The lightbulb is an often unnoticed luxury that we all live with. By now, most of modern society has lightbulbs in every room in their house, behind their screens, and lighting their streets and vehicles. The light bulb is a utility that we all use, and often never give much consideration to.
While lightbulbs might seem like a no brainer in concept, they are actually one area of life where a significant amount of energy and money is lost. Halogen and incandescent light bulbs are generally inefficient, expensive to use, and overall a product of old and outdated technology. So, what exactly is the alternative then? That’s where LED light bulbs come in.
Let’s talk about LEDs, and what you can expect when you make the switch.
What Are LED Light Bulbs?
LED is an acronym for ‘light emitting diode’. It is a small little electronic diode that emits light when electricity is applied to the semiconductor. This means that the light diode itself is extremely small–much smaller than the filament used by traditional incandescent light bulbs.
The method for emitting light through a small electronically charged semiconductor makes LED light bulbs vastly superior to halogen and incandescent light bulbs in terms of efficiency. Where incandescent and halogen light bulbs burn very hot, LEDs stay rather cool no matter how long you leave them on. This drastically cuts down on energy loss through heat, and cuts down on the overall operational costs to use the light bulbs themselves.
Because LED light bulbs are so small, and so energy efficient, they are the light bulb of choice for almost all of the smart devices that power our lives. LED displays can be found in televisions, smart phones, laptops, tablets, you name it. However, their power is not limited to illuminating the screens of our digital lives–they are excellent for illuminating our homes and businesses as well.
What Are The Benefits of Upgrading To LED?
Once you understand the fact that LEDs are much more energy efficient than incandescent or halogen light bulbs, it might seem like a ‘no-brainer’ to switch. However, there are still plenty of homes and commercial properties out there which have been hesitant to make the upgrade. This is almost always related to the overall start-up cost of LED lights.
It’s true that LED light bulbs are generally more expensive than the light bulbs that you are most likely used to. However, this upfront cost more than pays off in the long run. Here is why LEDs are worth considering for your home or commercial lighting:
1.) They Last Longer
Incandescent light bulbs can be expected to last about 2-3 years under normal daily use. This may sound fantastic on the surface, but is actually rather antiquated when compared to an LED equivalent. LED light bulbs can last up to 20 years before even showing signs of dimming. This means that you really don’t have to concern yourself with replacing them once you install them.
2.) They Save Energy
LED light bulbs are far more efficient when compared directly against traditional incandescent or halogen light bulbs. This is because LED lights devote very little of their energy towards heat. In fact, 95% of LED energy goes towards emitting light, and 5% on heat. By contrast, incandescent light bulbs only use 10% on actual light, and 90% on heat loss. This makes LEDs far cheaper to operate when it comes to your electricity bill.
3.) They Offer Different Light ‘Temperatures’.
LEDs can provide a wide range of light ‘temperatures’ for differing atmospheric moods. They can be bright white, blue / natural daylight, or even warm and soft yellows similar to incandescent light bulbs. This gives you far more range of ambiance and choice for tone when it comes to your lighting.
4.) They Provide Targeted Lighting
Incandescent or halogen light bulbs cast light in every possible direction from their filament. LEDs offer focused and directed light straight from the diode. This means that light beams are more targeted and maneuverable when it comes to where you want the light to shine. You have more control over what you are illuminating, if you wish.
5.) They Are More Eco-Friendly
Cutting down on our energy waste and usage is one way that we as a society can help to reduce carbon emissions, and save planet earth. LED light bulbs are a simple, and easy way to help eliminate energy waste and reduce our carbon footprint. Every little step makes a difference, and LED bulbs are a change for the better when it comes to living an environmentally friendly lifestyle.
So, Should You Make The Switch?
It’s pretty safe to say that the pros of LED light bulbs far outweigh the cons. While the start up costs are admittedly a bit higher than incandescent or halogen light bulbs, LEDs are by far the better choice for the long term. Every year LED light bulbs become more and more commonplace, and through this the up front cost will also begin to steadily dwindle downward. With this in mind, we think it’s a no brainer that everyone should make the switch and upgrade to LED light bulbs.
If you happen to still be on the fence about LED lighting, our team of expert electricians at TRS Electric can help put your mind at ease. We are the most trusted electrician team in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire; and we can answer any and all questions you may have about how to upgrade your residential or commercial lighting systems to LED.
So, contact us today, and we can take your business, home, institution, or organization into the modern era of lighting with LED lighting upgrades.