subject: LED lights - A compelling proposition [print this page] LED lights - A compelling proposition LED lights - A compelling proposition
LEDs are small and so is their carbon footprint. These tiny wonders depend on kicking electrons out of the orbit by using tiny currents. As the electron comes down to its ground state it emits energy as light. By tweaking the composition of the LED chip scientists can produce light of almost any color.
LEDs A low cost lighting option
Contrary to popular belief good quality LEDs cost far less than traditional lighting options. Seven times less lighting bills are only one aspect of savings. Besides lower electricity usage users enjoy freedom from maintenance and replacement hassles for 10 years or more. In difficult to reach places, replacement and maintenance costs alone may justify this technology. Indeed, cities are switching to these energy efficient lights primarily because they promise to reduce the demand on manpower and equipment to repair and replace blown out bulbs. For high mast lights that need a team of men and trucks for repair and replacement, the economic logic of these lights is very compelling.
For indoor spaces the savings in air-conditioning bills are an added bonus. Given that they produce seven times less heat compared to incandescents, the savings in air-conditioning costs can surpass the savings in lighting bills.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Rationalists who like to generate their own evidence can easily use a kill a watt meter to compute the savings and return on investment. Lights that stay switched on for long hours are better candidates for replacement. Lights, like those in storerooms that are rarely switched on may never be able to pay back the difference in costs of incandescent and LED light bulbs, but then love for the planet and a desire to shoulder one's responsibility are powerful emotions that cannot be measured adequately on an ROI scale.
What makes LEDs safer?
Since they are based on solid state electronics the risk of snapping a filament or cracking a glass due to vibrations are miniscule. A large portion of the electricity is converted to light this means lower heat production, cool operation, low risk of accidental fires or scalding. A less appreciated benefit stemming from cutting edge LED based lighting devices is that they do not contain mercury. Mercury was a major drawback for energy efficient lighting until LEDs came into the picture. You either had 5 milligrams of mercury from coal burning power plants or 5 milligrams of mercury from a fluorescent light the choice between the fire and the frying pan was hardly appealing. Safe disposal facilities for mercury sequestering and recycling are the only solution to this toxic element from fluorescent lights. But reverse logistics and operation of safe recycling facilities add to the carbon footprint of fluorescent lights. Added to this is the fact that not all these lights will be safely disposed and a neuro-toxicant will continue to accumulate unabated in land and water. Why not substitute that fluorescent light with an LED tube? With LEDs, disposal date itself is a decade from now! And there isn't any mercury to contend with.
