LED (light-emitting diode) lighting is different from traditional lighting, as the bulbs produce light by using semi-conductors. In a nutshell, it’s digital light.
They’re not a new phenomenon; LEDs have been used in Christmas fairy lights, remote controls and digital devices for a long time. More recently they have begun to be more widely available for lighting in the home, and have quickly become a hugely popular, energy efficient lighting solution. Here are some of the main benefits of using LED lighting:
- LED lights are much longer lasting than other types of light bulb, and the expected life of each bulb is around 100,000 hours. If your light was on for eight hours each day, the bulb would last somewhere in the region of 20 years. As a result, the maintenance required to replace the bulbs is far less too, which can be particularly beneficial in a commercial or office environment.
- LEDs convert approximately 80-90% of the energy they use into light making them among the most energy efficient bulbs you can buy. Traditional bulbs, on the other hand, can convert as little as 10-20% of the energy they use into light, which means the remaining 80-90% is lost as heat. This means when you choose LED bulbs you’re actually paying to light your home, rather than for the lost energy when using other, less energy efficient types of light bulb.
- Unlike many energy saving light bulbs, with LED there’s no need to wait for the bulbs to light up fully. They emit their full light straight away. Over time, the light they give off becomes slightly less bright, but they don’t usually burn out in the same way that traditional bulbs can.
- LED lighting only requires a low-voltage power supply, so it can easily be used in conjunction with solar energy.
- They’re more durable and hard-wearing too, and are weather and shock resistant. They can also withstand extreme high and low temperatures far more efficiently than other bulbs, which makes them a fantastic choice for outdoor lighting.
- LED bulbs are also more ecologically friendly than other types of bulb, as they don’t contain toxic chemicals such as mercury (which many other bulbs can) and are completely recyclable.
- LED lights produce next to no UV emissions and very little infrared light. This makes them the ideal option for those with heightened sensitivity to UV rays or in areas containing materials where UV exposure must be minimised, such as art exhibitions and museums, for example.
- Thanks to rapidly developing technology, LEDs are becoming much cheaper than they used to be. They’re still more expensive than other types of light bulb, but in many ways their other benefits outweigh the cost factor.