These days the focus is on developing energy efficient devices that are environment friendly. We can no longer afford to play havoc with nature. We are already experiencing the ill effects of global warming caused by the excessive carbon emissions in the atmosphere. Keeping this in mind, LED bulbs have been introduced and they are fast replacing incandescent bulbs and compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). LED bulbs use only a fraction of the energy consumed by the incandescent and compact fluorescent bulbs. Therefore, it is a green option for illuminating spaces. A 12v LED bulb is as powerful as a 40W incandescent bulb but uses just 2W of power. This means that these types of bulbs use only 5 to 10 percent of electricity consumed by the traditional bulbs.
Initially, LEDs were used only for indicator lights in electronic devices but now they are being used for lighting purposes too. A light emitting diode bulb consists of several LED bulbs clustered together. They emit light in ultraviolet, visible, and infrared wavelength. The color of the light depends on the doping material of the semiconductor.
Not only these bulbs are energy efficient but they also last longer. They have a life of 7 to 10 years depending upon their usage. A 12v LED bulb if used only for 8 hours a day can last for up to 10 years. Though many people ditch the idea of buying these bulbs due to their high price, they turn out to be an inexpensive option for lighting in the long run. They have five times longer life than compact fluorescent lamps, which last for only 2 years. Moreover, by using these bulbs in your home, you can reduce your electricity bills by about 15 to 25 percent. They do not just reduce the cost of lighting but also the cost of air-conditioning. These bulbs do not emit excessive heat as incandescent bulbs do. Therefore, unlike traditional bulbs they do not heat up the room, which eventually reduces the burden on the air-conditioning system.
LED bulbs are mercury free and therefore do not harm the environment and the health of the occupants. Also, they do not flicker. The shocks and vibrations do not easily damage them as they do not have any filament. They are available in a wide range of wattages. The most widely used ones are the 12v LED bulbs that give illumination equivalent to a 40 or 60 Watt incandescent bulb depending upon its specifications. You can get LED floodlights, dimmers, bi-pin lights, flashlights, globes, and so forth in different colors. LED bulbs do not require filters for producing lights of different colors. Companies produce LED light bulbs that emit light of different colors by using different semiconductor materials. They also score over incandescent bulbs in terms of luminous efficiency. Whereas the efficiency of an LED bulb is 55 lumens per Watt, that of an incandescent bulb is only 15 lumens per Watt.
When everybody is aiming to reduce their carbon footprints, these bulbs have come as a boon. The companies are finding ways to reduce the manufacturing cost of these bulbs so that they can be made available to the masses at affordable rates.
Visit the Author's website: http://home-electrical.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_benefits_of_led_lighting
