincinnati, and surrounding areas. From indoor and outdoor LED lamps and fixtures to intelligent solutions to help solve your business’s toughest energy and productivity problems, we are always here to help.