LED Light Bulbs

Most homeowners have already seen the light – of LED light bulbs, that is. LED light bulbs swiftly taking over millions of homes worldwide because of how practical and energy efficient they are.

When speaking about lighting in the past years, CFL or compact fluorescent light bulbs were the star. Compared to incandescent light bulbs and even halogen ones, these CFL bulbs were once the most energy efficient type of lighting in the market. However, all of that has changed when LED light bulbs were finally introduced.

LED light bulbs are not only much brighter than any other light in the market today, but they are also the most energy efficient. This type of lighting has that instant ON capability which allows them to immediately illuminate the room unlike CFLs which take about a minute or two to brighten.

These Light Emitting Diode light bulbs do not put out any heat and are always cool to the touch. This is a refreshing alternate to other lighting alternatives that give off so much heat that they contribute to the warmness during the summer. Aside from this, LED light bulbs last so much longer than other light bulbs. Based on research, an LED light bulb could last 17 years before it would need replacement.

Homeowners could be saving up to 75% or more on their energy costs if they switch to an all LED lit home.

The technology behind LED, or a light-emitting diode, has been around since 1927 when the Russian researcher Oleg Vladimirovic Losev created the world's first LED, but it was not until 1968 that LEDs came into widespread use as indicator lamps and seven-segment displays, in calculators, radios, telephones, TVs, and watches. Today, LEDs are competing with incandescent and fluorescent lights.

LED lights rely on electroluminescence, a property of certain substances to generate light when small electrical charges are introduced. These electrical charges activate phosphorescent materials within the substance causing them to emit a soft and cool light without glare. Substances such as these are incorporated into LED lights as a semiconductor circuit called a diode.

LED lights use far less electrical energy than do incandescent and fluorescent lights, and this is their greatest strength. A 7-watt LED light, for instance, produces as much light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb, or a 15-watt CFL (compact fluorescent light).

In terms of longevity, LED lights trounce incandescent bulbs, 60,000 hours to 1,500. They also tend to be more durable. They do not break or shatter as easily as incandescent or fluorescent lights.

Incandescent bulbs typically contain halogen, krypton, or xenon, while CFLscontain mercury, which can pose health risks. These chemicals are not present in LED lights. Neither are there any infrared nor ultraviolet radiations.

LED lights, or course, do have their downside. Foremost is the initial cost, although advocates say this is overcome by energy savings and the cost of a replacement bulb. Compared to ordinary lights, LEDs can easily cost more than twice as much.

Light coming from LEDs are usually directional. While this may be fine for focus lighting or flashlights, it may not work well for generating ambient light in an entire room. In addition to this, their light can degrade or diminish over time especially where there are wide voltage fluctuations. This, too, can result in premature burnout. Light can also be grainy.

Before LEDs can totally replace incandescent and fluorescent lights, these issues must first be addressed. Research, of course, is continuing, but until then, don't feel left out if you are still using good old incandescent or fluorescent lights.