Did you know that in 2007 the Australian government enacted a law that began the phase out of most incandescent light bulbs? And while compact fluorescents have been an alternative, as they do save energy, they also contain dangerous levels of highly toxic mercury which make them anything but 'green'.
The green alternative
LEDs, or Light Emitting Diodes are a revolution in lighting. They use very little energy, they hardly ever need changing and they contain no harmful mercury. LEDs' incredibly long working life and low energy requirements mean that in addition to effectively replacing existing lighting we can begin to use lighting in new ways, creatively incorporating light into architectural and interior design. LEDs have come ahead in leaps and bounds recently to the point where an LED alternative can now be found for almost any lighting application.
When making the change to LEDs we need to shift our thinking from the idea that light bulbs are a low quality 'throwaway' item. High Power LEDs are very high quality, robust, attractive appliances that give light. Perhaps you could think of them more as a light fitting because in many cases they may last just as long.
LEDs are a great choice in lighting for a multitude of reasons
- LEDs use very little energy, often far less than the compact fluorescent bulbs that are currently being marketed as 'energy saving'. This translates to significant savings on your power bill.
- LEDs may last up to and in many cases beyond a staggering 50 000 hrs which means they may last 10 years even with heavy usage. This makes them much cheaper than other bulbs in the long term but also saves the time and inconvenience of having to change bulbs regularly, particularly in hard to reach places.
- LEDs emit no UV radiation and are safe for people with health problems that are affected by fluorescent lights.
- LEDs produce very little heat, greatly reducing the strain on air conditioning systems and therefore further reducing energy consumption.
- LEDs can be retro fitted into most standard lighting fixtures.
- LEDs emit no audible buzz that can make fluorescent bulbs very annoying and interfere with radio frequencies.
- LEDs are mercury free, they pose no immediate threat if they are broken and they do not require hazardous waste disposal. Compact fluorescents are highly toxic if broken and in many countries they must be disposed of as hazardous waste.
- LEDs come in a huge range of styles to suit almost any application.
- LEDs are shock and vibration resistant, there are no fragile filaments that can be easily damaged.
By changing all the light bulbs in your home to LEDs you could save up to 90% on your lighting power bill instantly. In commercial buildings where there are often thousands of lights, from fluorescent tubes in the car parks to 50mm halogen down lights in the lifts, the savings to be made are enormous.
LEDs are the future of light. Make the change today.
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Written by Amy Baker
Image: LED Lightbulb closeup, by Matt512 via Flickr Creative Commons.
