Domestic Lighting With Leds

LEDs have been around for more than 40 years, originally used for high end equipment, they soon found their commonly recognized use as indicator lights in electronic components. With LED technology doubling in brightness every 2 years, it will not be long before they become the world standard in energy saving lighting.

LEDs are a microscopic chip encapsulated in a lightweight, study epoxy resin enclosure that is more durable than traditional glass lamps or fluorescent tubes. Because they have no fragile or moving parts they are resistant to vibration and virtually indestructible. Wtih an epoxy resin coating, LEDs are able to withstand extreme temperatures and also resist moisture damage.

Recent developments in LED technology have seen significant improvements in their light output with the new Array range of replacement bulbs from Nexxus Lighting. with a luminous output of 95lm/w, Array lamps are available in for sizes from 1 to 8 watts.2W - now LEDs are available in most common bulb and pin configurations.

The only downside to LEDs for general domestic lighting is the perceived cost, and when retrofitting LEDs transformers may need to be changed to meet the transformers minimum load requirements. While there are many "cheap" LED replacement lamps being sold, these often underperform manufacturers claimed outputs, giving further credit to calls for regulation and certification of LED lamp output. Inferior quality LEDs give very little cost saving when they do not live up to claimed life expectancy or output, often resulting in costly replacement and disillusioned consumers. LED manufacturers are currently developing diodes manufactured from silicon based materials, which are non toxic and led expensive to manufacture than current gallium & sapphire based diodes that will not only help in the performance of LED chips but also help reduce their manufacturing cost.

There is no doubt that LEDs are more energy efficient in their running than both compact fluorescent, and incandescent bulbs, however little research or information is available on the true energy costs of producing LED chips or their heat sinks, nor on the effects of disposal of some colour LEDs (red & IR) which contain toxins and harmful materials. Unlike flourescents, LEDs contain no lead or mercury - a harmful toxin present in all compact fluorescent and requiring special disposal to prevent this heavy metal entering our waterways and environment.

Much like computer chips, LEDs are doubling in their output every 2 years, while research and development is being done on alternative, lower cost materials to further help reduce production costs and help them become the lighting choice for the 21st century. If LEDs can be manufactured using no more energy than common incandescent bulbs, then they will help reduce the electricity consumption from lighting by as much as 90%, reducing carbon outputs, alleviating the need for hundreds of new power plants and helping to turn our world into a brighter place.