subject: Led Lights Advantages And Disadvantages [print this page] LED lights isn't a new technology; in fact, it is around us from the 1960's. LED light bulbs were originally used as a substitute for incandescent indicators and displays in lab equipment and later in Televisions, wrist watches, radios and hand calculators. LED costs have just recently has dropped enough to make them viable for personal and commercial markets. LED Lights can have anything from outdoor to Christmas lighting. With the present looming energy crisis in South Africa, and pressure forced on governments and businesses same for more sustainable energy solutions, LED lights have a bright future in space lighting solutions.
Large benefits of using LED lighting
First of all, LED lights are far more efficient than any other lights alternative commercially accessible at the moment. LED bulbs have a 100000 hour lifespan, and will last for eleven years at continuous operation, or 22 years at 50% operation. Compare this to the approximate lifespan of 5000 hours for an incandescent light bulb and 10000 hours for a fluorescent light. Many businesses find the lifespan of LED light bulbs very attractive - imagine only have to change 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 needed to replace them. LED lights virtually get rid of lighting maintenance costs.
The second major benefit and key strength of using LED lighting over conventional lighting is the decreased power consumption. LED bulb is capable of converting eighty% of the electrical energy used into light energy. The left over 20% electrical energy is left as heat energy. Incandescent light bulbs only convert 20% of the electrical energy used into actual light energy, which means that a staggering eighty% 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 apparent.
Large drawbacks of using LED lighting
The primary limitation is the present high cost of LED light bulbs. Even though the price of LED lights in South Africa is slowly decreasing, replacing a 100W incandescent light bulb with a LED substitute can cost about 5000 rupees. The starting cost may appear daunting, however LED light bulbs pay for themselves over time because they can work for up to 11 years, and saves a lot of money in respect of electricity utilized. For businesses, using LED lights makes a whole lot of sense because the reduced maintenance costs a lot more than make up for the high start-up cost.
Major businesses are doing it
Different 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 lighting and freezer lighting. These businesses have recognized LED as the preferred lighting solution for the coming future. With LED bulb start-up rates falling, more companies will follow all these business leaders and discover a painless lighting solution which will last them a decade, and save them money.
