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LED Lighting Advantages And Disadvantages

LED lighting isn't a new technology; as a matter of fact, it has been with us since the 1960's. LED light bulbs were in the beginning used as a replacement for incandescent indicators and displays in laboratory tools and after a while in Televisions, wrist watches, radios and hand calculators. LED values have only recently has lowered enough to make them viable for non commercial and industrial markets. LED Lights can include anything from outdoor to Christmas lighting. With the current looming energy crisis in South Africa, and pressure forced on governments and businesses identical for more sustainable energy solutions, LED lights have a vibrant future in space lighting solutions.

Major benefits of using LED lighting

First of all, LED lights are far more efficient than any other lights alternative commercially available at the moment. LED bulbs have a 100000 hr lifespan, and will last for 11 years at continuous operation, or 22 years at fifty% operation. Compare this to the approximate lifespan of 5000 hrs for an incandescent light bulb and ten thousand hours for a fluorescent light. Many businesses find the lifespan of LED light bulbs very attractive - imagine only have to change the signage on a business property once every eleven years. With incandescent and fluorescent bulbs, the actual cost of the bulb should include the labor charge and time required to exchange them. LED lights virtually eliminate lighting maintenance costs.

The second large advantage and key strength of using LED lighting above conventional lighting is the reduced power consumption. LED bulb is capable of converting 80% of the electrical energy used into light energy. The left over 20% electrical energy is left as heat energy. Incandescent light bulbs only convert twenty% of the electrical energy used into actual light energy, which means that a staggering 80% of electrical energy is lost as heat energy. When you compare the 80% efficiency of LED lights with the 20% efficiency of incandescent lights, the optimal choice of light bulb is quite understood.

Major drawbacks of using LED lights

The primary limitation is the current high cost of LED light bulbs. Even though the price of LED lights in South Africa is slowly decreasing, replacing a 100W incandescent light bulb with a LED alternative can cost about 5000 Rs. The start up cost may appear daunting, but LED light bulbs pay for themselves over time because they can last for up to 11 years, and saves a lot of money in terms of electricity utilized. For businesses, using LED lights makes a whole lot of sense because the reduced maintenance costs a lot more than make up for the steep starting price.

Major businesses are doing it

Different blue chip companies and hotels in USA and United Kingdom presently use LED lighting solutions. LED lights are used from stair-nose lighting, light line, wall wash lighting and signage illumination to color-changing till numbers and controls, architectural lights and freezer lighting. These businesses have identified LED as the preferred lighting solution for the future. With LED bulb start up prices falling, more companies will follow these business leaders and discover a painless lighting solution which will last them a decade, and save them money.