There is a lot of hype in the market these days about the value of saving the environment and the contribution that can be made by energy saving light bulbs. The pinnacle in the energy saving light bulb are undoubtedly LED bulbs, but is it truthfully as good as it is made out to be? In this short and to the point article I shall deliver an insight into the technology of LED Bulbs and also supply analysis regarding the energy saving and environmental advantages. This really should enable you to make a better choice in whether to opt for LED bulbs.
LED bulbs technology
Semi conductor technology incorporating light emitting diodes is used for LED bulbs which was first brought to market in the sixties. LED’s have an extremely high level of reliability using technology which is extremely small, robust, capable of producing light in many colours and giving LED bulbs exceedingly high levels of reliability. The power constraint of the early units meant that usage was restricted to applications ,for example electronic unit displays, however, the technological advancement basically means that they are now integrated in general lighting applications.
Energy saving characteristics.
It is possible for a 3W LED MR16 to produce the same level of lumens output in a room as a 25 watt halogen spot. This will produce and electricity saving of approximately 85% in comparison to the halogen bulb. Another result of the electricity saving is that there will be less load on the electrical wiring and any transformers will have a longer operating life. This manifests itself as an additional operational cost saving.
Cost of LED bulbs
When LED bulbs first hit the market their price was prohibitively high for commercial applications but now with the progression in manufacturing techniques their price is competitive with other forms of energy saving light bulbs. The other all-important consideration when looking at cost savings is that ordinarily LED bulbs will last in the region of 30000 hours which is 20-30 times longer than a older-type bulb.
To quantify the cost savings here we add the running costs of a LED bulb to the purchase cost and compare this to the cost of using conventional bulbs for the same period. Using this schema then you will see a lifetime saving of typically £250 for every LED purchased.
The effect on your carbon footprint of using LED bulbs.
There are 3 foremost advantages of using LED bulbs from an environmental point of view.
1. LED lamps have a extraordinarily long lifespan compared to conventional bulbs which means that the level of landfill is greatly reduced.
2. When electricity is generated using oil and coal stations then it develops large quantities of carbon dioxide. The low energy usage results in a large decrease in your carbon footprint.
3. LED’s unlike CFL’s do not contain mercury or alternative hazardous substances which are dangerous to the environment.
These 3 eco benefits offer clear facts as to why LED bulbs are the favoured option when compared to halogen or beyond doubt CFL technology for energy saving light bulbs. In the fullness of time these benefits mean that it is anticipated that LED technology will take over as the best choice.