LED lighting offers several important advantages over CFLs and incandescent light bulbs. LEDs are far more reliable, and have a significantly longer lifetime than CFLs, not to mention conventional light bulbs LEDs are far less prone to a sudden failure, which makes them a safer option since they are unlikely to leave you unexpectedly in the dark. LEDs can be instantly turned on to full brightness, unlike CFLs then need a good minute to fully warm.
How energy efficient are replacement LED light bulbs?
Energy efficiency is the greatest advantage of LED lights. 80% of energy used up by LEDs goes towards producing light vs. just mere 10% in incandescent lights. LEDs do not contain any mercury like CFLs do, which makes them 100% eco-friendly, and easy to recycle.
LEDs can be manufactured in any color, and many models can be used with a standard dimmer, and with a home automation system. LEDs offer a lot of flexibility for a home interior lighting design.
Disadvantages of LEDs
One of the main temporary disadvantages of LED lights is a relatively high initial cost of investment required to make a transition from conventional light bulbs to LEDs. The initial cost of LED light bulbs currently hovers in the range of $40 to $60 depending on the light output and longevity ratings.
However, not everything is so dark in the land of LEDs... It is estimated that a homeowner can recoup the cost of initial investment in replacement LED light bulbs in just a few years. Still, at an estimated average cost of $1600.00 to replace 40 incandescent light bulbs with 40 LED light bulbs, most homeowners will likely be deterred by the price tag shocker! On, a bright side though, replacing the bulbs on as needed basis may prove to be less painful to a family budget of most people, and produce a feel good kind of feeling in some homeowners:)
Future LED Light Prices
Although prices of LEDs have already dropped by some 50% since the early home lighting replacement LED lights came out on the market, most of regular consumers still find LEDs a bit too pricey for their taste, and prefer to wait for the price of LEDs to go down before they will consider buying them.
Is this kind of thinking justified? Just like with most early new technologies on the market, being expensive for LEDs, is no exception to the rule, however, as increasing numbers of LED lighting manufacturers are introducing their products to the market, trying to compete for the same consumers' dollars, the prices of LEDs inevitably decrease as competitive markets force manufacturers to lower their prices. As a rule of thumb, you can expect prices of LED light bulbs to decrease by 50% every 3 years, while their performance will improve. It is really quite a good reason to wait, is not it?
Color Spectrum Limitations of LEDs
Another potential problem is that the light produced by some white LEDs does not have the same quality as that produced by a conventional light bulb. Thus, some people can find it difficult to adjust to using LED lighting. However, many homeowners report liking a full spectrum 5500K LED light bulbs that simulate noon day light.
Energy Uses
The excellent energy efficiency of LED lighting is one of its key benefits. Reducing the amount of energy that is required for lighting can help to reduce energy bills and it can benefit the environment by reducing the amount of electricity that needs to be produced and used. LED lighting is far more energy efficient that conventional incandescent lighting. A typical standard incandescent light bulb of 60 to 100 Watts will emit about 15 lumens per watt. A typical fluorescent light will emit about 100 lumens per watt. A LED can emit more than 100 lumens per watt, with some experimental LEDs managing to produce 208 lumens per watt. A typical commercially produced LED will produce between 17 and 79 lumens per watt under normal conditions.
A LED can convert about 80 percent of the energy it uses into light, with the remainder being converted into heat. An incandescent light bulb will only convert about 20 percent of energy into light, losing as much as 80 percent as heat.
Durability
A LED is a durable and reliable source of lighting. LEDs tend to be very hard wearing and they generally last longer than conventional lights. A normal commercial LED should be able to last for between 25,000 and 100,000 hours. 100,000 hours is equivalent to 11 years of continual use. Some people are still using the same LEDs that they purchased during the 1970s or 1980s.
Most LEDs, when they fail, will do so gradually, becoming fainter and less efficient, although sudden failures are also possible. The lifetime of a LED is usually measured as the time which it will take for the LED's light output to decline to 75 or 50 percent of its original output. These measurements are sometimes known as the L75 and L50.
Temperature Information
LED lights tend to function better at a low temperature, although they can be used in warmer conditions. LEDs do not produce as much waste heat as conventional light bulbs. This is one reason why LEDs are an energy efficient and environmentally sound choice. However, the lack of heat production does mean that LED lights are not protected against the build up of ice and snow during the winter. In a cold climate, a LED can easily become covered in snow when it is used outside.
Choosing an appropriate LED Light Bulb
LEDs are typically classified according to the amount of power that they produce, their color, their shape and their size. Size, color and brightness are all important considerations when choosing LED lighting. It is also important to think about how the LEDs will be fitted, for example in a lamp or in a fixture built into the room. The energy efficiency of a LED is also a very important consideration, with LEDs that are Energy Star rated usually being among the most energy efficient options.
Summary
LED lights are available in a wide range of different colors, from infrared to ultraviolet. A LED can emit red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet or purple light, in the visible range. LEDs can also produce white light. In terms of getting a good deal, patience is a virtue, and if you can afford to wait out the initial hype, you will pay less for your new LEDs! In the mean time, you can surely get by with some low cost spiral CFLs.
