LED Lighting is the new GREEN Light
What are LED lights, why are they so expensive, and why is everyone is using them?
LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. They have become popular because they are the most energy efficient way to produce light. LED lights use about 90 percent less power than conventional light bulbs (halogen, incandescent, fluorescent, etc). They are more durable and have a long service life. Believe it or not, but they can last up to 25 years or more!!! This is about 40,000-50,000 hours.
Have you ever noticed how much harder it is to keep a room full of canned lights cool? LED lights can solve this problem, because they do not emit heat the way conventional lights do. This allows you to stay more comfortable while saving on your utility bills.
For safety and environmental concerns, they don’t contain any mercury or toxins, don’t generate radio frequency so as not to interfere with radios or TVs and are resistant to vibration and shocks. They are cool to the touch so as not to burn you. Again because they do not generate heat, they are safer to be placed near drier bushes and plants. Their waterproof quality allows them to be safe to be used near water hoses and sprinklers.
The trendiest place to use LED lighting right now is with cabinetry. Because they do not generate as much heat as conventional lights, they can be used in places that were not possible before. They are commonly used for task lighting, under cabinet lights, inside cabinets and drawers, and under the toe kick.
Another place where LED lighting is making headway is in outdoor spaces. There are the obvious energy savings, but beyond that, they are a great choice because they do not emit any ultra violet light and therefore do not attract bugs! They can withstand harsh weather conditions and are available in a variety of configurations. They are commonly used in vibrant colors for holiday decorations.
They are also commonly used for night lights, stair and walkway lighting, pendants and replace lamp bulbs.
So what’s the catch? They are expensive. It goes back to the adage, “You get what you pay for.” It is estimated that between replacement costs of bulbs and energy savings, LED lighting will pay for themselves within about 3.5 years.
If you would like more information, there is a free app about LED lighting call “Learn LED” from Phillips.
If there are any home improvement topics you would like me to cover, please feel free to email them in to me at lgreen@greenremodeling.com