What is an LED?

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. A Diode is an electrical device that restricts current flow chiefly to one direction. Diodes are used in many electrical devices such as computers and audio equipment. A Light Emitting Diode is a special type of Diode that emits light when electricity is passed through it.

LED is the next generation of energy-saving lighting products. They represent a vast improvement over compact fluorescent (CFL) and traditional incandescent bulbs for a variety of reasons:

Ten advantages of using LED Lighting

• They Use Less Energy... LED lights use 90% less energy than incandescent lights, 75% less energy than compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL), and 50% less energy than fluorescent tubes.

• Long Life... An LED light lasts around 30 years. During the lifespan of a single LED, you would need to replace an incandescent bulb 30 times and a CFL 8 times. The lifespan of incandescent and fluorescents is decreased by turning the light on and off. LEDs are not affected.

• More Durable... LED lights are shock-resistant. Even a minor strike to incandescent or fluorescent bulbs will cause breakage, but LED lights will continue to work.

• No Hazardous Materials... LED lights do not contain any toxic chemicals. By contrast, fluorescent lights contain mercury, a toxic substance which poses a health risk with exposure to a broken bulb or tube. Disposal of fluorescent bulbs creates an environmental hazard when the mercury seeps into the ground water.

• Produce Virtually No Heat... A significant proportion of the energy consumed by incandescent and compact fluorescent bulbs is turned into heat, which increases your air conditioning expenses. LED lights do not produce a significant amount of heat.

• No affected by Cold Temperatures... LED’s “like” low temperatures and will startup even in subzero weather.

• No Warm-up Period... LED’s light instantly – in nanoseconds.

• Excellent Color Rendering... LED’s do not wash out colors like other light sources such as fluorescents, making them perfect for displays and retail applications.

• Dimmable... LED lights are naturally suited to dimming (by using less voltage and less power). They are compatible with major dimmer manufacturers, and there is no humming noise. You can use a dimmer with some CFL bulbs, but they tend to be very expensive and create a humming noise.

• Slow Fade... Whereas incandescent and fluorescent bulbs fail instantly, requiring immediate replacement,
LED lights fade slowly over time, allowing you to plan a replacement strategy over a matter of years.