WHAT KIND OF BULBS ARE YOU USING?
Incandescent lamps/bulbs (Conventional House hold light/bulb) is a source of electric light that
works by incandescence (a general term for heat-driven light emissions)
Heats to over 100 degrees Celsius
80% of energy lost to heat, this also creates a fire hazard to the area surrounding the light, as you will
know if you have burnt your hand on a spotlight 20 minutes after you turn it off!
The non-directional light produced consumes the remaining 20 % of power
Power efficiency of 10% to 20%
Lifetime of around 1000 hours
Halogen lamps burn hotter reducing power efficiency to between 5% to 15%
Fluorescent light is a gas-discharge lamp that uses electricity to excite mercury vapour (extremely
toxic) to create light
More efficient than incandescent lamps but more costly because it requires a ballast, which in turn
requires costly replacements.
However fluorescent lights do not like being frequently turned on and off as this lowers their life
expectancy
Fluorescent lights contain very toxic chemicals Mercury & Phosphorous, on accidental breakage
these chemicals are released.
Fluorescent lights are also subject to lamp flicker problems and visible surface colour variants
The benefits of fluorescents over incandescent are their cooler running temperatures and increased
running efficiency of up to 50% to 60% and a life expectancy of up to 8000 hours
Under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations fluorescent lamps the
above types of lamp require special disposal
LED or light-emitting diode is based on the semiconductor diode. When a diode is (switched on),
electrons are able to recombine with holes within the device, releasing energy in the form of photons.
This effect is called electroluminescence and the colour of the light (corresponding to the energy of
the photon) is determined by the energy gap of the semiconductor.
An LED is usually small in area (less than 1 mm2), and have integrated optical components that are
used to shape its light pattern and assist in reflection
The following facts will give you a good indication of the benefits of LED's over conventional
lighting.
1) They never burn out.
LED lights are generally made up of multiple LED’s all joined together working as one unit. Therefore,
if one LED stops working it will have very minimal to no impact on the light being emitted, whereas
when a conventional light has any problem it ceases to work completely. LED’s have a lifetime
estimate of 60,000 to 100,000 hours, compared with the 1,000 hour lifetime of incandescent light
bulbs and the 8,000 hour lifetime for compact fluorescent lamps. And even after they reach that limit,
they will simply become progressively dimmer rather than immediately burning out.
2) Long term cost saving
With the average life expectancy of LED globes being 10 years plus, combined with an energy
efficiency of 80% to 90%, there will be an immediate saving of around 60% to 70% on your electricity
lighting bill. In comparison, to the conventional globe, over the same period of time up to ten light
globes (of which run at 20% power efficiency) would be needed, not to mention the time and
resources required. This energy saving can be a huge added bonus to people who rely on solar &
battery power, large scale lighting systems or simply around home.
3) They are better for the environment
All of our products are RoHS compliant to ensure the reduction of harmful chemicals such as lead,
cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated
biphenyl ether (PBDE) into our urban environment and the people that manufacture them.
4) They attract fewer bugs
Bugs are attracted to high levels of UV rays and as LED’s do not emit ultraviolet light they are less
inviting. This will not put a total end to your bug problem but you will notice a greater reduction of bugs
accumulating around the light.
5) They help you absorb more nutrients from fruits and vegetables.
Because UV rays from natural and conventional light sources decrease nutrient levels in foods, LED's
are a more effective option in supermarkets, restaurants and kitchens as they do not emit UV rays or
give off heat.
6) They can improve motor vehicle lighting
LED headlights have a higher colour temperature, which may improve driver vision in low-light
conditions.
7) They are reasonably priced
Since LED manufacturing technology is relatively new, some LED light options can be costly,
however, the long term benefits far outweigh the initial costs.
8) They emit very low if any heat
LED lights generate very low heat and are therefore cool to touch and can be left on for hours without
risk to both the LED and individual if touched. Allowing them greater versatility in applications for
which conventional lighting simply will not work.
9) They switch on instantly
LEDs switch on instantly and provide their full strength immediately. In the long term, the small
components in LEDs are suitable for dimming the lights, and the light doesn’t change colour when
dimmed, which is what happens with incandescent and halogen lights.
10) Colour properties
the colour properties of a light source are relevant in relation to white light, and are characterised by
two parameters, namely colour temperature (expressed in Kelvin) and the colour rendering index
(CRI) or Ra index.
The colour rendering index of a light source lies between 0 and 100 and indicates how good a light
source is at rendering certain reference colours. A CRI of 100 is the best, and is equivalent
to daylight.
Today, LED’s are available with a CRI of up to 91. A-rated energy saving bulbs have a CRI of just
over 80.
The light from LED's is either warm (typically 2,700-3,000 Kelvin), neutral (3,500-4,500 Kelvin) or cold
(4,500-10,000 Kelvin). The best LED’s have a colour rendering index of 80-90.
11) Unidirectional light
LED lights traditionally projected all their light in one direction, whilst the conventional lighting was
able to emit light in all directions. This is why LED bulbs were best suited to lamps that project light in
one direction, such as spotlights and downlights. But now, the recent introduction of the retro fit LED
globe has enabled LED's to perform this function through cleverly arranged LED's around a central
rod that evenly distributes the light in a 360 degree radius.
12) Safe voltage working levels.
LED’s use low voltage DC current within their own circuit, making them safer to work with.
13) Wider temperature tolerance
LEDs can operate in harsh environments and withstand temperatures ranging from -40 c to +85 c.
A recent LED life-cycle assessment by OSRAM, a German lighting company, determined that the
latest generation of LED lamps achieves a very high score for environmental friendliness throughout
the entire cycle of production, use, and disposal.
Cool Facts
Here are just some of the cool characteristics of LEDs1:
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Energy savings: they use at least 75 percent less energy than incandescents.
Long life, low maintenance: LED lights last 35 to 50 times longer than incandescents and up
to 10 times longer than fluorescents.
Directional light emission: they can direct light where it is needed. (Incandescent and
fluorescent bulbs emit light – and heat – in all directions, which is wasteful.)
Size advantage: LEDs can be very compact and low-profile.
Durable: unlike bulbs, they have no breakable glass or filaments.
“Instant on”: LEDs require no warm-up time.
An LED bulb in a newborn’s room today would probably not have to be replaced until that
child goes off to college!!!