LED lighting is a type of light that has emerged as an intermediate step between traditional light bulbs and energy-saving bulbs. It is a more advanced technology that is destined to be the light of the future.
In addition to the economic advantages it offers, LED lighting also plays an environmentally responsible role because it saves much more energy and is non-toxic.
What’s so special about LED lighting?
LED lighting consists of a diode or small plastic-coated device with a semiconductor ‘wire’ inside that, when an electric current is applied, emits light of a predetermined color. This color depends on the material it is made of. Until now, red and blue colors were available, but the much newer white one had not been obtained.
LED stands for Light Emitting Diode.
Although it seems like a recent technology, (white LED has been on the market since 1997) the original idea for this lighting is over 100 years old. Since LED lighting has hit the stores, its price has been adapted to make it increasingly affordable and much more efficient than other lighting sources, which makes it quickly amortizeable.
LED technology
As we detailed earlier, an LED is nothing more than a semiconductor. Therefore, LED technology consists of bonding materials with special properties that are capable of conducting electricity. When we apply a voltage or voltage to the ends of the LED, electrons from the direct current (DC) power supply begin to flow through the diode. The excess energy that the electrons gain to cross the potential barrier is transformed into electromagnetic energy, which is released at that very moment in the form of a photon of light. Depending on the semiconductor material, the light can be green, blue, infrared, ultraviolet, etc.
Colored LED lighting
We are familiar with LED lighting even before we were aware of it. The first contact with LED lights was through the red and green on/off indicators and later through the infrared diode for remote controls.
The color of an LED light varies according to the semiconductor material or “wire” that emits light when a current passes through it. Depending on the semiconductor material chosen (gallium, indium, aluminum…), the illumination can be red, blue, green, amber, orange or cyan. White light is obtained by placing red, blue and green LEDs together (which can cause strange shadow effects) or by adding phosphors to convert the blue into white light, similar to what is done in fluorescent lamps.
Applications of LED lighting
Nowadays, we find LED lights everywhere, both in homes and in street lighting. LED lighting has also managed to find its place in sectors such as the automotive industry and advertising, where it can be used in a very versatile and efficient way.
Why LED lighting is the lighting of the future
Despite the fact that when buying LED material it is a bit more expensive than other types of energy-saving lighting, such as halogen and fluorescent, LED lighting is increasingly preferred by professionals and users alike.
Today, it is a candidate to continue to evolve to improve the current version we know and is chosen for these reasons:
- LED technology consumes much less than other energy-efficient lights. The savings can go up to 90% when compared to these three energy-saving lighting types. And the good news is that they will continue to work to make this difference even more.
- LED bulbs, tubes and other lighting material have an average life of between 20,000 and 50,000 hours, depending on the quality of the bulbs and their LEDs. But this equates to 8 years of life if maintained for about 2 hours a day.
- LED lighting is environmentally friendly. Since 2012, when incandescent bulbs stopped being produced due to their high level of pollution, LEDs are the “greener” option, as they do not contain mercury or other polluting materials, and also do not emit UV or infrared rays.
- LEDs light up faster than incandescent or halogen bulbs. In addition, it can be switched on and off as often as needed without reducing its lifespan.
- The LED lighting material is able to perfectly resist vibrations and shocks due to its semiconductor-like structure. They will continue to work even if the plastic housing protecting them is broken, unlike other technologies.
- The LED light is uniform and produces no shadows in the illuminated area. In addition, it has a variety of colors and can be adapted to the needs of the environment, for example, the white light varies from pure white to a warmer white.
- The possibility of integration offered by LED lighting in any environment, thanks to its compact size and low temperature, allows the possibility of designing a space with different points and variations of light in the same place. In addition, as with CFL, there is the possibility to regulate the electrical intensity in some LED lighting models, being a very useful option to create dynamic environments.
- LED lighting has more lumens and less consumption per cm2 than fluorescent tubes and halogen.
LED technology has many advantages, especially its long life and attractive design, in addition to the many possibilities for use it offers. All these properties and benefits reinforce the idea that LEDs are the lighting of the future, although even today there is a need for communication work to demonstrate these advantages over other types of conventional lighting.
Could you add any other advantages?