LED Light Bulbs Benefits And Cons

LED lights isn't a new technology; as a matter of fact, it has been with us since the 1960's. LED light bulbs were at first used as a substitute for incandescent indicators and displays in lab device and later in TV's, watches, radios and calculators. LED prices have only most recently has reduced enough to make them viable for residential and commercial markets. LED Lights can have anything from outdoor to Christmas lights. With the present looming energy crisis in South Africa, and pressure put on governments and businesses identical for more sustainable energy solutions, LED lights have a bright future in space lighting solutions.

Major advantages of making use of LED lights

First of all, LED lights are far more efficient than any other lights alternative commercially available at the moment. LED bulbs have a 100000 hour lifespan, and will last for eleven years at continuous operation, or 22 years at fifty% operation. Compare this to the approximate lifespan of five thousand hrs for an incandescent light bulb and 10000 hours for a fluorescent light. Many businesses find the lifespan of LED light bulbs very interesting - imagine only have to alter the signage on a business property once every 11 years. With incandescent and fluorescent bulbs, the true cost of the bulb should include the labor charge and time required to replace them. LED lights virtually eliminate lighting maintenance costs.

The second large advantage and key strength of using LED lighting over conventional lighting is the reduced power consumption. LED bulb is capable of converting eighty% of the electrical energy used into light energy. The remaining 20% electrical energy is lost as heat energy. Incandescent light bulbs only convert twenty% of the electrical energy utilized into actual light energy, which means that a staggering 80% of electrical energy is lost as heat energy. When you examine the 80% efficiency of LED lights with the 20% efficiency of incandescent lights, the optimal choice of light bulb is quite understood.

Major drawbacks of using LED lights

The primary limitation is the current high cost of LED light bulbs. Even though the price of LED lights in South Africa is steadily decreasing, replacing a 100W incandescent light bulb with a LED substitute can cost about 5000 Rs. The start up price may seem frightening, but LED light bulbs pay for themselves over time because they can work for up to eleven years, and saves a lot of money in respect of electricity utilized. For businesses, using LED lights makes a whole lot of sense since the reduced maintenance costs more than make up for the high starting cost.

Major businesses are doing it

Various blue chip companies and hotels in USA and United Kingdom presently use LED lighting solutions. LED lights are used from stair-nose lighting, light line, wall wash lighting and signage illumination to colour-changing till numbers and controls, architectural lights and freezer lighting. These businesses have identified LED as the preferred lighting solution for the future. With LED bulb start-up rates plummeting, more companies will follow these business leaders and discover a painless lighting solution which will last them a decade, and save them money.