LED lighting has become more and more popular over the past two decades. It’s no coincidence that the United State’s energy usage decreasing aligns with the increased use of LED lights. LED lighting has proven it can help the economy in more ways than one. Here are four ways that LED lighting can help the economy.
1. LED Lighting Requires Less Energy
Back in 2007, the United States hit its peak energy usage. As a country, we consumed more electricity and other sources of power than any other year in our nation’s history. Since then, we have seen a steady decrease in our energy usage, and the popularization of LED lighting has a lot to do with that.
LEDs are far more economically friendly than traditional lighting methods. This is because it requires far less energy to operate than other methods. An LED light bulb only uses six watts per hour compared to the 50 watts incandescent light bulbs use. As you can imagine, this leads to huge energy savings over the course of an entire year. Especially for businesses that keep lights on 24/7.
2. LED Lighting Generates Little Heat
LED lights generate little to no heat when compared to other lighting methods. This can help economically in many different ways, but one of the biggest ways is because it reduces the need for cooling systems. Businesses that use industrial lighting often need cooling systems to combat the heat traditional lights give off.
The ultimate temperature at which the external housing of the LED will operate at is influenced by the temperature of the room and the fixture it is placed in. Incandescent light bulbs give off 85 BTU’s/hour, CFLs give off 30 BTU’s/hour while LEDs give off 3.4 BTU’s/hour. This also means that LEDs are far less likely to catch on fire than incandescent light bulbs or CFLs.
3. LED Lights Help Farmers
LED lights have also proven beneficial to farmers. The lights can act as natural sunlight, allowing it to further enhance the financial viability of an indoor crop growth facility. This means that fewer lights are needed for optimal performance.
Energy expenses usually account for 20-30% of crop production costs. By using LED systems, crop growers can be as cost and energy-efficient as possible. Some indoor farmers have even reported that they use 98% less water to produce the same volume of crops.
4. Longer Lasting Bulbs
Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of using LED lights is that they last for much longer than other types of light bulbs. On average, LEDs last 50,000 hours, which is about 10 years. So while you may be paying more upfront, you will be saving money in the long run on replacement bulbs.
In comparison, incandescent bulbs only last 1,200 hours, which is about less than a year of average use. You can get over 40x the use of LEDs than you would get from incandescent bulbs. CFLs have an average lifespan of 8,000 hours. While buying replacement bulbs may just seem like a minor inconvenience, the savings will start to add up over time.
We’re Here to Help
If you have any questions about LED lighting and the economic benefits of LED lighting, we’re here to help. Our team at LED One is here to answer any questions you may have about LED lighting. Get in touch with us today for help.