Upgrade to LED Lighting
Incandescent lighting is great for warming my bald spot while I am reading, however, the benefits of upgrading light fixtures from effective space heaters to efficient lighting are well worth the investment. Pin based and compact florescent bulbs have been the most energy efficient option for years but LED lights are proving to be more efficient, durable and environmentally friendly.
Many people were excited by the prospect of saving energy by replacing incandescent bulbs with high efficiency compact fluorescents. Unfortunately many switched back because of the limited light color choices, the inability to effectively dim the bulbs, failure to achieve the rated life expectancy or the environmental disposal issues they represented. The arrival of LED lighting is once again offering hope for a better lighting method.
LEDs or Light Emitting Diodes are the same technology that we have seen for years in power indicators on appliances and calculator displays. When used to replace traditional residential lighting they are actually a cluster of many LEDS. This configuration allows the manufacturer to combine different blends of colored diodes to create warmer or cooler lighting colors.
Commercially available LEDs are comparable to compact florescent bulbs in electrical efficiency. Both technologies yield approximately 55 lumens per watt compared to the 15 lumens per watt delivered by typical incandescent bulbs. Laboratory experiments have demonstrated LEDs achieving lighting efficiency as high as 131 lumens per watt so there is potential for even better bulbs in the future.
Without the fragile filaments of incandescent bulbs or thin walled glass tubes of florescent bulbs the typical LED light is both more shock resistant and less susceptible to power or temperature fluctuations. While incandescent lights typically last for about 1,000 hours and fluorescents are rated to achieve 10,000 hours, LED lights are rated to last between 50,000 and 100,000 hours. Rather than burning out entirely, LED bulbs will dim over time at the end of their life expectancy so the replacement timeline will largely depend on the location of the specific light and customer preferences.
LEDs are entering the market with virtually all types of bases to fit your existing light fixtures and they promise to offer new lighting options which were not possible with the other lighting technologies. They are not as widely available in retail shopping centers as of yet, but the price has dropped substantially in recent months and they can be ordered through specialty lighting stores or through a wide variety of internet stores.
