While we all may be used to the warm, yellow glow of incandescent bulbs that have been lighting our homes for centuries, new interests in energy efficiency have moved us toward new sources of home illumination. Even though many people have started to switch to CFL, or compact florescent, lights, they too have their drawbacks – mercury worries and headaches, just to name a few. The newest kid on the block in the LED, or light-emitting diode. While we’ve seen LED lights before (on digital clocks, traffic signals, even our office voicemail alert), they’re relatively fresh as far as home lighting goes.
An LED bulb produces light through use of a semiconductor, as opposed to vacuums or gases as in the previously operated bulbs. These lights typically shine slightly dimmer than incandescent bulbs, which can be a drawback, but the latest iterations of LEDs have been shown to cast as much light as their predecessors. Some of the best things about the LED bulbs are the energy efficiency (5% more efficient than CFL and 85% more efficient than incandescent) and the long-lasting nature (you could use the same bulb for up to twenty years; that’s two decades without having to change a light!). The incandescent bulbs of yore usually only lasted – get this – 750 hours. Because of their long life, LEDs are understandably more expensive than their counterparts, which some may see as a drawback. However, in the long run, they are a much more financially wise choice. Another plus of LED lights is that they are much cooler than incandescent bulbs – we all remember how warm a room can get when lit only with these old fashioned lights in the middle of summer. While incandescent lights waste about 90% of their energy on emitting heat, LEDs only use about 10%! And hey – who wouldn’t want to cut 25% off their electric bill every month?
If LED lighting is something you would be interested in having in your own home, there are plenty of great online whole sellers to check out. With these light bulbs starting to come on the market, the future is definitely bright!
Latest Videos of What are LED Lights?: