Fluorescent tubes have been accepted by customers and the market for a long time. They are widely used for commercial lighting, even for industrial lighting. However, fluorescent tubes contain mercy and lead, which is not good for the environment. Besides, efficiency is only 45-60lm/w. In a word, it’s not so prefect for the environment and energy.
Recently, LED technology improved quickly. LED (light-emitting-diode) is a semiconductor diode that emits light. It contains solid state technology made in Silicon Valley using similar technologies that are used in the latest microprocessors. It’s considered as a energy saving and eco-friendly light source. Now LED tube is accepted in more and more countries.
What are advantages of LED tubes?
1. Energy Saving
In December 2009, efficiency of LED tubes can be 90-100lm/w (transparent cover). It’s about 2 times to efficiency fluorescent tube. In 2010, efficiency can be 120lm/w.
2. Eco-friendly
LED does not contain lead or mercury. It’s eco-friendly. Now, eco-friendly products are popular in most of countries. LED tube is one of them. So, it will be more and more popular.
3. Long Lifespan
Lifespan of LED is over 50,000 hours. It’s 5 times longer than lifespan of fluorescent tube.
4. Wide Range of Colors Choice
Colors of LED can be white, red, blue, green, yellow and so on. If we choose right wavelength, they can be used for plant grow.
5. Dimmable
LED is easier to be dimmable. LED tubes from Lighting Orient can be 0-100% dimmable.
The only problem is price. Because cost of LED is high, price is over 5 times higher than fluorescent tube. However, LED is a semiconductor diode. Price will be down every year like computers.
Therefore, in the next 3 years, price will be much lower. Efficiency will be over 120lm/w. We believe many countries in Europe and North America can accept it.
