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LED Lights Pros And Cons

LED lights is not a new technology; as a matter of fact, it has been with us since the 1960's. LED light bulbs were at first used as an alternative for incandescent indicators and displays in lab equipment and after a while in Televisions, watches, radios and hand calculators. LED values have only recently has dropped enough to make them viable for non commercial and industrial markets. LED home lighting can have anything from outdoor to Christmas lights. With the current looming energy crisis in South Africa, and pressure put on governments and businesses same for more sustainable energy solutions, LED lights have a vibrant future in space lighting solutions.

Large advantages of making use of 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 hour lifespan, and will last for 11 years at continuous operation, or 22 years at fifty% operation. Compare this to the approximate lifespan of 5000 hours for an incandescent light bulb and 10000 hours for a fluorescent light. Many businesses find the lifespan of LED light bulbs very appealing - imagine only have to change the signage on a business property once every 11 years. With incandescent and fluorescent bulbs, the real cost of the bulb should include the labor charge and time needed to exchange them. LED lights virtually eliminate lighting maintenance costs.

The second major advantage and key strength of using LED lighting over conventional lighting is the reduced power consumption. LED bulb is capable of converting eighty% of the electrical energy used into light energy. The left over 20% electrical energy is lost as heat energy. Incandescent light bulbs only convert twenty% of the electrical energy used into actual light energy, which means that a staggering eighty% 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 apparent.

Large disadvantages 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 reducing, replacing a 100W incandescent light bulb with a LED substitute can cost about 5000 Rs. The starting cost may seem daunting, however LED light bulbs pay for themselves over time since they can work for up to 11 years, and saves a lot of money in respect of electricity used. For businesses, using LED lights makes a whole lot of sense since the reduced maintenance costs a lot more than make up for the high starting price.

Major businesses are doing it

Various blue chip companies and hotels in United States of America and UK 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 recognized LED as the preferred lighting solution for the coming 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 help save them money.