LEDs have long been hailed by environmentalists as the most eco-friendly source of illumination. As such, homeowners and business owners alike have taken to them quite a bit over the last few decades. But, very few people understand how LED lights work or why they’re considered to be so energy efficient. If that sounds like you and you’re interested to learn more about this fascinating form of modern-day illumination, read on for more.
What Makes LED Lights so Energy Efficient?
We know that LED lights use a small fraction of electricity compared to other types of illumination like incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs. Why is this? For one, LED lights work in a very unique manner when compared to incandescent light.
Before incandescent lights get illuminated they have to filter electric energy through a filament. Once this filament heats up, the atoms’ electrons are activated and this is what creates artificial light.
However, this is a very inefficient process because 90% of the electricity is wasted during heat production alone. That’s why incandescent bulbs have been replaced by the more efficient LED light bulbs.
LEDs use a process known as electroluminescence to create light and not only does it not use filament, but it’s not as heat intensive either. Instead, the light is produced through semiconductors which are very proficient at transforming electricity into light. \
Even though LEDs use a more efficient system they still manage to produce the same amount of light as incandescent light bulbs. You’ll also notice when removing an LED light bulb that it’s not hot to the touch. That’s because they don’t produce excess heat and that’s part what makes them fantastic energy savers.
How is the efficiency of LED lights measured?
Well, the efficiency of any light bulb is measured using a scale known as lumens per watt. At the time of this writing, LED lights offer higher lumens per watt than fluorescent and incandescent light bulbs, and yet they use less energy. In fact, recent data shows that LED lights use 50% less energy than fluorescent light bulbs, and 80% less than incandescent.
Most of the energy produced by LEDs goes straight to producing light instead of heat, which is why they’re always cool to the touch.
And yet, LED light bulbs last longer than any other type of light bulb on the market. In fact, the lifespan of an average LED light bulb that’s used on a daily basis could be anything from 30, 000 to 100, 000 hours. This amounts to 6 to 30 years depending on how many hours you keep them on every day.
On the other hand, you have incandescent light bulbs which only have a lifespan of 1, 000 to 5, 000 hours while fluorescent tubes last for 20, 000 t 50, 000 hours-close but still not as long-lasting as LEDs.
So not only do LEDs help you to save the planet by using less energy but they’ll also save you money. Part of what makes LEDs so durable and long-lasting is the fact that they’re made using sustainable materials. They don’t feature any filament or glass, so they don’t break easily and they don’t burn out. Instead they use semiconductor material, and like we mentioned their light emanates from the movement of electrons.
Other benefits of LED Lights
LEDs are safer than any other type of light bulb out there because they don’t produce UV rays of any kind. We all know that consistent UV ray exposure can lead to certain types of cancer so you want to stay away from anything that’s going to increase your risk. That’s why a lot of people are leaning towards LEDs because it eliminates indoor UV exposure.
Another advantage of LED lights is that they don’t contain any lead or mercury which is good news for your health, because both of these substances can lead to health complications. Plus, they last 50 times longer than fluorescent and incandescent bulbs combined.
The best part is that LED lights are now becoming cheaper and more accessible as the years go by. Plus, you still get to save on replacement costs because they last longer and they don’t use as much energy so you’ll see a significant improvement in your energy bill when you switch to them.