These days, saving energy is a top priority for many people. On top of that, environmentalism and green technology are helping ensure that we take care of this planet for future generations. As such, it’s crucial that we take every opportunity to utilize energy-efficient products to help the environment. Every step we take will add up to a brighter and more sustainable future. Even the smallest change can have an enormous long-term impact.
Take lights for example. If you switched every bulb in your home to LED, then you can not only save a lot of money per year on electricity, but you can do your part to help reduce our overall dependence on fossil fuels. Today we’re going to discuss all of the reasons and benefits that converting your home to an LED lighting household is suitable for both you and the environment.
How Does LED Work?
Before we dive into the benefits, we want to take a moment to help you understand why these lights are so energy efficient in the first place. Unlike traditional bulbs, LEDs use a semiconductor to produce light. An incandescent model runs electricity through a tungsten wire, which sits inside of a vacuum-sealed container. As the coil heats up, it creates light. Unfortunately, most of the energy is wasted as heat, which is why incandescent bulbs can get so hot.
LED lights, on the other hand, doesn’t require gas or a vacuum to work. Electricity runs through the semiconductor and emits light. However, because of the way that LED bulbs are set up, they are usually a bit dimmer than incandescent options. Fortunately, that is becoming less of a problem as new technology is being developed.
Top Benefits Of LED Lighting
Part of the reason that these bulbs are becoming so popular is that they are vastly superior to incandescent and CFL bulbs in every way. In fact, there are many different reasons why you should switch ASAP.
Less Heat=Safer
As we mentioned, traditional bulbs can get incredibly hot, particularly if they stay on for a long time. With LEDs, however, that is never an issue. This means that you can place light sources (such as lamps) practically anywhere. They will never be a fire hazard, and you never have to worry about prying fingers getting burned on the glass.
Directional Light=Less Waste
While most of us think of energy efficiency as the primary reason to upgrade to LED (we’ll get into numbers in a minute), there is another form of waste that gets avoided with these kinds of bulbs.
Traditional models emit light in all directions. This means that you have to rely on physical obstructions to point it a particular way. Lampshades, reflectors, and diffusers are all examples of items utilized to direct light.
With LED, however, the physical structure of the bulb can be constructed in such a way that you won’t need anything to direct the beam. This means less light is wasted overall, and it can offer cheaper alternatives.
Energy Savings
So, just how much can you save by switching to LED? Well, when compared to incandescent or CFL bulbs, the difference is staggering. Up to 90% of the energy used in traditional lights is wasted as heat, and up to 80% of CFLs as well.
Overall, a single LED can use about 86% less energy than its counterparts, which can add up when you consider how many lights you use in the home. Not only that, but they last a lot longer, too (up to 25 years), meaning that you don’t have to replace them as often.
According to research, the average home can save up to $1000 over a ten-year period. That may not seem like much when you break it down into a monthly statistic (less than $10 per month), but considering how long the bulbs last, you will notice the difference over time.
So, if you choose to replace every bulb with one that will last up to 25 years, then that means you’re saving up to $2500 in total. That’s a big chunk of change.
Eco-Friendly
First of all, using less energy is already good for the environment, but the fact is that LED bulbs are also better because of the way that they are constructed. Unlike CFLs (which use toxic gas) and incandescents (which use toxic metals), LED lights are designed to be 100% recyclable.
Not only that, but they don’t pollute the environment during production. Because there are no toxic elements included in the bulb, there is significantly less impact on the ecosystem, which adds up when more people switch.
Better Operation in Extreme Environments
If you live somewhere with frigid winters and boiling summers, then your light bulbs go through a lot of wear and tear. You may have noticed that you have to replace them on a regular basis, particularly those that are outside.
LED bulbs, on the other hand, work incredibly well in almost any environment. Because they don’t rely on vacuums or gas, and because the materials are better suited for extreme temperatures, they will be much handier during the coldest and hottest parts of the year.
As you can see, there are a lot of benefits and reasons that you should switch to LED lighting. On top of all of these benefits, you can also find LED bulbs in a wider variety of shapes and sizes, meaning that you can add a bit of flair to your home without having to worry about how you are going to light it.
Thank you for reading our blog! How can we help you? Contact us today. We can answer any questions you have, such as “What is LED?” or how to incorporate LED lighting at your office.