Led Light Bulbs Advantages And Drawbacks

LED lighting isn't the latest technology; actually, it is around us since the 1960's. LED light bulbs were initially used as an alternative for incandescent indicators and displays in laboratory device and eventually in Televisions, watches, radios and hand calculators. LED rates have just most recently has lowered enough to make them viable for non commercial and industrial markets. LED Lights can include 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 making use of LED lighting

First of all, LED lights are far more efficient than any other lighting alternative commercially accessible at the moment. LED bulbs have a 100000 hour lifespan, and will last for 11 years at continuous operation, or 22 years at fifty% operation. Compare this to the approximate lifespan of five thousand hours for an incandescent light bulb and 10000 hours for a fluorescent light. Many businesses find the lifespan of LED light bulbs very appealing - imagine only have to change the signage on a business property once every eleven years. With incandescent and fluorescent bulbs, the real cost of the bulb should include the labor charge and time required to replace them. LED lights virtually eliminate lighting maintenance costs.

The second major advantage and key strength of using LED lighting over conventional lighting is the decreased power consumption. LED bulb is capable of converting 80% of the electrical energy used into light energy. The remaining 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. If you compare the 80% efficiency of LED lights with the 20% efficiency of incandescent lights, the optimal choice of light bulb is quite noticeable.

Large drawbacks of using LED lighting

The primary limitation is the current high price of LED light bulbs. Even though the price of LED lights in South Africa is slowly reducing, replacing a 100W incandescent light bulb with a LED alternative can cost about 5000 rupees. The start up price may appear frightening, however LED light bulbs pay for themselves over time since they can work for up to 11 yrs, and saves a lot of money in terms of electricity utilized. For businesses, using LED lights makes a whole lot of sense since the reduced maintenance costs more than make up for the high start-up cost.

Leading 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 lights and signage illumination to color-changing till numbers and controls, architectural lighting and freezer lighting. These businesses have recognized LED as the preferred lighting solution for the future. With LED bulb start-up costs falling, more companies will follow these business leaders and discover a painless lighting solution which will last them a decade, and save them money.