The Light Emitting Diode was first discovered in the early days of the 20th century and has gone on to become on the most popular ways of lighting a home or business premises. The popularity of LED’s is based on some factors including the fact that they provide a superior return on investment when compared to traditional bulbs because they use far less electricity during their lifetime when compared to traditional bulbs.
The latest studies have shown that traditional incandescent bulbs cost as much as 10x their original [purchase price regarding the amount of electricity that they use – while LED bulbs provide enormous savings regarding electricity costs.
When they were first used, LED bulbs found general acceptance by consumers when they were used for indoor and outdoor uses such as strings of Christmas lights and pen torches. However, today LED bulbs are usually used clustered in such items as household lighting. Although the individual bulbs are small diffuser lenses, have made it practical to install LED lighting solutions in domestic homes.
The use of diffuser lenses has overcome the tendency of LED bulbs to cast light in an extremely directional manner – and today clusters of up to 180 LED’s are by no means uncommon when used in domestic environments. The use of LED’s in recessed ceiling fittings has also become increasingly popular.
The increasing sophistication of diffuser lenses and reflectors has also meant that LED’s can be used for side table lighting where the tendency of LED’s to project light only in a single direction had previously made them unsuitable for occasional use.
If one were to highlight just why LED’s are preferable to incandescent bulbs the following characteristics are probably the most important:
#1 Amazingly Long Lasting.
LED bulbs last around 10x longer than normal bulbs – this can lead to enormous savings over the course of the life of the bulb. Due to this fact, these bulbs have earned a reputation as being incredibly environmentally friendly because they place less demand on the electricity grid.
#2 Tough As Nails.
Because the LED bulbs shown here don’t have a filament, they’re less likely to be damaged by the accidental impact. This is great news for those folks who have young kids at home – reducing the possibility of glass shards is always a great design feature.
#3 Mercury Free.
For those folks who are concerned about the environment and contaminants in the home, it’s great news to know that LED’s do not contain mercury – one of the most dangerous toxic elements in the world, especially when it builds up in the human body.
#4 fewer Power Requirements.
Stepping outside the home and into the wilderness is where LED’s begin to shine. Due to the lower power requirement, these bulbs are ideal for use out of doors. LED’s provide enormous illuminating power using just batteries – however, in emergencies, LED’s can provide backup lighting when attached to a small generator that normal; traditional bulbs simply cannot match.