The light-emitting diode, also known as LED, is one of mankind’s greatest achievements. Not only is it a brilliant light source that is rapidly reshaping the landscape, but it is also playing a key role in the global effort to become more energy-efficient and eco-friendly. If you are thinking of illuminating your signage or switching out the lights in your business for something a bit more efficient, LED bulbs are a fantastic choice.
Let’s look at how energy-efficient LED lights are and why you should make the switch from other obsolete light sources.
LED Efficacy and Efficiency
There are two terms to familiarize yourself with when talking about the efficiency of light bulbs—efficiency and efficacy. Both apply, and both are important.
- Efficiency – indicates the ratio between electrical power consumption and the light, also called luminous flux, emitted from the lumen.
- Efficacy – also called luminous efficacy. Not to be confused with luminosity. This is expressed as lumens per Watt, or lm/W.
Since efficiency is a ratio, it is going to be displayed as a percentage. Overall efficiency is thus 100%, which no type of bulb has been able to do just yet. This is because there is a theoretical maximum for the amount of lm/W for all bulbs. For LED’s, that maximum is 350 lm/W. In other words, a lamp with a luminous flux of 350 and energy consumption of 1 would have 100% efficiency.
That said, the real efficiency of modern-day LED bulbs is around 30-40%. This means you could run your LED-lit sign all day, every single day of the year, and you would still spend less than you would be using another kind of light source!
Estimated Energy Savings
Furthermore, in the United States, any Energy Star-rated products are going to use at least 75% less energy and last an average of 25 times longer than regular incandescent lights. This means that switching over to LED lights is one of the greatest budgeting steps you can do right now. It is estimated that by the year 2027 if the whole nation switched to LED, 348 TwH of electricity could be saved.
348 TwH is the equivalent of 44 electrical power plants with an output of 1000 megawatts each. This would save over $30 billion in electricity costs.
The LED Difference
Just how do LED’s work this kind of magic? The construction of LED bulbs is different compared to those that people traditionally think of, such as iCFLs and incandescent bulbs.
The main reason is the size of the light source. Light-emitting diodes are smaller than a speck of ground pepper and are a mix of blue, red, and green to blend and make that characteristic white light.
Second, LED’s emit a glow in a single direction, which reduces the need for diffusers and reflectors that can trap light inside the bulb. Because of this, LED bulbs work wonderfully for task lighting and downlights. You can use them for channel letters, monument signs, pole signs, and much more.
Thirdly, LED’s emit little to no heat. Comparatively speaking, CFLs release about 80% of energy as heat, and incandescent bulbs lose about 90% of the energy in the same way. Again, this means you could have your LED-lit signage or digital signboards running all day and not have to worry about it overheating.
Comparisons to Other Bulb Types
Have you compared the old and new lighting technologies yet to see which is the most efficient? You might be surprised by how much energy and money you have been wasting with other lighting types once you look at the efficiency and efficacy of bulbs side-by-side.
- Incandescent bulbs. Did you know that only 5% of an incandescent bulb’s power is used for producing electricity? The remaining 95% is energy that is released as heat into the environment. That is why even at low output or brightness, incandescent lights generate extreme heat. The luminous efficacy of incandescent bulbs is between 10-15 lm/W, depending on the type.
- Halogen bulbs. These bulbs have an efficiency of about 10%. The other 90% is transformed into heat that is released into the air. Luminous efficacy is around 12-20 lm/W.
- Energy saver bulbs. A popular alternative to LED’s but still nowhere near as efficient. Energy-saving bulbs achieve around 25% efficiency, with only 75% of the energy turning into heat. Luminous efficacy runs around 40-60 lm/W.
Other Eco-Friendly Advantages of LED’s
Seeing these figures for how little energy LED lights consume, you might be wondering if this is the best way to go green as well. You aren’t wrong. LED’s are one of the best choices for making your business much more eco-friendly. Here are some of the ways LED lights and technology can help you save money and the environment simultaneously:
- Reduced Carbon Dioxide. LED lights consume far less energy than incandescent and halogen types. Since most places continue to burn fossil fuels as a source of electricity, using less energy means dumping less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
- No Harmful Chemicals. Unlike CFL bulbs, which contain mercury vapor, LED’s contain zero harmful chemicals and other materials that would pollute the environment.
- Less Materials Consumed. LED’s last about 3 times longer than CFL bulbs and 10 times longer than halogen and incandescent bulbs. In other words, it takes more materials to manufacture bulbs that have a shorter lifespan. By switching to LED lights, you conserve resources while reducing the price you pay to replace them.
- Recycling Potential. One problem with incandescent bulbs is that they cannot be recycled. Most light bulbs end up in landfills because of this. However, LED bulbs can be recycled and used to make new bulbs.
Conclusion
LED bulbs are some of the most efficient lighting technologies of our time. With an efficiency of around 30-40%, you end up generating a lot more electricity than heat, which will save on your utility bills. Plus, LED bulbs last for many years, require little to no maintenance, remain bright, and are reliable sources of illumination. For those reasons, they are the perfect choice for illuminating signage, storefronts, and even the interior of buildings.
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