subject: Advantages Of Led Lights [print this page] Today more and more people are switching their old light bulbs out for LED lights. The reason for this is that LED lights have many advantages over standard incandescent bulbs making them more environmentally-friendly. The effects of lessening emissions from lighting a home with LED lights and other low-energy bulbs are so great that some countries such as the UK have banned standard light bulbs all together.
What is LED? LED stands for light-emitting diode (LED) which is a semiconductor light source. They are different to regular incandescent light bulbs in that they don't have a filament that will burn out. Instead, an LED bulb is illuminated solely by the movement of electrons in a semiconductor material. While early LED lights were dim and only emitted red light, today they are much more advanced and emit light across the visible, infrared and ultraviolet wave lengths. They are also much brighter today than ever before, such as the 4 watt LED bulb which is comparable to a 20 watt incandescent bulb.
Why Use LED? One great benefit of LED lights is the long-lasting durability of the bulbs. Whereas incandescent light bulbs use a filament that burns out quickly overtime, the LED do not and therefore have a much longer life. Plus, they are housed in a small, plastic bulb which means they are less prone to breaking. Additionally, LED lights use very little energy which means your electrical bill comes down as well as your overall carbon emissions. For example, when you switch out a 20 watt incandescent bulb with a 3 watt LED, that's a saving of 17 watts for just one bulb. Finally, most LED lights today fit easily into most electronic circuits, and look really great as accent lighting around the house and garden. So outfitting your house with LED bulbs is incredibly easy and requires no extra work on your part.
What This Means for You: When you replace your standard bulbs with the much more energy efficient LED lights, you end up saving yourself a lot of money on electrical bills. And while the cost of LEDs is more expensive than incandescent bulbs, they last much longer so you won't end up spending money on replacement bulbs. For people who are eco-conscious, this is a great way to help cut down on the amount of emissions your house gives off every year.
Using LED Lights: LED lights are directional, which makes them good for highlighting specific areas such as with a flood light, street lamp, steps and more. They are also commonly used in flashlights, reading lamps, car lights and Christmas lights. If you are looking to decorate your house with accent lighting, you will definitely want to consider using LED lights such as the MR16 bulb. You will be able to highlight art, make rooms appear larger and have different colored lights around the house. The durability and efficiency of LED bulbs makes them perfect for installing in floor boards and other areas throughout your home.