Why are leds more popular

LED lights are basically small electrical diodes that emit a soft, gently diffused light. When electricity flows through an individual diode the atoms become excited and build up energy. This energy then begins to jump, or overflow into adjoining receptors.

The power is then released as light as atoms begin to share the excess electrons with other material inside the semi-conductor. Up to now LED technology has been too expensive to be considered a viable replacement for cost efficient lighting, but recent advances has brought down the price, and made way for the other advantages to take center stage. Here is a list of benefits offered by LED lighting:.

So, why are LED lights becoming all the rage? They are turning up everywhere from car headlamps to city streetlights. It helps that recent advances have reduced costs to within competitive ranges of the competition. The colors LEDs are available in have expanded quickly, and the available light they produce has increased dramatically. Recently, LED lights have become the go-to light source for all types of products.

There are various uses of LED lights that are beneficial for individuals, business owners, and the environment. Here is a quick rundown of what makes them the go-to option.

LED lamps last longer than any other lamp on the market. Their typical life expectancy is over 50, hours; however, with recent improvements, we are now able to get a life of over , hours, which is 21 years or more depending on most usages.

This also allows for maintenance to be cut down drastically by implementing LED fixtures. In the end, it means less cost for lamp changes, less time left in the dark, and reduced cost of energy consumption. This makes LEDs the go-to option for solar-powered lighting systems as there is no converter needed or power loss from switching from DC to AC power. For standard lighting applications, the converter is built into the lamp, so no extra parts are required to run the lamp.

Operating the LEDs from solar power means a brighter, more efficient lighting system. LED fixtures also use direction optics in many cases. The directional optics allow for a reduction of light pollution and wasted energy to illuminate areas not needed, such as the night sky.

Since the fixtures push all light downwards and out to an area and are not wasted in unnecessary areas, the wattage requirements can be reduced, saving additional money by not requiring as many poles in many cases. The color options are endless with LED lights since the LEDs themselves can be colored for the specific needs of the user. No filters are required to get the color required for any project.

LEDs are increasingly common in street lights, parking garage lighting, walkway and other outdoor area lighting, refrigerated case lighting, modular lighting, and task lighting. Because LEDs are small and directional, they are ideal for lighting tight spaces such as countertops for cooking and reading recipes.

Since there can be variation in light color and directionality, it is important to compare products to find the best fixture for your space. Recessed downlights are commonly used in residential kitchens, hallways, and bathrooms, and in a number of office and commercial settings. DOE estimates there are more than million recessed downlights installed in U. With performance improvements and dropping prices, LED lamps can affordably and effectively replace 40, 60, 75, and even Watt incandescent bulbs.

It's important to read the Lighting Facts Label to make sure the product is the right brightness and color for its intended use and location. LEDs consume far less electricity than incandescent bulbs, and decorative LED light strings such as Christmas tree lights are no different. Not only do LED holiday lights consume less electricity, they also have the following advantages:.

Subscribe to receive updates from Energy Saver, including new blogs, updated content, and seasonal energy saving tips for consumers and homeowners. LEDs, on the other hand, have electrons that flow to create photons — light we can see. Photons generate almost no heat. LEDs also require much less energy to create the same amount of brightness as incandescent lights, and last much longer. LEDs use much less energy than incandescent bulbs because diode light is much more efficient, power-wise, than filament light.

At low power levels, the difference is even larger. Bright LED flood lamps use only 11 to 12 watts while creating a light output comparable to a watt incandescent bulb. CFL bulbs are also more efficient than incandescent bulbs because of how they produce light. This generates invisible ultraviolet light that excites a fluorescent coating called phosphor on the inside of the tube, which then emits visible light. You may know CFLs as the bulbs that are dim at first and take a while to warm up to full brightness.

The initial cost of an LED used to be about double what an incandescent bulb cost. The average American home has around 40 lightbulbs. That more than makes up for the slightly higher upfront cost of LEDs. Originally, many people preferred CFLs over LEDs because they throw a broader beam of light, making them better in floor lamps.