subject: Why go for LED bulbs as the preferred choice for energy saving light bulbs? [print this page] Why go for LED bulbs as the preferred choice for energy saving light bulbs?
There is a mass of hype in the market these days about the value of saving the environment and the offering that can be made by energy saving light bulbs. The pinnacle in the energy saving light bulb are undoubtedly LED bulbs, but is it in all respects as good as it is made out to be? The technology behind LED Bulbs is reviewed here together with details of price and the impact on peoples carbon foot print.
LED bulbs technology
Light emitting diode technology, which uses semi-conductors and has been around since the early 1960's, is used for LED bulbs. The technology permits light of many different colours to be generated and the miniature size makes LED bulbs ideal for electronic displays together with standard applications. Also the technology is considerably more robust, applicable to high switching rates and is characteristically far more reliable than CFL's. The power constraint of the early units meant that usage was restricted to applications ,for example electronic unit displays, however, the technological advancement basically means that they are now adopted in general lighting applications.
How much energy do they save?
It is attainable for a 3W LED MR16 to produce the identical level of lumens output in a room as a 25 watt halogen spot. Using this example, one can enjoy an energy saving of around 80% over using normal halogen spots. The energy saving will significantly reduce electricity costs but additionally the reduced loading on the wiring system, means that if transformers are used they will be under smaller load and are less likely to fail.
Cost indicators for LED bulbs
When LED bulbs first came to the market their price was extremely high for commercial applications but now with the progression in manufacturing techniques their price is competitive with other forms of energy saving light bulbs. When analysing the commercials is most important to note that LED bulbs will typically last anything up to 50 times more than conventional bulbs as their life in approximately 30000 hours.
In order to appraise the savings here we work out the cost of buying a LED bulb and adding the electricity costs for the lifetime of the lamp and after that, compare this to purchasing and running traditional bulbs for the same period. Using this principle you will get a saving of between 150 and 250 for each LED acquired.
The effect on your carbon footprint of using LED bulbs.
The environmental advantages of using LED bulbs are 3 fold:-
1. LED lamps have a exceptionally long lifespan compared to conventional bulbs and as a consequence the level of landfill is greatly reduced.
2. When electricity is generated using oil and coal stations then it creates large quantities of carbon dioxide. The low energy intake results in a large reduction in your carbon footprint.
3. LED's unlike CFL's do not contain mercury or any other hazardous substances which are detrimental to the environment.
These 3 eco benefits provide clear facts as to why LED bulbs are the preferred option when compared to halogen or certainly CFL technology for energy saving light bulbs. Soon these benefits mean that it is predicted that LED technology will take over as the predominant choice.
