Issue No. 35, December 2012

• While most CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) cannot be dimmed and many can flicker, LEDs (light emitting diodes) use solid-state technology, which allows for dimming and eliminates flickering. LED lights can withstand extremely cold conditions, so they are very durable, which is one of the reasons LED lights are so popular for outdoor lighting applications.
• LEDs turn on instantly, so there is no warm-up time. In fact, they are ideal for uses where there is a need for frequent "on/off" cycling. This is an advantage over fluorescent lamps, which fail faster when turned on and off often.
• LED light bulbs do not contain breakable filaments or glass, making them shock-resistant, unlike fluorescent and incandescent bulbs, which are fragile.
• Most important of all is the fact that LED light bulbs last 25 times longer than the old-fashioned incandescent bulbs. Instead of 1,000 hours, which is the typical rated life of standard incandescent bulbs, the rated life of LEDs is usually 25,000 hours or more. (The rated life of CFLs is about 9,000 hours.) This makes the LED light bulb cost-effective in the long run.
   

See the variety of LED fixtures available today at a nearby ALA-member showroom.

Photo courtesy of WAC Lighting


Photo courtesy of Kichler Lighting

• LED lighting can save up to 85 percent of the electricity used by incandescent bulbs and up to 50 percent of electricity used by fluorescents.

• Unlike the old-fashioned incandescents, which waste 90 percent of the energy they use by giving off heat, LED bulbs do not create heat. Since LED light bulbs produce significantly less heat than incandescent bulbs, they reduce the need for air conditioning in the home.

• While it's true that LED light bulbs are more expensive, they provide real cost savings because they consume less energy - resulting in lower energy bills.
   

To learn more about which light bulbs are right for your home, visit an ALA-member showroom.

Photo courtesy of Jesco Lighting

• LED light bulbs do not contain mercury - making them more earth-friendly than CFLs, which contain mercury and thus contribute to landfill poisoning, if not disposed of properly.

• The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that widespread adoption of LED lighting by 2025 will reduce electricity demands from lighting by 62 percent; eliminate 258 million metric tons of carbon emissions; reduce the amount of materials dumped into landfills; and avoid the building of 133 new power plants.

• The only drawback to LED light bulbs is they require an initial investment. It's true you pay more for an LED light bulb upfront, but you save that money in the long run. You also save time and aggravation, because you don't have to constantly change LED light bulbs.

Do you have questions about LED bulbs?
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For more information about different kinds of light bulbs, visit ALA online.

Photo courtesy of Tech Lighting


View a video about LED lighting