Energy Conservation and LED Lights

Lighting represents almost 20% of global electricity consumption. With the emerging concept of retrofitting, it is desirable to spare as many kilowatts of power as possible. This not only results in better utilization of energy inside buildings but also helps us to cut our electricity bill. It is quite feasible and economically viable by just making few changes inside our buildings or homes, for instance, changing paint color of the walls, choosing windows that prevent unnecessary heat transfer and even the simplest trick is to use LED light bulbs of suitable illuminance and wattage instead of traditional light bulbs. Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are extremely energy-efficient. Nowadays LEDs are used for household light fixtures due to following reasons:

1) Cost-Saving & Energy Efficiency 

The number one benefit of LEDs is their energy efficiency. In comparison to incandescent, halogen or fluorescent (CFL) lamps with LED lighting, we can expect energy savings from 30% to 90%.

While designing with LEDs you should consider lumens ( light output) and not Watts.

LUMENS	INCANDESCENT WATTAGE	LED WATTAGE
2,600 lm	150 W	25-28 W
1,600 lm	100 W	16-20 W
1,100 lm	75 W	9-13 W
800 lm	60 W	8-12 W
450 lm	40 W	6-9 W

LEDs generate light at minimal voltage, have no warm-up time, and use minimal electrical current to light up. On the other hand, incandescent convert over 90% of the power into heat and only 10% into light. That is essentially wasted energy and money thrown down the drain.

LEDs emit light in a specific direction as every bit of light matters on the other hand old bulbs that scatter light in all directions. This directional light emission turns LEDs into a versatile source with multiple applications. Some examples are task lighting, downlights, spotlights, accent lighting for your home or office decoration, and many more.

For a given wattage, LEDs emit 5x to 10x more lighting than traditional types of lighting. LED technology has changed how lighting products are labelled,  emphasizing the true light output in lumens as against watts in older times.

Nowadays the higher the number of lumens per watt, the more efficient the lamp.

Upfront costs seem higher, but LEDs are a long-term investment.

2) LED Bulbs Stand For Longevity

LED bulbs are solid-state devices lasting for 10 years plus. The longer lifespan also has a positive impact on the environment, since less lamps and fixtures end up as waste.

LED fixtures can be built to resist vibration, wind, rain, drops, shocks, and even sub-zero temperatures. The reason behind their longevity is their robust design and durability. LEDs also have heat diffusers and accurate electronic power supplies (drivers), which prevent overheating issues.

LEDs last much longer than older types of lighting. 

TYPE OF LIGHT SOURCE	AVERAGE LIFESPAN (HOURS)
Incandescent bulb	1,000 - 2,500
CFL bulbs	6,000 - 15,000
LED bulbs	25,000 - 50,000 (even more)

3) LEDs Require Minimal Maintenance

LEDs don’t “burn out” or fail unexpectedly. They only lose their brightness with time. Usually, when light output of an LED bulb decreases by around 30%, it will give you a clear sign that it’s time to install a new one.

Incandescent bulbs are about 90% less efficient than LED light bulbs, but their service life is also over 20 times shorter. This means you’ll have to replace many of them to achieve the life of a single LED. 

4) LEDs Are Easy and Safe to Install

It is easier to install LED lights & if you want to fit them into the traditional light bulb sockets; it is possible. LEDs are available in compatible versions for all the main voltage systems, so you can easily replace traditional light fittings.

Unlike traditional lighting bulbs, most LEDs operate a low temperatures, reducing the risk of burns or starting a fire in your home or office.

5) Many LED Lights Are Dimmable

Dimmers allow you to adjust the lights below 100% output. It gives you comfort, as well as saves on energy. The lower the percentage, the bigger your savings. With the exception of incandescent bulbs, most traditional lamp types cannot be dimmed.

Even if incandescent light bulbs are dimmer-friendly, they are still inefficient. LEDs let you adjust brightness while consuming over 80% less energy than incandescent lamps.

6) LEDs Focus on Light Quality

LEDs render color better than their predecessors, helping you distinguish the color of objects while conserving energy. As the CRI becomes higher, lighting quality is improved.

LIGHTING TYPE	CRI RANGE	NOTE
Incandescent	95 - 100	Perfect ability to render color. CRI drops off with temperature rise.
CFL bulbs	>50	Fair rendering qualities. Not as good as incandescent or LED lighting.
LED bulbs	65 - 98	Excellent CRI rating if you purchase quality LED products.

Incandescent bulbs offer high lighting quality, but the price to pay is low energy efficiency. One incandescent lamp consumes as much power as 5 or 6 LED lamps of equal brightness.

If you are considering a lighting upgrade project, LEDs offer many benefits over older types of lamps. LED lighting is energy efficient, long-lasting, and compatible with mobile devices and smart home systems.

A light source that requires less energy for the same glow is anytime better for the environment. It is estimated that the global adoption of LED lights could reduce CO2 emission by 500 million metric tonnes a year.

Additionally, LEDs use less chemicals than other products like CFL, which typically contain toxic elements like mercury.

Lumen Vs Watt

Though the initial investment in LED bulb is a higher, it makes up for it with its better durability, robustness & added service life along with a promise of cleaner & greener environment.