LEDs are a super energy efficient and increasingly popular form of lighting. An LED or Light Emitting Diode is a kind of electronic circuit that sends out rays of light when an electric current is passed through it. They are commonly known as ‘cold lighting’ as they produce little to no heat, unlike the filament bulbs you may have in your lights at home.
LEDs are already keeping our nights bright; you’ll find them all around in street lamps, spot lights and in floodlights. But they are also becoming an affordable and eco-friendly option for the home, and you’ll already find them in your digital alarm clock or remote control. Here are some of the benefits of making your house an LED haven:
- A traditional filament bulb, the rounded kind commonly used in lamps, only uses about one fifth of its energy to make light. The rest is wasted on heat. An LED light uses up to 90% of its energy to make light and stays cold to the touch. They’re non-toxic as well, and won’t break when dropped, which is a real bonus if you have young, and curious, kids running around the house. This energy efficiency will also save you plenty of money on your electricity bills.
- LED lights may cost a little more to buy, but they will run for up to 10 years. That’s about 50 times longer than filament bulbs and more than three times longer than fluorescent ones, so you’ll certainly save money in the long run and won’t need to have a constant supply of bulbs for changing.
- An LED is made up of a chip on a circuit board so there is nothing to break if you drop them, making them a popular choice for any kind of outdoor lighting. They are super durable in cold weather, so it’s not so surprising that they were invented in Russia in the 1920’s.
- LED lights come in a rainbow of colours. They are already commonly used in Christmas trees and garden lighting, but you can find different shades to suit your front room, bedroom or kitchen. The brightness of the light can vary according to the colour so it’s easy to find the right mood lighting with an LED.
The brightness of an LED also varies according to the power source supplying it and the frequency of current. You can maintain the brightness of your LED by using an LED Driver – an electrical device that regulates the amount of power that goes to single or multiple lights. A driver will ensure that a constant amount of power is going to each light to stop them flashing or dimming, for instance if the temperature around them drops, but you can also buy ones that work as dimmers to control brightness. It’s important to use the correct voltage driver for your lights and always check that you are not overloading the power supply with too many lights.
