What is LED?

LED stands for light-emitting diode and is also referred to as solid-state lighting. LED is a semiconductor device that turn electricity into energy in the form of white or different color lights. This is different from incandescent light bulbs (which generate light from tungsten filament heated from electric current) and compact fluorescent lights (which use electricity to excite mercury atoms to emit ultraviolet (UV) radiation that strike phosphor coating in glass tubes and convert to light).

LED technology has been used for decades as indicator lights, displays for electronics and backlighting for portable devices. More recent uses of LEDs are traffic signals, outdoor displays (Times Square), backlighting for displays, automotive lighting and airport runways. Over the past 2 years, we are seeing an accelerated growth for LED lights targeted for general illumination as replacement/ retrofit of incandescent and fluorescent lamps.

The reason for this accelerated growth is because of Green qualities of LED lights: Energy efficiency, Non-toxic and Reduced waste.

Why LED light is Green?

Green qualities for LED lights are:

1) Energy efficiency 

Energy efficiency of lights = ratio of amount of visible light output produced by lights (measured in lumens) to amount of electric power consumed by lights (measured in watts).

Incandescent light bulb = 14.2 lumens per watt (lm/W)

Fluorescent light bulb = 60 lm/W

LED light bulbs from Green Supply = 80 to 110 lm/W 

Using 60W incandescent light bulb that produce 850 lumens for energy efficiency comparison:

1 incandescent light bulbs electricity use = 4 fluorescent light bulbs

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1 incandescent light bulb electricity use = 8 LED light bulbs

LED light bulb consumes 87% less electricity.

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1 fluorescent light bulb electricity use = 1.8 LED light bulbs

LED light bulb consumes 45% less electricity.

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LED light bulb is most energy efficient.

Less electricity consumed = Less CO2 emission + Less nuclear waste

2) Non-toxic

LED light bulbs are non-toxic and not made from hazardous materials.

Fluorescent light bulbs contain small amount of mercury (4 to 20 mg). When fluorescent light bulb shatters, it releases mercury vapor. Mercury is hazardous and the quickest way for mercury to enter your body and absorbed into your bloodstream is by breathing in mercury vapor. Mercury is highly reactive toxic heavy metal that can cause damages to central nervous system, brain, kidney and reproductive systems and even lead to death.

Fluorescent light bulbs can not be disposed as regular garbage, but need to be properly disposed from local household hazardous waste collection programs.

3) Reduced waste

Reduced waste is determined by number of times you need to change and dispose of light bulb based on how long the light bulb last.

LED light bulb has the longest life-span and can last up to 25,000 to 50,000 hours. Some manufacturers claim their LED light bulbs can last up to 100,000 hours, however most of this is marketing gimmick and have not gone through US Department of Energy to rate the LED light bulb lifetime.

Fluorescent light bulb last on average about 10,000 hours.

Incandescent light bulb last on average about 1,000 hours.

For every 1 LED light bulb in land-fill about 5 fluorescent light bulbs in hazardous waste collection:

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For every 1 LED light bulb in land-fill about 50 incandescent light bulbs in land-fill:

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Other Advantages to LED Light Bulbs:

1) Excellent color quality.

Consistent and clear color over time.

Available in different color temperature white lights: Cool similiar to white fluorescent lights and Warm similiar to incandescent light bulbs.

2) LED light comes on instantly.

Instead of seconds wait to turn on and minutes wait for full-brightness for fluorescent lights.

3) Light output remains constant over time.

4) Generate less heat than incandescent, fluorescent or halogen. Remain cool to touch after hours of operation. 

Click here to see what Green Supply has to offer for LED Home Lighting.