The Benefits of LED Lighting:
Light Emitting Diode Bulbs are Energy Efficient, Long Lasting, and Make Great Christmas Lights
© 2008 by Kelly Smith all rights reserved
This is an evolving technology with many home applications such as LED Christmas lights, rope
lighting, spotlights, etc. These bulbs last over 50,000 hours.
The Emergence of Green Lighting Technology
The world of economical residential lighting continues to offer homeowners new choices. As energy
costs fly off like a hot air balloon, new innovations come to the marketplace.
As far as home lighting is concerned, new strides are being made not only in energy efficiency,
but in bulb life. These are the benefits of LED lighting.
First (excluding camp fires and lanterns) came the incandescent bulb, thanks to Thomas Edison.
In fact, many homes are lit exclusively with incandescent lighting to this very day. But wait! There
are better alternatives.
Other Energy Efficient Choices Illuminating the Home
Fluorescent lighting brought an incredible improvement to the residential
marketplace when introduced. It literally transformed kitchens and bathrooms.
Compact fluorescent bulbs arrived and expanded the possibilities for efficient home lighting.
Then Low Voltage Lighting
started showing up in exterior applications such as landscaping illumination. The
obvious migration to home interiors was inevitable.
Halogen bulbs showed promise but they are problematic for some applications. They generate quite a
bit of heat, the bulbs must be handled with gloves, and are very fragile. The time had come for the
LED light bulb!
What is an LED Light Bulb?
The LED (Light Emitting Diode) light bulb is usually a cluster of individual units. Many of these
produce white light but others generate light of other wavelengths. The exact combination yields the
desired light tone.
They fall into the SSL lighting category (Solid State Lighting). This simply means that the light
seen is emitted from a solid object, rather than a vacuum or a gas.
The Specific Benefits of Light Emitting Diodes
- Energy efficiency — The light bulbs burn very cool,
while incandescent bulbs emit 98 per cent of their energy as heat! Much more bang for the buck.
- Long life — Diode units can last from 50,000 to 100,000 hours. Incandescent light bulbs typically
last around 1,000 hours and fluorescents are good for roughly 10,000 hours.
- Rugged durability — They have no fragile filament to contend with, and no fragile tube. They
are resistant to heat, cold, and shock.
- Lumens per watt — While manufacturers are still finding new ways to increase this ratio,
Cree Inc. has been able to produce a bulb that generates 131 lumens/watt. This is research,
though. Today's available LEDs are the same as compact florescent bulbs, averaging around 55.
Incandescent bulbs wander sadly in at about 15.
Installation of LED Bulbs
This modern lighting is compatible with most existing systems. Some models screw in, replacing
incandescents. Others can replace halogen bulbs. The under-cabinet LED light bar is popular for kitchen
lighting and other work spaces.
LED bulbs for special occasions? Of course! Who doesn’t have problems with burnt out Christmas lights
every year? They can easily be replaced with LED Christmas light bulbs. Imagine not dealing with this
problem for more than 50,000 hours?
They’re available in traditionally shaped Christmas tree shape, rope lights, popular exterior
icicle strings, garlands… The list goes on!
Ready to get started? Do it yourself or Need A Contractor? Ask Angie! Let AngiesList.com Help You Find The Best Contractor In Your Town!
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