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LED Lights Advantages And Cons

LED lighting isn't the latest technology; as a matter of fact, it is with us from the 1960's. LED light bulbs were originally used as a substitute for incandescent indicators and displays in laboratory tools and later in Televisions, different watches, radios and hand calculators. LED prices have only recently has dropped enough to make them viable for residential and industrial markets. LED Lights can include anything from outdoor to Christmas lights. With the present looming energy crisis in South Africa, and pressure forced on governments and businesses identical for more sustainable energy solutions, LED lights have a bright future in space lighting solutions.

Major advantages of using LED lights

First of all, LED lights are far more efficient than any other lighting alternative commercially accessible at the moment. LED bulbs have a 100000 hour lifespan, and will last for 11 years at continuous operation, or 22 years at 50% operation. Compare this to the approximate lifespan of five thousand hours for an incandescent light bulb and ten thousand hours for a fluorescent light. A number of businesses find the lifespan of LED light bulbs very appealing - imagine only have to change the signage on a business property once every 11 years. With incandescent and fluorescent bulbs, the actual cost of the bulb should include the labor charge and time required to exchange them. LED lights virtually get rid of lighting maintenance costs.

The second major benefit and key strength of using LED lighting above conventional lighting is the reduced power consumption. LED bulb is capable of converting 80% of the electrical energy used into light energy. The remaining 20% electrical energy is left as heat energy. Incandescent light bulbs only convert twenty% of the electrical energy used into actual light energy, which means that a staggering 80% of electrical energy is lost as heat energy. If you compare the 80% efficiency of LED lights with the twenty% efficiency of incandescent lights, the optimal selection of light bulb is quite noticeable.

Major disadvantages of using LED lighting

The primary limitation is the present high price of LED light bulbs. Even though the price of LED lights in South Africa is slowly decreasing, replacing a 100W incandescent light bulb with a LED substitute can cost about 5000 Rs. The start up price may look frightening, but LED light bulbs pay for themselves over time because they can last for up to 11 years, and saves a lot of money in terms of electricity used. For businesses, using LED lights makes a whole lot of sense since the reduced maintenance costs a lot more than make up for the steep start-up price.

Leading businesses are doing it

Various blue chip companies and hotels in USA and UK currently use LED lighting solutions. LED lighting are used from stair-nose lighting, light line, wall wash lights and signage illumination to color-changing till numbers and controls, architectural lighting and freezer lighting. These businesses have recognized LED as the preferred lighting solution for the future. With LED bulb start-up rates plummeting, more companies will follow these business leaders and discover a painless lighting solution which will last them a decade, and help save them money.