| Energy Saving – LEDs |
| Sunday, 14 September 2008 11:21 |
 When one thinks about energy saving lighting the first thing that comes to mind is the Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulb. But a new energy saving lighting technology has taken the energy saving lighting market by storm and now stands as the very definition of energy saving lighting.LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are small, solid light bulbs which are extremely energy-efficient. LED lighting has been around for many years. In fact, in the past the Light Emitting Diode was simply used as an indicator or display light in various small-scale applications. Early on the easiest colour to create was red, which is why your old VCR had red display lights rather than any other colour. For many years, there were no advancements in LED technology and very little change in lighting technology over all. In recent years, LED technology has completely changed and reinvented the light bulb and the way we think about lighting in general. This was not really possible prior to the technological revolution of the ‘90s and the rapid advancement of the microchip. The same advancements that spurred the computer to reach dizzying levels of efficiency have also done the same for the LED. Just as computers have become faster and cheaper, LED lights have become brighter, smaller, less expensive, and more sophisticated. With LED technology, what you have is a circuit board and a computer chip. The properties of the chip create light that is generated and focused through a plastic diode to create light. Depending on the chip and materials used, different colours can be created. LED is a solid-state technology. This means there is no glass bulb, no pressurized gases, toxic chemicals and no burning filament. It also requires less resources and energy to manufacture. In the traditional bulb, heat was the main result while light stood as a mere by-product of electrifying the filament. There are many advantages to using LEDs. Generally they are heatless, use 90% less energy, and last approximately for ten years. The fact that they do not produce any heat translates in further energy savings when it comes to cooling your home and office. They are also smaller and, unlike CFLs, do not contain any dangerous chemicals like mercury. They can readily be put in places that have always been too small or out-of-the-way for many incandescent lights, as well as in places that were always very dangerous or difficult to get at. The good news is that these fixtures are also being produced locally by a newly set up company, Smart Light Systems - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
